Deion Sanders suggests college football's changes chased Nick Saban away

Immediately following Wednesday’s shocking news of Nick Saban’s retirement, tributes began pouring in all over social media for the legendary Crimson Tide coach. Perhaps the most interesting reactions came from Deion Sanders.

“WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement.” Sanders posted on ‘X’ (formerly twitter). “Wow! I knew it would happen 1 day but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let’s hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see.”

Coach Prime also issued the following statement, via 247Sports’ Carl Reed Jr., on Saban’s decision.

“I'm sad that we lost a legend who still had more to give, but the changing nature of the game intervened. We will see the stability of the players tested on both sides: the players at Alabama, who are devastated and in shock after losing the greatest coach of all time, and the players who will be shocked in the coming days when they lose their coach to Alabama. When looking at both sides of this coin, you have to be a winner and understand clearly the responsibility that comes with that. You also must consider whether you can handle the moments of the stage you privately desire, or the pressure of the monument that Coach Saban has established.”

Thanks to the new transfer rules, Sanders brought his Louis luggage with him to Boulder. He added a whopping 51 players via the portal to end with 2023’s top transfer class. Sanders and his staff have hit the portal hard again, bringing in 20 players thus far in 2024. They also added electric FAU wide receiver LaJohntay Wester and Arkansas defensive lineman Taurean Carter this week. Colorado currently ranks third in 247Sports’ 2024 team transfer rankings behind Mississippi and Texas A&M. 

But Coach Prime and company may not be done yet. Immediately following the news of Saban retiring, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Jordan Seaton were lobbying on social media for current Alabama players to transfer to Boulder. How does the old saying go? ‘Don’t hate the player, hate the game.’ Meaning, we shouldn’t fault Prime for making the most of recent changes to the game of college football.