Deion Sanders puts the media on alert
While Coach will never use profanity, his message resonates loud and clear. If you eff around, you’re going to find out.
This is accountability. It’s a vital part of any successful business. If you go back and watch any postgame press conferences from Jackson State, Coach Prime always went out of his way to praise anybody and everybody who helped in the team’s success.
This includes trainers, managers, video coordinators, etc. Additionally, he would often acknowledge media members who he felt made positive contributions in covering the student athletes.
But, accountability goes both ways. If someone fails to meet expectations, they’re going to hear about it. It’s not mean spirited or particularly personal but, it’s a reminder that anybody can be replaced, both on and off the field.
Some members of the Colorado media learned this on Friday. In my opinion, it was a lesson that was long overdue. As someone who’s attended far too many press conferences over the last few decades, I have a pretty good grasp on interacting with coaches.
Coach Prime handles his media responsibilities in the same way as Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. The college football G.O.A.T. coach makes it a point to be as forthright as possible with the media at all times. He also will disclose next to nothing unless he is specifically asked a question.
The “do your job” or “do your homework” mantras often attributed to Saban or Patriots coach Bill Belichick, are expectations that carry over to anyone in their presence. The idea is that everyone can do better and work harder. This harkens back to the old Vince Lombardi “if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence” quotation.
Coach Prime is no different. He’ll answer your questions, but he’s not just going to voluntarily disclose things unprompted. If you want information, you’re going to have to work for it.
Since Prime arrived in Boulder, he has held several press conferences. And, if we are being honest with ourselves, there hasn’t been a single tough question asked at any of them.
We said in the Buffs Best FB group, at the time, that there was an incredible amount of fluff when there were obvious questions that needed to be asked.
Often, it sounded more like a room of sycophants than journalists. It was embarrassing. I get it! It can happen. It can be intimidating working with a new coach and trying to do what you can to gain access and further the relationship.
At media day, it wasn’t just the players getting feedback from the man in charge. He coached up one reporter.
And, he handed another one their butt on a platter.
Yeah, not a great look for the reporter. But, here’s the thing. Coach Prime is not doing this to shame anyone. He is asking for everyone to step up their game.
These are both talented writers and tremendous individuals. While they may have had one particularly bad day, they’ll have plenty of good days moving forward.