Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders took to the podium at CU fall sports media day to preview the upcoming season. He defined what success would look like for the Buffs in the 2026 season, and it starts off the field.He also gave deep looks into what players like Boo Carter, Gideon ESPN Lampron and Cree Thomas bring to the team, while praising what his coaching staff has brought to the table. Here's a look at everything Sanders said in his fall sports media day press conference.Everything Deion Sanders said:Opening Statement:Deion Sanders takes in the second day of Cleveland Browns training camp, July 30, 2026, in Berea, Ohio. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect“You had a chance to meet Fernando. I'm sure he was charismatic and charming as always he is. I'm sorry, I'm a little tired. We already got our workout in, and I'm already walking two miles a day. I'll get it together in a second. The soccer team- I love our soccer staff. Those are my guys,” Sanders said.“They started the season off the right way, the win over Colorado State on Wednesday. They were picked second in the Big 12. I should have said second; they picked favorably in the Big 12 and will be back Sunday against Army at [Prentup] field,” Sanders said.“The volleyball team is another group that I'm excited about tremendously this year. I don't care about how they’re picked, but they should have a great season… The cross country team has, according to what I'm hearing, a chance to be really special this year. So I'm praying for them as well,” Sanders said.What defines success this seasonJul 7, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks to reporters during Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“First of all, that these kids graduate tremendously. We don't have any guys tapping out at the end, which means leaving us with Fs and flunking out, just quitting because they're not going pro, and they're mad and they're upset, so they're not gonna do the schoolwork,” Sanders said.“Getting to the next level, what I mean by that is a six-figure career after football, and football is not that destination. And for the rest of the guys that are good enough to make it to the next level, they not only make it, but they last five to 10 years, enough time that they can really get it together in life. No incidents or accidents as we endured a year ago, not even a year ago, not even a year yet. God bless Dom [Ponder]’s parents,” Sanders said.“They checked in yesterday, and it always makes me smile when [his mom] texts and we go back and forth. It was their baby girl’s first day of school, and she wore some black Air Force Ones, so I commented on that, but she's fly as can be. So I'm happy to have that type of relationship, but we don't want another incident like that,” Sanders said.“Then we want to win. We want to win profoundly,” Sanders said.How Deion Sanders supports Colorado Buffaloes women's sportsMar 7, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Jr. Payne watches the run of play against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“First of all, we eat together. We're in the same facility often, so I kind of get to know the girls. I love the tennis team too. I forgot to mention them. I think I have some really good friends on the tennis team. We bring them up to the office, and they get to go through the shades and find out what shades they like. They’re kind of my testers to let me know what's popular and what's good because kids will give it to you honestly,” Sanders said.“But I wish we could get involved more. I think what we should do, and I'm announcing this for the cafeteria. We need to put the games, like when one another plays, obviously when we play. But I'd like to know the game days because the coaches have to tell me when the girls play. I wish we could just put it somewhere everybody could see it so we could support one another. I think that's vital that we support,” Sanders said.“We're supporting one another, and they're really good. The ladies and teams are good,” Sanders said.Creating a culture of supportApr 11, 2026; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders greets players before the start of the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“Well, a lot of these young men haven’t been fathered. So, as coaches, we play multiple roles. We're not just the coaches to them. Some look at us as father figures, although we're not trying to be; we're old-school type coaches, and we just try to set the right example. Not only on the field but off the field, we care about them in a multitude of ways. It's not just about their production, but their productivity on the field,” Sanders said.“We want them to graduate and want them to go on to win and be extremely successful in life,” Sanders said.On the ‘Five-in-Five’ rule“I like it, but you got to really think about that in recruiting that, because you don't want to run guys off. You don't want to just look at them and say, ‘Okay, I'm not going to pick you up next year,’ or whatever. And that's not right. But it's not right for them to jump in the portal either. So who's right and who's wrong? So you really got to think about that because of the management and the years of the roster,” Sanders said.Brennan Marion and Chris Marve’s impactsSacramento State Hornets head coach Brennan Marion listens to one of the assistant coaches yell at players on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect“I love it. I love Brennan [Marion] and [Chris] Marve. You got to understand the personalities that they have complement me tremendously. I don't have to do all the yelling, all the holding people accountable-they're at it. And one thing about these young men is, these coaches know how to develop relationships with them,” Sanders said.“So the relationship is not just towards me. So when they choose to play here, they're not just choosing to play for me. They choose to play for these two tremendous coordinators and this group of coaches that is phenomenal,” Sanders said.“I love what [Marion] brings to the table. We drove back together from…Colorado Springs, and we had a wonderful time just conversating. We shared a lot of things, but I love him to life, man. He's really, really good at what he does,” Sanders said.Bringing back players from the 2022 classOct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos kicker Alejandro Mata (16) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect“We've talked about all those guys…If they can help us, we certainly want them, Buck [Buchanan] as well. Don't forget Buck. I mean, Buck kicks the durn ball out of the end zone every durn time, and I think he will be the first guy we’re looking to affirm. But we're praying that those votes, or whatever it is in front of the judges, they go straight, especially with Ezra [Christensen] and a couple others,” Sanders said.“But it would be kind. It would be kind to have those young men included in what we're trying to accomplish this year,” Sanders said.Colorado Buffaloes players learning from NFL Legends this offseasonAug 14, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) in action against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quater at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“I don’t think they're helping coach; I think they're speaking life into them, and they're giving them the guidelines and the navigational system of success. These guys are extremely successful, and these guys that are looking up to them and out for them, they want to attain that success that those young men have attained already,” Sanders said.“So that's where we are. I think it's always wonderful to have successful people speak into you, persons that want to follow those things' path. That gives them an easy navigation system,” Sanders said.The identity of the Colorado Buffaloes“We’re smart, tough, fast, and disciplined with character. I mean, that's all we want. It's not too much other than what we desired. I mean, we've been wearing these bands. We've been saying this since we arrived. But some teams are better than others. Some staffs are better than others, and this seems as though they have it all together,” Sanders said.“These kids are smart. They're tough. They're really fast offensively and defensively, and they're disciplined. They're extremely disciplined,” Sanders said.Defensive coordinator Chris MarveFSU linebackers coach Chris Marve at the FSU National Signing Day Party on Feb. 5, 2020.