In Boulder, Colorado, Deion Sanders could not fully bask in the momentous occasion where his son, Shedeur Sanders, and close protégé, Travis Hunter, had their jerseys retired before the spring game. As the coach of Colorado, Sanders had other pressing responsibilities, such as assessing his new quarterbacks, supervising special teams, and ensuring that the audience, both present and watching on national television, was entertained.
Despite the distractions, Sanders expressed deep appreciation for the jersey retirement ceremony, although the timing ruffled feathers among some erstwhile Colorado players and fans. “I felt a lot of pride looking at Shedeur and Travis,” Sanders said. “Their happiness and gratitude meant everything to me. While timing may not please everyone, we live in a ‘now’ era, and they deserve their recognition.”
This occasion was among the last where Hunter and Shedeur Sanders would shine together on Folsom Field’s green stage. Standing at midfield, they witnessed their jersey numbers — No. 2 for Sanders and No. 12 for Hunter — revealed for all to see on the stadium’s east face.
The ceremony marked the start of a hectic week for Hunter, the Heisman Trophy recipient, and Shedeur Sanders, awarded the Johnny Unitas Award as college football’s leading quarterback. Both players are anticipated to be high selections in the NFL draft commencing on Thursday.
As the fanfare subsided, the team turned back to the business of football by seeking a successor for Shedeur Sanders. The competitive field includes Kaidon Salter, transferring from Liberty, and Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a five-star recruit who commenced his college journey last fall.
Lewis, the first of the two quarterbacks to take the field, experienced initial nervousness but balanced his plays between the run and the pass. With Shedeur Sanders’ departure, Colorado is pivoting towards a more ground-focused game plan, a change bolstered by Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk’s arrival as the running backs coach.
“Julian might be young, but we aren’t focused on age or stage,” Deion Sanders commented on Lewis.
When Salter took his turn, he exhibited a veteran’s calm. Known for his dual-threat capabilities, Salter’s previous tenure at Liberty saw him toss 56 touchdown passes and run 21 into the end zone.
“I connected with the offensive strategy here,” Salter explained. “Our staff is adept and knows how to prepare us for advancing to the next level.”
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders and Hunter looked on from the sidelines, observing those who would follow in their footsteps. Their jersey retirement was only the fifth and sixth such honor in Colorado’s storied 135-year history.
At halftime, the late coach Bill McCartney was acknowledged, with a statue set to be unveiled next season. McCartney, who helmed Colorado to its sole football national title in 1990, passed away in January at the age of 84.
Despite optimistically eyeing a fuller stadium, attendance was recorded at 20,430, a noticeable decline from previous spring gatherings. Sanders attributed the drop to the NCAA cancelling prospects of a match against Syracuse, urging more support. “Our fan base is great, but we need more turnout to truly fill these seats, as if for a regular season game,” he emphasized.
During the event, walk-on safety Ben Finneseth received a scholarship from Sanders. “When he shared the news, I just thanked him for believing in me from the start,” Finneseth shared with emotion. “This opportunity is truly a blessing, and I’m grateful to everyone involved.”