While some in the media have worked overtime painting the narrative that Deion Sanders opted into coaching solely to promote his son, Shedeur — one of the best and most polarizing quarterbacks in college football — others have praised “Coach Prime” for holding Shedeur accountable, supporting Colorado’s players on and off the field and turning the Buffs to contenders in less than two years.

The scrutiny has much to do with Deion, who rubs some folks the wrong way with his revolutionary way of doing things. However, his son Shedeur’s confidence and ruthless ways have further inflamed the family’s critics who are seething following the Buffs’ hot 4-1 start.

Fortunately for Shedeur (and, apparently, the Buffs program), his dad is also his head coach and can “manage” the Heisman Trophy candidate whose arrogance is part of what makes him so special.

“Shedeur, that was horrible from you today. Horrible,” Deion doubled down before the Colorado football team after practice on Tuesday, courtesy of @SkoBuffsGoBuffs on X, proving anyone can get it. “You got to come with a better effort and more focus.”

Sanders, who is just two wins away from ensuring at least a .500 record and coaching in a bowl game in just the second year of his Boulder rebuild, is defying the gatekeepers of college football — not just with his words, but by proving them wrong.

“Head coach holding a leader of the team accountable. Love that,” said one comment underneath the video. “No one is above the standard and Prime knows it. Cannot allow complacency to kick in and that’s exactly what a coach does during the highs of a team.”

Deion’s defiance in the face of ridicule and focus on his players has overflown off the field where Sanders, with help from a credit union in September, invested in them and the lives of their children.

The 5430 Alliance, Colorado’s collective, partnered with Elevations Credit Union to open bank accounts for the children of eight Buffaloes players. Each account will have $2,121 deposited into it — a nod to Sanders’ number and, most importantly, an investment into each kid’s future.

“Coach Prime put out that call, and Elevations Credit Union responded,” said a representative who took center stage to surprise the players with the honor. “Coach Prime asked us to step up and to join him today and get in on opening up accounts for the children of some of the student athletes that he just appreciates so much.”

Maybe “Coach Prime” isn’t so bad after all.

Todderick Hunt covers Sports and Culture and Recruiting. Have a story idea or a tip? He can be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com.