Deion Sanders sparring with the media at a testy Colorado presser

Boulder, Colo. — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders opened his second season with a combative news conference in Colorado on Friday as he celebrated his 57th birthday and became a grandfather.

Donning his signature shades and a Buffalo baseball cap, Sanders kicked things off at the microphone by thanking the person who left a card and a few packages of fried pastries.

“Trying to get my six-pack, I can’t eat this honey bun,” she cracked in what would be the lightest moment of her 30-minute press conference, which she’ll end by saying she “loves 85 percent of you.”

Sanders did not elaborate on the source of his frustration but there have been a few reports from outlets outside of Colorado this offseason that have painted his program in a less than positive light.

His testy exchanges highlighted the session at Colorado’s annual fall sports media day, which is usually a day of positivity and hope.

Sanders said he feels great physically after enduring health challenges a year ago and feels even better about his team going into Year 2 with the Buffaloes returning to the Big 12 after the Pac-12’s disbandment.

After going 4-8 in his first season in Boulder last year, Sanders revamped his roster, especially in the trenches.

But he got testy, when asked about his strong offensive line that will protect his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was sacked 52 times in 2023.

“What does ‘bolster’ mean?” Sanders interrupted, suggesting “enhanced” was a better word “because I don’t know all that ‘bolstered’ stuff, I’ve never used it in a sentence. … Let’s say. We’ve improved our offensive line.”

So, how can he try to speed up the chemistry of the new offensive line before Buffalo’s Aug. 29 opener against North Dakota State?

“What is chemistry?” Sanders responded.

He stopped further investigation before being asked by a CBS affiliate in Denver. He didn’t go into detail about his beef with the national network, but it is closely linked to 247Sports, which this summer detailed a judicial ruling against son Shiloh Sanders, team security and his subsequent bankruptcy filing.

Sanders told the reporter it wasn’t personal but he wouldn’t let her ask anything. He similarly fended off another question as he verbally sparred with a reporter from the Denver Post who complained he always went after his program.

The reporter eventually suggested that they iron out any disagreements privately. Sanders agreed but said he wouldn’t take any football questions from him until they had that conversation.

“So I don’t have time for this stupidity. How good God is, God will choose me to be my daughter’s first child on my birthday. First time I’m a grandfather on my birthday.”

Colorado coach Deion Sanders

“I have a question here,” offered Shiloh Sanders, grabbing the microphone as he waited his turn at the podium. “Since it’s your birthday. Do you have any birthday plans?”

Sanders replied that his kids probably didn’t get him anything, as usual.

His son then asked him about becoming a grandfather as his daughter Deondra Sanders gave birth to a son on Friday.

“That’s why I don’t have time for this nonsense. How good God is, God will choose me for my daughter’s first child on my birthday,” Sanders said. “I’m a grandfather for the first time on my birthday.”

Sanders’ sons followed him to the microphone and were asked about being uncles.

“It’s really exciting. My sister, I just got the text,” Shadeur said before being interrupted by her older brother, Deion Sanders Jr., who was videoing the press conference, to tell her that their sister didn’t want them to talk about it. .

Shedeur complied.

“Oh, well, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he pivoted.

Shiloh Sanders chuckles and ignores Dion Jr.’s advice.

“He’s beautiful, he’s healthy,” Shiloh said of her nephew. “I saw him on FaceTime. So, I’m proud of him.”

“He just said don’t say anything,” Shedeur warned.

“We’ve got some media control here,” Shiloh replied with a shrug. “All brothers.”

All-American Travis Hunter was also scheduled to be on the podium but declined to appear.