OT: Will Coach Prime be successful at Colorado?
I am curious to hear what folks think about Coach Prime's chances of being successful at Colorado? I think clearly he is going to be able to improve their recruiting. However, at Jackson State he was able to recruit FBS talent to come to an FCS program - which gave his team a huge talent advantage over the competition. He's not going to be able to do that at Colorado. Even if he gets very talented classes, he is only going to be on par with some of the other Pac 12 programs (although it helps him that USC and UCLA are leaving). Point being, I don't believe he's going to be able to create as big of a talent gap over his competition as he did at Jackson state. So it will really come down to coaching. He's going to have to hire a very talent coaching staff.
Some other food for thought: Will his style wear on the fan base and administration? As much as he says he wants to create attention to benefit the players, I have a hard time believing it's that altruistic. He's always been someone who relishes the spotlight. I was a little shocked at the way he talked to the team - basically telling them all to jump in the transfer portal so he could make room for his guys and introducing his son to the media by saying "here's your quarterback". Additionally, he has made some comments about not really embracing NIL (I want the kids to think about N-F-L and not N-I-L). One thing is for sure - it will be entertaining!
December 5th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
I have absolutely no idea. None. Can't even guess...
December 5th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
All I DO know is, he ain't SWAC.
-Eddie Robinson
December 5th, 2022 at 4:27 PM ^
Probably. He's has the vibe of a televangelist at a mega church preaching the gospel of prosperity. This has a long track record of success in college football, even amongst the slimiest of characters (Hugh Freeze, Myer, Dabo).
Couple his pastor like charisma with on field exploits and he should be able to recruit at a level they haven't seen since the 90's. Add in some competent assistants and they should return to at worst respectable and likely to a good program. Breaking into the elite is obviously tough right now, but with playoff expansion to 12 teams, anything is possible.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^
Joel Klatt as OC?
December 5th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
I sure hope not he’s the best analyst by a mile.
December 6th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
I am certain that Klatt is making a lot more money as a Fox analyst and other shows he does than he could possibly make as CU's OC.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
He has the vibe of a televangelist at a mega church preaching the gospel of prosperity.
That should go over well in a few areas on the Front Range.
December 6th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^
Yeah, if only CU was based in the Springs rather than that old hippy enclave Boulder, he'd probably start a mega church and quit coaching because he'd make exponentially more as a televangelist.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:45 PM ^
Never bet against Prime. He knows how to win. Should be exciting times in Boulder.
1-10 >> 6-6 >> 8-4 >> ?????
December 5th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
If he's "Prime" then I'd assume his wins could progress like ...
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13
(ba dum tsss)
December 5th, 2022 at 7:28 PM ^
Given the portal, that jump could go right past 6-6.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
Depends on how you define success? If you mean "Make millions of dollars and shoe-horn his son as a starting QB," then yes. Will he have enough success to make this another stepping stone job? We'll see. I have my doubts, but maybe he'll get 20 transfers in and they can be competative quickly.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Deion Sanders to current CU Players: "Better start checking out that transfer portal"
In other words: "Fuck off and leave"
December 5th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
That's the modern day, "Those who stay...." speech.
Prime is challenging them boys. Those up for the challenge will be better for it. Those who aren't are free to leave.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:20 PM ^
Agree with this take.
Sounds harsh, but it is refreshing a.f. to have a coach be open about the transition process vs. shady back-office dealings and quiet shoves out of the program.
Call them out - be a man and stick it out to be part of the success, or GTFO.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:39 PM ^
Yes, this is very reminiscent of Bo’s speech when he arrived at Michigan. Bo told the players how tough it’s going to be and a lot of them will quit. He talked about accountability and character. He told them those that survive will be champions.
Prime did the same thing except Prime has a lot more I in his speech. But that’s just Prime. Prime basically said you need to show up, be accountable, and its going to be tough. He said quit now and join the portal if you want, for the rest of you we are going to try and make you quit this summer, and for those who survive I promise you we will be winners. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he knows Bo’s speech given the similarities.
I watched the entire speech. Some of these other outtakes in this thread are incorrect. This is how you get commitment. He’s not saying fck off and leave at all. But to get the team fully committed he knows like Bo knew that the players have to make that decision to buy in fully.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:06 PM ^
That's how I read it too (readyourguard). Insane taskmaster coaches are always insane. It's part of how they win.
As to whether he will succeed. I don't know. I thought Frost was a shoo-in at Nebraska, so I can say with certainty I don't have a clue. Maybe Frost didn't give the Bo speech? They sure weren't tough or disciplined under his watch.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:54 PM ^
But how do you square “the team, the team, the team” with “I’m bringing my kid and he’s gonna be the starter before he does a single workout in Boulder”?
December 5th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
Yeah, "we've already got some positions taken care of because I'm bringing my luggage" (paraphrased) is not saying "those who stay will be champions," it's saying those who stay will be backups.
December 6th, 2022 at 8:12 AM ^
Did you see his kid play at Jackson State?
Spoiler Alert: He Good.
December 5th, 2022 at 6:46 PM ^
He just meant they’re Not Ready For Primetime Players
December 5th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
He's been wildly successful so far so I think as a coach, he's up to the task. He's obviously got a lot of strong coaching and recruiting ties across the country so that will help as well.
Although I will say he sort of seems like a culture clash with the holier-than-thou CU Boulder community. Maybe it will work? Maybe it won't. Don't really care. Go Rammies!
December 5th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
It'll be interesting
I'm rooting for him. I always liked Primetime
December 5th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
No idea. I'd like to see him do well.
From Colorado's point of view it's a great hire.
