A ‘Screw ‘Em’ Mindset
When Deion Sanders was announced as Colorado’s head coach in December 2022, the program was at a crossroads. The University of Colorado Boulder saw in Sanders not just a charismatic figure but a builder of culture, someone who would demand accountability while promising a clear path forward.
The Buffaloes answered that call with a 9‑4 record in 2023, a season that surprised many and cemented Sanders’ early credibility. As Phillip Dukes later put it, the squad adopted a ‘Screw ‘em’ attitude — an unapologetic refusal to be swayed by naysayers.
Turning Doubt into Drive
Yet the optimism was tempered by reality. Analysts now project Colorado’s win total for the upcoming campaign as the lowest among Big 12 teams, a statistic that has become a rallying point rather than a deterrent. The coaching staff and players have turned that projection into a challenge, using every external doubt as fuel.
Inside the locker room, the mantra is simple: focus on the work at hand and let the noise fade into the background. The team’s preparation for 2026 is built around that principle, with Sanders emphasizing that the program is set up to win, even when the odds are stacked against them.