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Deion Sanders’ staff replacements should start by promoting from within at Colorado

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Deion Sanders’ staff replacements should start by promoting from within at Colorado


Deion Sanders faces a pivotal period in the coming months, with decisions that could shape the future of Colorado football. From evaluating player movements to navigating staff changes and addressing persistent rumors about his own career trajectory, Sanders’ leadership will be under scrutiny. This offseason presents not just challenges, but opportunities to reinforce the foundation he’s been building in Boulder.

A significant focus lies in determining where key players like Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig will continue their football journeys at the next level. The decisions other players make—whether to declare for the NFL Draft, transfer, or return for another season—will heavily influence the program’s outlook for 2025. Equally important will be Sanders’ approach to the transfer portal, both in terms of retaining talent and attracting new additions to strengthen the roster.

One of the more immediate developments has been the departure of offensive line coach Phil Loadholt and defensive ends coach Vincent Dancy to Mississippi State. While losing these two coaches may seem like a setback, Sanders has consistently framed such moves as a sign of success. He views his coaching staff as a launching pad, where talented assistants earn opportunities for advancement. This philosophy underscores his belief in cultivating leadership within his program, and he openly welcomes the prospect of his coaches progressing to larger roles.

However, not all coaching departures are created equal. While Loadholt and Dancy’s exits are notable, the potential loss of defensive coordinator Robert Livingston looms larger. Sanders has openly acknowledged Livingston’s value and expects that his success will draw interest from other programs. If Livingston departs, Sanders’ response will likely mirror his usual refrain—embracing the cycle of growth and promotion.

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Yet, the most intriguing coaching figure in Boulder might not even hold an official title beyond Graduate Assistant: Warren Sapp. The Hall of Fame defensive tackle has quickly become a vital presence on the coaching staff, embodying both the energy and experience that resonate deeply with players. His influence on Colorado’s defensive front cannot be overstated, with Sapp helping to instill a mentality of aggression and dominance that paid dividends in the Buffs’ improved defensive performances.

Sapp’s mantra, “Earn the right to rush the QB,” became a guiding principle for the defensive line, contributing to a noticeable reduction in opponents’ rushing yards. The correlation between Colorado’s ability to stifle the run and their overall competitiveness was clear. When opposing running backs were held in check, the Buffs had a chance to win. Conversely, games where the run defense faltered—like against Nebraska and Kansas—exposed vulnerabilities that ultimately cost Colorado victories.

Sapp’s presence extends beyond schematics. His charisma and stature as a football legend command attention and respect from players. Many of Colorado’s defensive linemen gravitate towards him, eager to absorb his knowledge and motivated by his relentless energy. This dynamic between Sapp and defensive line coach Damione Lewis has created a complementary coaching tandem, blending Lewis’ authoritative leadership with Sapp’s infectious enthusiasm.

Deion Sanders calls out ‘Idiots’ over rumors about his sons NFL futures

The departure of Dancy creates a natural opening for Sapp to step into a more formal role. Promoting Sapp to defensive ends coach would not only reward his contributions but also ensure continuity in the defensive front’s development. Such a move could help stabilize the program during an offseason likely to be filled with speculation about Sanders’ long-term future at Colorado.

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In many ways, Sapp mirrors Sanders’ impact on the program. Both are larger-than-life figures whose influence transcends the X’s and O’s. Just as Sanders’ celebrity status draws recruits and energizes the fanbase, Sapp’s reputation as a fierce competitor and mentor resonates with players on the defensive side of the ball. The opportunity to learn from two Hall of Famers is a rare privilege that few college programs can offer.

Warren Sapp says “it’s tough to watch” beloved analyst on ESPN College GameDay

As Sanders navigates the next several months, securing Sapp’s place on the staff could provide a stabilizing force amid the whirlwind of offseason changes. It’s a move that aligns with Sanders’ broader philosophy—empowering those around him to lead, succeed, and eventually ascend. In doing so, Sanders not only strengthens Colorado’s immediate prospects but also solidifies the long-term vision for the program, ensuring that the Buffaloes remain a force in college football for years to come.



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Two-alarm fire damages hotel in Estes Park, 1 person taken to a Colorado hospital

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Two-alarm fire damages hotel in Estes Park, 1 person taken to a Colorado hospital



A two-alarm fire damaged a hotel in Estes Park on Friday night. It happened at Expedition Lodge Estes Park just north of Lake Estes.

The lodge, located at 1701 North Lake Avenue on the east side of the Colorado mountain town, was evacuated after 8:30 p.m. and the fire chief said by 10 p.m. the fire was under control.

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One person was hurt and taken to a hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. So far it’s not clear how much damage it caused.

A total of 25 firefighters fought the blaze.

