Deion Sanders, head coach at Colorado, has drawn criticism and support on social media following his announcement of a new dress code for players ahead of the 2025 college football season.
Sanders recently returned to Boulder after being absent due to surgery following a cancer diagnosis. At a meeting with his team earlier this week, he told players not to wear slides or have hoodies or headphones in class and warned that there would be “serious consequences” for those who did not comply.
“No slides. If I see you with a hoodie or headphones on in class, there’s gonna be a problem,” Sanders said in a video that circulated widely on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy centers around Sanders wearing a hoodie while delivering the directive, which many online users called hypocritical. One comment read: “He is telling them this as he is wearing a hoodie? What incredible leadership on display. Rules for thee but not for me. Did he raise his sons this way?” (He is telling them this as he is wearing a hoodie? What incredible leadership on display. Rules for thee but not for me. Did he raise his sons this way?…New dress code after his kids leave.)—Big Joe Gerrymander and Sean Spicier – Former Tango Dancer (Parody)
Other commenters defended Sanders, suggesting that his intention was to prohibit students from having their hoods up in class—a practice that can conceal headphones—rather than banning all hooded sweatshirts.
“I’m not a fan of Deion the coach but I think he probably means the hood on your head in class, not wearing a hoodie sweatshirt…You can wear a hoodie to class you just can’t have the hood on during class is what he is saying,” two users wrote.(I’m not a fan of Deion the coach but I think he probably means the hood on your head in class, not wearing a hoodie sweatshirt…You can wear a hoodie to class you just can’t have the hood on during class is what he is saying.)—Horn Takes Podcast and Trae Taylor
Sanders’ health has also been discussed publicly after actress Karrueche Tran was seen visiting him at the hospital. When questioned about their relationship status, Sanders declined to answer.
The upcoming season presents new challenges for Sanders as it will be Colorado’s first without key players Shedeur and Shilo Sanders and Travis Hunter following last year’s 9-4 record under his leadership.
