Deion Sanders, who is entering his third season as the football coach at Colorado, has implemented a new dress code policy for his players. As the team prepares for its 2025 season opener on Aug. 29, Sanders is focusing on developing discipline both on and off the field.
Sanders has told his players not to wear slides, hoodies, or headphones when attending classes. “No slides. If I see you with them – I’m gonna send people to campus – if I see you with slides on campus, it’s gonna be a problem,” Sanders told his players. “If I see you with a hoodie on in class, or some headphones on in class, it’s gonna be a problem. If I see you sitting in the back of the classroom, it’s gonna be a problem. Do we understand that?”
Sanders also addressed rules for online courses: “If you’re online, and you have online classes, and you don’t have a shirt on or you got a wife beater on, or you’ve got something stupid on that’s causing a distraction, or you’re walking about during an online session, it’s gonna be a problem,” said Sanders.
Reactions from fans have been largely supportive of Sanders’ approach to discipline. One fan stated: “Deion isn’t just molding these players to be better football players. He’s molding them to be better men. Slides, hoodie w/ headphones just signals laziness. It signals that i am here for football only and going through the motions during class.” Another commented: “I like these rules, creates discipline subconsciously with your team.” A different supporter noted: “If I had a child I would want him to play at Colorado because the coach just wants everyone to thrive and get their education.” Another social media user added: “Everyone is a massive naysayer to Deion Sanders but what he’s doing here is so sorely needed to young kids desperate for challenge and structure. Student athletes sitting in the back with hoods up and headphones on is actually a big problem that sends kids the complete wrong signal when they are students. You should put on not-pajamas to come to class, he’s 100% right and this is the reason that Colorado is back to national prominence again.”
Expectations for Colorado’s 2025 football season remain measured despite last year’s improvement under Sanders’ leadership; ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said being bowl eligible should be considered successful for the program this fall. “Seven or eight wins would be considered very good, and I think getting to a bowl game,” Finebaum said. “The most important thing right now is his health. And I know that’s a common feeling of all of us here, but he has a lot more important things to deal with than just not coaching his son.”
Colorado begins its first month of play against Georgia Tech as part of what many expect will be challenging early matchups.