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Warm storm delivers modest totals to Colorado’s northern mountains

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Warm storm delivers modest totals to Colorado’s northern mountains


Arapahoe Basin Ski Area recorded 8.5 inches of snow through Friday morning.
Lucas Herbert/Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Friday morning wrapped up a warm storm across Colorado’s northern and central mountains, bringing totals of up to 10 inches of snowfall for several resorts.

Higher elevation areas of the northern mountains — particularly those in and near Summit County and closer to the Continental Divide — received the most amount of snow, with Copper, Winter Park and Breckenridge mountains seeing among the highest totals.

Meanwhile, lower base areas and valleys received rain and cloudy skies, thanks to a warmer storm with a snow line of roughly 9,000 feet.



Earlier this week, OpenSnow meteorologists predicted the storm’s snow totals would be around 5-10 inches, closely matching actual totals for the northern mountains. The central mountains all saw less than 5 inches of snow.

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Here’s how much snow fell between Wednesday through Friday morning for some Western Slope mountains, according to a Friday report from OpenSnow:



Aspen Mountain: 0.5 inches

Snowmass: 0.5 inches

Copper Mountain: 10 inches

Winter Park: 9 inches

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Breckenridge Ski Resort: 9 inches

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area: 8.5 inches

Keystone Resort: 8 inches

Loveland Ski Area: 7 inches

Vail Mountain: 7 inches

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Steamboat Resort: 6 inches

Beaver Creek: 6 inches

Irwin: 4.5 inches

Cooper Mountain: 4 inches

Sunlight: 0.5 inches

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Friday and Saturday will be dry, while Sunday will bring northern showers. The next storms are forecast to be around March 3-4 and March 6-7, both favoring the northern mountains.





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Avalanche discipline, power play falters, Central Division lead shrinks in 5-2 loss to Wild

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Avalanche discipline, power play falters, Central Division lead shrinks in 5-2 loss to Wild


The Colorado Avalanche had a chance Thursday night to regain some real separation between them and the Minnesota Wild.

It didn’t happen, and special teams were again an issue.

Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek scored a pair of power-play goals, while the Avalanche took too many penalties and did not convert its chances with the extra man in a 5-2 loss at Ball Arena. The Wild scored on two of six power plays, both in the second period, then added a shorthanded goal into an empty net for good measure.

“We took six (penalties). Six is too many, especially against a power play like theirs,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “We had a slow start to the second and then just kind of started getting going, then took a bunch of penalties and kind of took the momentum away and swung it back in their favor again.”

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Mackenzie Blackwood was excellent early in this contest and stopped 31 of 34 shots for the Avs in his first start since the Olympic break. Colorado, which went 0-for-3 on the power play, has not scored an extra-man goal in back-to-back games since Dec. 31 and Jan. 3. The Avs are 2-for-31 with the man advantage since Jan. 16, and at 15.1% are last in the NHL.

The Wild are now just five points behind the Avs in the Central Division, though Colorado has two games in hand. Filip Gustavsson made 44 saves for the visitors.

“I think we crated enough chances to win the hockey game,” Bednar said. “We give up the (second power-play goal) and that’s the difference in the hockey game for me. We had a chance (on the power play) … we score and it’s a tie game. We haven’t had an easy time capitalizing on some of our chances that we created in the last month.

“I’d like to see that turn around a little bit.”

Minnesota took advantage of three penalties on Colorado in a span of 53 seconds to take the lead with 2:23 left in the second period. Captain Gabe Landeskog was sent to the box for elbowing Eriksson Ek away from the play at 14:15 and Valeri Nichushkin was called for cross-checking at 15:04.

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That gave the Wild a 5-on-3, but it went from bad to worse in a hurry for the home side. Brock Nelson won the 3-on-5 in his own end, but Brent Burns’ backhanded attempt to clear the puck out of the zone went into the stands for a delay of game.

Minnesota had a 5-on-3 for 1:56, which Colorado successfully killed off, but because Burns’ two minutes didn’t start until Landeskog’s penalty ended, there was more 5-on-4 time and Eriksson Ek scored his second of the night. The Swedish Olympian was trying to send a cross-crease pass to Kirill Kaprizov, but it hit the inside of Blackwood’s right leg and pinballed across the goal line.

Because of the extended penalty time, both Eriksson Ek and Boldy officially logged a shift of more than four minutes, leading to that goal.

“I’m not a big fan of the penalties we took, necessarily,” Landeskog said. “Obviously, mine is a penalty. Val, I felt like he was protecting himself and Burns, that’s a penalty. There’s nothing to argue about there. But yeah, that tilts the ice for sure and just gives them unnecessary momentum.

“So yeah, undisciplined and we’ve got to be better there for sure.”

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Eriksson Ek put Minnesota in front at 7:48 of the second period. Cale Makar was called for slashing when his one-handed swipe while Yakov Trenin was attempting to shoot from the left wing. Trenin’s stick broke, so Makar went to the box.

Blackwood made the initial save on Matt Boldy’s shot from the high slot, but Eriksson Ek was there near the left post to clean up the rebound.



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