Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff praised Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders during a phone interview with USA Today, comparing the stardom of “Coach Prime” to that of pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyonce.
Kliavkoff indicated that thanks to the allure that Sanders has brought to the Buffaloes’ football program, he anticipates the entire conference’s ratings will be up from last season.
“Our ratings are going to be up this year because of Coach Prime,” said Kliavkoff. “He’s great for the league. He’s great for Colorado. You can see from where the team was last year to where they are this year.”
The Pac-12 commissioner was then asked if there was another coach in the sport who could attract similar viewership ratings to Sanders.
“I think if Beyonce of Taylor Swift decided to coach, they might glean the kind of media coverage we’re getting from Deion,” Kliavkoff said.
Sanders made the move to Boulder from FCS program Jackson State, where he amassed a 27-6 record across two seasons. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is hoping to achieve similar success at Colorado, where he’s already made a big impact in terms of recruitment and general interest in the program.
The Buffs’ spring game featured a sellout crowd in April this year, a drastic improvement compared to the fan turnout from 2022.
Now, Sanders has drawn some rather unorthodox but significant praise from his new conference’s commissioner, who indicated his move to Colorado has been a welcome addition for the Pac-12.
