Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders finds himself in the news again after an interesting response to being referred to as a "Nole," the nickname given to those who attended Florida State University.
Sanders, the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, played there from 1985-1988. He played in 44 games, had three punt returns for touchdowns, three pick-sixes, and had 14 interceptions.
The Colorado head coach is one of the best college football players of all time and played at Florida State, so what's the issue with being called a Nole? According to him, he didn't graduate from there, so therefore, he's not a Nole.
"No, no, no. Actually, do you know where I graduated from," he asked the media at a press conference on Tuesday.
"She [the reporter who asked] didn't know that...I graduated from an HBCU. So, I'm a who? No, I'm a who? I thought it was where you graduate from, isn't it," Sanders continued.
Deion Sanders says he?s not a NOLE he?s a HBCU Grad. pic.twitter.com/gXlgSxqrRV
— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) August 29, 2023
Now, a lot of this could have to do with the fact that Sanders, who was considered for the head coaching gig down there a few years ago, was turned down. Instead, he went to Jackson State and is now with Colorado. Additionally, he stole away Travis Hunter, a star cornerback, who was contemplating going to FSU, when Hunter was considered the No. 1 player in the country and decided to play for the HBCU instead of the Seminoles.
Sanders hasn't said anything publicly about his feelings regarding the Florida State program, but you can read through the lines however you'd like.
If Coach Prime doesn't want to be referred to as a Nole, that's fine. However, that's where he played four years of college ball, and where college football fans remember him as one of the most iconic players the sport has ever seen.
Deion Sanders is a Seminole.
