Urban Meyer Defends Deion Sanders' Colorado Culture Amid Criticism

Deion Sanders has transformed the University of Colorado football program, leading the team to a 9-4 record and its first bowl game appearance since 2020, as well as its first College Football Playoff ranking. Despite criticism over the team's flashy image and accusations of a negative locker room culture, former coach Urban Meyer praised Sanders for instilling a disciplined, demanding culture focused on hard work and efficiency during practices. Meyer acknowledged the visible flashiness but emphasized the strong behind-the-scenes culture Sanders fosters, which has contributed to the program’s recent success. Allegations of locker room issues were publicly refuted by Sanders and players, and the team also achieved notable academic accomplishments, with 41 players making the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll and a team GPA of 2.957. Sanders’ leadership approach, blending toughness with high expectations, is seen as key to sustaining the Buffaloes' newfound prominence in college football. This cultural shift has elevated Colorado from a struggling program to a major storyline in the sport.