BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders marked the start of his second season as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes with a fiery and combative press conference on Friday, which also happened to be his 57th birthday and the day he became a grandfather.
 
Sporting his trademark sunglasses and a Buffaloes baseball cap, Sanders kicked off the session with a lighthearted comment, thanking someone for leaving a card and several packages of fried pastries at the microphone. “Trying to get my six-pack, I can’t eat these honeybuns,” he joked, setting the tone for what would quickly become a much more intense 30-minute exchange.
 
The press conference, held during Colorado’s annual fall sports media day, typically a time of optimism and positivity, took a more confrontational turn as Sanders engaged in testy exchanges with reporters. Although he didn’t specify the source of his frustrations, there have been reports from outside Colorado that have painted his program in a less-than-flattering light.
 
Despite the tense moments, Sanders did share positive updates about his health, noting that he feels great after facing health challenges last year. He also expressed confidence in his team as they prepare to return to the Big 12 following the dissolution of the Pac-12. Sanders has made significant changes to the roster, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines, after a 4-8 finish in his first season.
 
However, Sanders grew increasingly irritated when discussing the state of his offensive line, which will be responsible for protecting his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was sacked 52 times last season. When a reporter referred to the line as “bolstered,” Sanders interrupted, questioning the term and suggesting “improved” was more appropriate. “Because I don’t know all that ‘bolstered’ stuff, I’ve never used that in a sentence,” he said. “Let’s say that. We improved our offensive line.”
 
The tension escalated when Sanders shut down a question from a CBS affiliate in Denver. He did not specify the reason but alluded to a connection with 247Sports, which had published a report over the summer detailing a judicial judgment against his son Shilo Sanders, a safety on the team, and his subsequent bankruptcy filing. Sanders made it clear that while the issue wasn’t personal, he wouldn’t be entertaining any questions from that journalist. A similar exchange occurred with a reporter from the Denver Post, whom Sanders accused of consistently targeting his program.
 
As the atmosphere became more strained, Shilo Sanders attempted to lighten the mood by asking his father about his birthday plans and his new role as a grandfather. Deion Sanders responded that his daughter Deiondra had given birth to a baby boy on his birthday, a moment he described as a blessing. “That’s why I don’t have time for this foolishness,” Sanders said. “That’s how good God is, that God would choose me on my birthday for my daughter to have her first child.”
 
The press conference concluded with some humor, as Deion Sanders’ sons joined him at the microphone. Shedeur Sanders started to share his excitement about becoming an uncle but was interrupted by his older brother, Deion Sanders Jr., who reminded him that their sister had asked them not to talk about it publicly. Shilo, however, couldn’t resist sharing that the baby was healthy and that he had already seen him on FaceTime.
 
All-American Travis Hunter was also scheduled to speak but declined to attend the press conference.