Clemson Tigers football head coach Dabo Swinney took a shot at Colorado Buffaloes HC Deion Sanders while discussing NIL (name, likeness, image) deals.
After years of controversy, the NCAA finally changed their NIL rules, allowing the student-athletes to make money on such deals. Prominent athletes like Texas quarterback Arch Manning, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and Miami QB Carson Beck have NIL deals worth several millions of dollars.
Deion Sanders’ son, former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and ex-Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter also signed multi-million dollar NIL deals. Both are headed for the NFL and expected to be early-round picks in the 2025 Draft.
Swinney discussed NIL deals in part of his interview on the “Unafraid Show with George Wrighster.” The two-time national champion talked about the importance of getting college education and a degree…before throwing unexpected shade at Coach Prime.
“I love Deion Sanders, he’s one of my heroes growing up. You know, what a shame if he couldn’t go do that job. He couldn’t be the head coach if he didn’t have his degree. And he’s not coaching for money, he’s coaching because he loves to teach.
And man, what a shame if he didn’t have that degree. Wouldn’t matter how many Hall of Fames he was in. He wouldn’t be qualified to go do that.”
In this interview, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says he hopes rev share/NIL will allow more players to stay in school and graduate. Brings up Deion Sanders.
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 3, 2025
“What a shame if he didn’t have that degree. Wouldn’t matter how many Hall of Fames he’s in … he wouldn’t be qualified.” https://t.co/SFaCOHjP3x pic.twitter.com/K6rojAtrii
Sanders played college football at Florida State before the Atlanta Falcons drafted him fifth overall in 1989. In 2020, Sanders graduated from Talladega College with a degree in Business Administration.
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Coach Prime was at Jackson State for three years, leading the school to consecutive SWAC championships in 2021 and 2022 before signing a multi-year deal to take over as Colorado’s new head coach.
Deion Sanders Enters Third Year In Boulder
The eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion went 4-8 in his first year with Colorado, a modest success considering he inherited a program that one just a single game the year before.
Colorado finished with a surprise 9-4 record in 2024, thanks largely to the play of Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy. Colorado’s season ended with a blowout loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl game.
Coach Prime now faces a daunting task in rebuilding the roster, with Shedeur and Hunter headed to the NFL. The Buffaloes kick off their 2025 season at home against Georgia Tech.
