Deion Sanders isn’t messing around this season. After Colorado got absolutely clobbered 41-7 by Northwestern on September 19, Coach Prime confirmed that several players are no longer with the program. This isn’t just about a bad game; Sanders made it crystal clear these decisions were tied to a pattern of conduct detrimental to the team, not just one screw-up.
The Scoreboard Was Just the Start of Colorado’s Problems
Let’s be real, that 41-7 loss to Northwestern was brutal. It snatched Colorado’s undefeated 2-0 start right out from under them, after those narrow wins against Georgia Tech and Weber State. Northwestern basically ran the show from the jump, forcing Colorado into a season-high four turnovers. Our guy Julian Lewis, the quarterback, went 19 of 29 for 168 yards and one touchdown pass, but he also threw two interceptions, breaking a crazy streak of 150 consecutive passes without a pick. Outside of Joseph Williams’ sweet 50-yard catch-and-run for their only score, the offense was nowhere to be found. Sanders even admitted Northwestern made them play a game that didn’t reflect their real identity.
Coach Prime Is Dropping the Hammer on Team Standards
Sanders pulled no punches at his September 22 news conference. He didn’t name names or give an exact number, and the roster changes weren’t even finalized then, but the message was loud and clear: a few players are out. He stressed these dismissals weren’t about anything that happened in the Northwestern game specifically. Nah, this was about a pattern of bad behavior, stuff that puts individual interests ahead of the program. Coach Prime even said he’d been too lenient with similar issues last season, and he’s not letting players negatively affect the rest of the roster anymore. This isn’t about the 41-point margin; it’s about holding everyone to a higher standard. You gotta respect that.
Finneseth’s Apology Adds Another Layer to the Discipline Talk
Adding another layer to this whole discipline discussion, safety Ben Finneseth stepped up before Sanders at Tuesday’s news conference and publicly apologized. Remember those comments he made about Northwestern’s temporary stadium before the game? Yeah, that video circulated online, and he totally owned up to it, calling his remarks disrespectful. What’s interesting is his apology was separated from Sanders’ roster decisions, with no indication Finneseth was among those dismissed. It just hammers home the point that everyone’s under the microscope right now, from talking smack to how you carry yourself off the field.
It’s a huge week for Colorado as they prep for Baylor. This isn’t just about bouncing back from a loss; it’s about defining who they are as a team under Coach Prime’s new, stricter rules. Every snap, every practice, every decision matters more than ever now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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