December 5th, 2022 at 7:57 PM ^
I'm not sure it's a great hire, but I would call it a huge gamble that's absolutely worth taking for a program like Colorado.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:04 PM ^
I'm sure he'll do fine. They were 1-11 last year and have a lot of wealthy alumni. Seems like a great pick to awaken a sleeping giant.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
He really seemed genuine and all in at JSU. I did not pay attention enough to have an educated opinion on how much of that success was bringing in P5 talent and just having a better team than everyone else. Assuming USC and UCLA do complete the move to the B1G, the Pac12 will be significantly weaker and there is certainly an opportunity to elevate Colorado into a contender. I'd say the challenge will be significantly greater than his previous stop though.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
He will be much better than what they've had over the decade and a half, when they've had only 1-2 winning seasons. He will get talent there for sure, and seems to be committed to surrounding himself with top-shelf assistants. Does he get them back to late 80s/early 90s Buffaloes? Hard to say; that's a pretty heavy lift.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
On WTKA this morning, the Twitter guy Sam was talking to referenced Deion's scandalous prep academy in Dallas as a cause for concern. Not familiar with that in any detail, but food for thought.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
yes.
no.
perhaps.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
I can’t imagine a worse power 5 program for him to take over. That one made zero sense to me.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
When I read that USF, Cinci, and Colorado were possibilities, I assumed he'd choose Cinci since they're in a recruiting hotbed, and moving to the Big 12.
I hope he does well at Colorado. It's a shame that program has fallen into the abyss. It won't be easy to get dudes to come to Boulder, but if anyone can do it, it's Prime. He's got a lot of charisma.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
Won't be easy to get dudes to come to Boulder? I usually say the opposite... "how can dudes not be lining up to play here?" CU is amazing and possibly one of the most beautiful campuses in the US.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:24 PM ^
Man.. Boulder is a beautiful, beautiful place. You would think this post was about Iowa City or Lincoln NE or something.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:35 PM ^
It won't be easy to get dudes to come to Boulder
I posted this yesterday.
I've been saying this for years.
Colorado should be pulling down the stars without even trying... great school, beautiful campus, great Colorado lifestyle, lots of pretty girls from LA and Phoenix all around.
For kids from the south, Front Range winters are a joke. It was shorts and t-shirt weather this weekend.
Why previous coaches couldn't tap into all of that is negligent
December 6th, 2022 at 12:29 AM ^
Front Range winters are a joke? Hard disagree - Boulder winters are going to be harsher than anyone from CA, AZ, TX or the South is used to.
Yes, it can be shorts and t-shirt weather in early December. But that's a function of the ridiculous variance there. In only 5 years there (Broomfield), I saw multi-inch snowstorms on the Tuesday after Labor Day, and the Wednesday before Memorial Day (a foot of snow that time)! Significant snowstorms are literally possible 9 months a year!
Even on a "normal" January Day, Boulder is sunny with a high of 45 but it gets cold quick (lows near 20) as soon as the sun sets. You don't get much of that, if at all, in LA, Phoenix, SD, SF or Houston (Dallas yes does see some of that).
December 6th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
I agree 100. I lived in Broomfield as well (Anthem, looked up my house on zillow recently and its more than doubled in value....since I sold it :( the other great thing is that I got to my house by driving on Wolverine Way). I did not care for the propensity to snow 8 mos out of the year, I mean I got out of Michigan for a reason, back in SoCal now.
It will definitely take a great salesman like Dion to bring those kids from the warm weather to CU but that's not even an issue to me. It's going to be Dion's ability to adapt to the machine of NCAA sports, it's a hell of a lot different than at the HBC's. If he learns to play the game while at the same time putting his own twist on it he will be good. If he tries to force his way, he may find difficulty. He's not dumb and he is very instinctual so I think he may be okay.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
Maybe.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
Good leadership comes in several packages. The best CEOs are actively involved as leaders and mentors but also hire great people and let them do their jobs.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
At first, yes. Long term. No
December 5th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
Deion is talented - and blessed with a lot of natural ability. But, natural ability and being able to coach are two different things.
Deion also sounded like a bit of “throwing current Colorado players under the bus” at his introductory meeting with the team.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
i mean they were 1-11 this past year, and outside of 2020 they haven't seen a winning season since 2016. getting thrown under the bus is probably well deserved.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:25 PM ^
Those who stay…
December 5th, 2022 at 7:06 PM ^
I know what you mean. It’s a fine line between calling out the players and calling out the previous regimes culture.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
It'd be hard to do any worse, but I suppose it all depends on how we define success.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
Considering the bravado it would be somewhat humorous if he flamed out, but I actually hope he turns it around.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
I think it's a coin-flip. He's obviously had success at JSU, but how that translates to CU reminds me a bit of RichRod at WVU vs UM. Culture fit matters. I don't see Prime adjusting anything about himself to fit CU.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
I have been thinking that as well.... now we'll see how well he can coach. He was able to fill a roster with considerable more talent than he was competing against, but that won't necessarily be the case now that he's in a P5 conf.
It's going to be fun to watch, I wouldn't bet against him.
CO is the launching pad for head coaches.... I hear the guy before last is raking it in!!!!
December 5th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
We live in a time where you have to produce quite early . . . even if at Colorado. He better hire a great staff.
Not like the PAC-12 is a bunch of world beaters, but this is going to be a tough job and time will tell if he has the stomach for it. I think this will be tough for him because he will get attention and headlines, but if he's losing it ceases to be fun. He's got a history of creating headlines but also controlling the narrative to a large degree. Losing doesn't always allow for that.