It’s not often you hear Deion Sanders admit, “You know it’s not my choice, right?”
When it comes to tussles with the NCAA, he’s right. It’s not his call. The only real “tussle,” as it were, between the Colorado Buffaloes football coach and the sport’s governing body (at least for the time being) has been over Deion’s desire to bring another college football team to Boulder to participate in “joint practices” during spring football. To date, the NCAA has nixed that idea, much to Sanders’ dismay.
Yet it’s not an idea that should be given up on. In fact, a better plan may be to seek the chance to have NFL-style joint practices in August, as teams prepare for their season openers. While several comparable programs kick off against FCS foes (the Buffs host Weber State in Week Two), CU has gone the route of playing a more marquee opening game. The Buffs could certainly use a tune-up as they get ready to travel east and go up against a pretty darn good Atlantic Coast Conference foe in Georgia Tech.
There are obvious issues with adding a competitive practice week to a slate that already has some teams playing as many as 14, 15 or even 16 games. But in a controlled environment, where coaches can be on the field – and can keep at-risk players on the sidelines if they wish – the chances for injury are actually half of what they’d be in a Buffs vs. Buffs practice setting.
It’s commonly said that college football teams improve the most between Weeks One and Two. So it stands to reason that that improvement could occur before the games really count.
So would Deion like to see this?
“I would. I would. But you’ve got to understand that there’s a cost to that ,as well,” the third year CU coach added. “I mean, you could go right down the street to Air Force or to Colorado State, (that wouldn’t be) costly… but I wouldn’t just want to go and do a one-off. I’d want to do it for at least three days, and then you have a “game,” so to speak. I would love to do it for at least three days.
“I wish it was my choice.”
While no one sees this kind of thing happening any time soon (the NCAA has much bigger issues they’re dealing with at the moment), but as the sport becomes more and more “professionalized,” it’s one of the ideas that’s worth talking about. Anything that can improve the product on the field – and the experience of the players who play it – is beneficial. These are guys who would relish the chance to go up against someone in a different colored jersey this time of year.
And imagine the fan interest in watching a series of CU vs. CSU practice sessions, followed by a scrimmage game?
Sanders still holds out hope that the NCAA will eventually allow joint practices in the spring. But for now, it’s Buffs vs. Buffs as they prepare for the trip to Atlanta as touchdown underdogs.
If only they had a cupcake to snack on first.
Strike 2: Deion Sanders pushes for joint practices, NCAA pushes back Mile High Sports.
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