BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes open their first spring session Sunday under the direction of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, the to-do list for Sanders and his staff will no doubt be a long one.
In the span of just a few months, the Buffs have undergone a roster change the likes of which has never been seen before in CU history — but one that is emblematic of today’s college football world, where the transfer portal has changed the entire concept of rebuilding.
More than half of Colorado’s roster has yet to play a game in a Colorado uniform. Virtually the entire coaching staff — from Sanders on down through the graduate assistants — is new, including the coordinators, who will have 15 spring practices to begin the on-field process of installing their new schemes.
But Sanders has vowed that CU fans won’t have to endure a long, painful rebuilding process. He wants to win immediately — and to get there, the Buffs will have to improve in every facet of the game.
The top priorities of the spring:
1. Install new schemes on both sides of the ball. New offense, new defense, new terminology and new players means a tall order. Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly and offensive counterpart Sean Lewis have had the opportunity to begin the install process in the classroom, but nothing takes the place of on-field work.
Every practice, every film session, every drill will be important. There will be no room for wasted time or effort. Which brings us to …
2. Emphasize a sense of urgency. Granted, no matter what happens in the spring, the Buffs will still have an entire summer and fall camp to catch up if necessary.
But playing catch-up is not Coach Prime’s style — and you can bet that every minute the Buffs spend on the field will be one with a purpose.
Sanders and his staff all have winning backgrounds. They all are familiar with what it takes to create the edge now that will make a difference next fall.
Expect that sense of urgency to be evident from Day One. The pace will be fast, the learning curve steep and the margin for error slim. Players who adjust quickly will make their mark and there’s no doubt coaches will be noting who those players are.
3. Continue to build culture and continuity. It took Sanders roughly 10 seconds to deliver the message he wanted every Buff to hear when he took the…
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