Some Colorado legends aren’t happy with head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes’ decision to retire quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter’s jersey numbers.
In two seasons, the two helped Colorado to a 13-12 record and AP Top 25 finish in 2024, before losing in the Alamo Bowl, with Hunter winning the Heisman Trophy for his performance.
Colorado Legends Slam Deion Sanders Over Jersey Retirements for Shedeur and Travis Hunter
One member of Colorado’s 1990 national-title team told “The Athletic” he disagreed with Sanders’ decision to put the two numbers in the rafters under the condition of anonymity.
“We’re celebrating mediocrity,” the player said. “Where are the wins? Where are the top-10 finishes? Go Buffs for life, but you have to just hold your nose and deal with it… If you b— and complain, you look jealous and envious, and you’re just a hater.”
Linebacker Chad Brown, another member of the 1990 title team and two-time All-Big Eight honoree, was also critical of the program.
“I had no idea whatsoever,” Brown said. “I hadn’t heard of anyone who heard it was happening. Everybody from my era was just as caught off guard as I was… Not a lot of numbers have been retired over the years. For this to be the exact opposite of our experience is one of the reasons why it was so different to see this.”
Sanders and Hunter are just the fifth and sixth players in Colorado history to have their jersey numbers retired, along with Heisman-winning running back Rashaan Salaam, halfback and former Supreme Court Justice Byron White, halfback Bobby Anderson, and linebacker Joe Romig. All four are College Football Hall of Famers.
Six Buffs College Football Hall of Famers and quarterback Kordell Stewart haven’t had their number retired.
“The leapfrogging has already been done,” Brown said. “Does [athletic director] Rick George go back and start this process? Who do you start it with? What guys of our eras? Who picks this? Who chooses this?
“Who chose this one? It seems like it would be a committee kind of thing of folks who understand the legacy and the history of CU football, and maybe some newer folks. … But as far as I know, nothing like that was done.”
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