Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders witnessed a notable improvement in offensive performance following the change in play-callers from Pat Shurmur to Brett Bartolone. This shift occurred during a challenging season, and the Buffs faced a tough 29-22 defeat against West Virginia on Saturday in Morgantown.
Despite the loss, it marked Colorado”s best offensive showing since their victory over the Iowa State Cyclones earlier in October, according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today. During the game at Mountaineer Field, the Buffs displayed resilience, a stark contrast to their previous two outings after the bye week, where they suffered heavy defeats against the Arizona Wildcats and the Utah Utes.
Sanders has a history of changing offensive coordinators mid-season, having done so previously at both Jackson State in 2021 and again in Colorado this year. In 2023, he elevated Shurmur to call plays while demoting offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, who left after the season to become head coach at San Diego State. Unfortunately, after the switch, the team”s offensive struggles continued, largely due to injuries suffered by quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Following the change, the team lost all four remaining games.
Interestingly, Shurmur had previously led the Buffs to a respectable 9-4 season before the recent struggles. On Saturday, Colorado managed to score the most points since their October 11 win against Iowa State, a game in which Shurmur was still at the helm.
As the season progresses, the upcoming matchups against the Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas State Wildcats will be crucial. The goal for Coach Prime and his squad is not necessarily to win, but to demonstrate the kind of pride and competitiveness they exhibited against West Virginia. A failure to show improvement and a regression from their current 4-8 record could pose a significant challenge for Sanders”s future in Boulder.
It is evident that Sanders is feeling the absence of his sons and Travis Hunter, who are not present on the team this season. Deion Jr., who remains in Colorado, is documenting the team”s experiences for “Well Off Media.” While the situation is dire, there are signs of progress. If conditions worsen, the Buffaloes may find themselves looking for a new head coach next season. At least Coach Prime has made bold moves to revamp the offense instead of persisting with ineffective strategies.
