Two Colorado fans spent the day preparing multiple outfits for a late kickoff, and Deion Sanders took notice. Before the Buffaloes faced Houston at Folsom Field, their head coach responded to one fan’s Instagram post with a brief message of appreciation.
Patty Backmann, one of the two fans, described the preparations as part of a full day of game-day activities. She wrote that an 8:15 kickoff meant a long day, but said she could not imagine spending it with anyone other than her “partner in crime.” She also highlighted the contrast between their daytime clothes and their game-time outfits, ending her post with a message of support for the Buffs.
For many college football fans, game day might mean putting on a team jersey and heading to a tailgate. Planning separate looks for the daytime and the game takes more preparation, particularly when kickoff is late in the evening. The two fans’ effort turned the matchup into an all-day occasion.
Sanders replied to Backmann’s post with a prayer emoji and the words, “You are awesome.” His response stood out during a demanding week for Colorado, which entered the Houston game with a 3-6 record and a 1-5 mark in Big 12 play.
The Buffaloes were coming off a 20-10 loss at Arizona State. They trailed 17-0 at halftime and did not record their first first down until midway through the second quarter. A 74-yard touchdown pass was also called back because of a penalty involving a tight end.
Colorado’s only victory in its previous seven games was a 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State, a game in which the Buffaloes used their fourth-string quarterback. Sanders had a 19-27 record in Boulder, and the 2024 season—when Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter were at Colorado—was the program’s only winning season during his tenure.
The team’s results have placed additional attention on Sanders’ position. He signed a five-year, $54 million contract extension in March 2025 that runs through 2029, and his pay for the year is about $10 million. If Colorado dismisses him without cause, the school would owe 75% of the remaining contract value. Reported figures put that amount at $25.5 million this season and $17.25 million in 2027, with payments continuing monthly through 2029. Athletic Director Fernando Lovo had previously said Sanders had his “unequivocal support.” A third losing season in four years was one loss away.
After the Arizona State game, with Lovo in the room, Sanders was asked about his job security. He shifted the focus to his players, accepted responsibility for the team’s results and said he was “not getting it done.” He added that the team was taking the season one practice at a time rather than focusing on the three wins it needed.
“I don’t think about that, man,” Sanders said. “I’m not here for my job. I’m here for these young men. I’m not built like that. I want these kids to graduate, to provoke change in their communities and their lives and their families. I ain’t worried about me. I’m good, my brother. I’m not worried about me. I worry about others. That’s who I’m called to be.”
The numbers underscored Colorado’s offensive challenges. The Buffaloes averaged 19.8 points per game, tied for 123rd among 138 teams, and had not won a Big 12 road game in two years. They had also scored fewer than 20 points in five of their nine games.
Brennan Marion was in his first season as offensive coordinator. Sanders had changed play-callers before, but when asked that week whether he would do so again, he answered, “No.” He acknowledged that the current approach was not producing the results the program needed and said he had to do better.
Sanders has said he wants the team to produce a balanced attack. Colorado’s defense offered a potential building block: linebacker Gideon Lampron was coming off consecutive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Sanders had also been playing safety on the scout team to help keep practices loud.
Against that difficult backdrop, the fans’ elaborate game-day plans offered a reminder of the support still surrounding the program. Their commitment to spending the entire day celebrating Colorado showed that, despite the team’s struggles, some Buffaloes supporters remained invested in the season and its traditions.
