LAS VEGAS — With a mini-entourage in tow, and cameras following his every step, Deion Sanders’ arrival for his first Big 12 Media Days appearance fit the image of Coach Prime.
He took his seat at the stage inside Allegiant Stadium on Wednesday morning with his sunglasses on, a gold whistle around his neck and a white Colorado hoodie poking out the top of his black suit.
While Tuesday was filled with other coaches being asked about Sanders, he repaid the favor with some shoutouts to a few Big 12 coaches he’s familiar with, from Gus Malzahn of Central Florida, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire.
“Much love to Gus, Coach Malzahn at UCF,” Sanders said. “I’m just highlighting a couple of the coaches because they’ve been so kind, they’ve been so considerate and so wonderful to me.
“Coach Gundy is a dern legend. So being at the Big 12 meetings and getting a chance to meet a multitude of these head coaches that have just welcomed me with open arms, they have been phenomenal.”
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Sanders’ presence, however, trumped that of any other coach — even the longest-tenured coach in terms of years in the league with Gundy, who is entering his 20th season and always draws a crowd because of his unique personality.
But Sanders pulls attention like a magnet.
He walked across the turf of Allegiant Stadium heading from interview to interview at the various media stations. And as he moved, media members followed, some taking photos or video, some just watching a Pro Football Hall of Famer pass by.
Is he the face of the new Big 12?
Maybe not yet, considering he hasn’t coached a game in the league yet.
“He’s got Taco Bell, Aflac — he’s got so many other things going,” Gundy joked in a reference to Sanders’ endorsement deals.
But Sanders is quite clearly a draw.
“First of all, I’m a big Deion fan,” said Malzahn, who while at Auburn recruited Sanders’ son Shedeur. “Goes back to his playing days and all that. The exposure that he’s giving our conference I think is excellent. He does things his own way. But I think he brings a lot to our conference.”
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Sanders will bring attention to the Big 12. Not always positive, considering his polarizing nature. But always valuable.
After Sanders’ press conference on the main stage, he walked toward the ESPNU set for another interview and crossed paths with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark. The two smiled, slapped hands and chatted briefly before moving in opposite directions.
Sanders most certainly fits the idea for how Yormark desires to draw in additional fans, and Sanders recognizes Yormark’s ability to make such connections.
“I think we have the best commissioner in football,” Sanders said. “He’s unbelievable. He’s absolutely a legend. He’s a baller, he’s a shot caller, he’s a boss, and I love him.”
Whether you love Sanders, hate him, or somewhere in between, Wednesday’s event proved the one thing anyone who has paid attention to him should know.
He acts differently, and he’s viewed differently. But he’s not changing.
“I’m judged on a different scale,” he said. “My wins are totally different than your wins. Your wins, you just judge football. I can’t win nine games and our GPA suffers. Our GPA can’t be high and we lose another eight games.
“We have to win in every area. That’s the way we’re judged. I’m cool with that. Because we come at it a little different. So the expectation is greater. But it’s not just football. It’s been like that all my life. I’ve always had a greater expectation for myself. The expectation you have for me would never outweigh the expectation I have for myself.”
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Deion Sanders praises Mike Gundy at Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas
The Oklahoman
