Deion Sanders brought an immense amount of national attention to the University of Colorado in his first season as the Buffaloes’ football coach.
Late last year, he was rewarded for that in the form of a $250,000 discretionary bonus.
A pay form signed by university officials in early December read: “Sanders to earn an Employee Recognition Bonus for the national recognition he has brought to the University and Athletics Department this season.”
Despite a 4-8 season and last-place finish in the Pac-12, Colorado was college football’s third-most watched team in 2023 (behind only Alabama and Ohio State). Sanders and the Buffs averaged six million viewers per game, according to the Action Network.
Of the 16 most-watched teams last season, Colorado was the only one that finished with a losing record.
Sanders also helped the university nearly quadruple its “earned media” value — which represents the advertising equivalency value of media exposure — during his first season in Boulder.
From July 31 to Nov. 27 of 2023, Colorado gained approximately $343 million in “earned media,” according to data provided by from the university’s media-monitoring service, Cision. That figure was only about $87 million in 2022 during the same time period.
“The employee recognition bonus is a discretionary bonus awarded by Athletic Director Rick George for the immense impact Coach Prime has made on the football program, the Athletic Department, and the university in his first season,” the University of Colorado said in a statement last week to USA TODAY Sports.
The $250,000 bonus Sanders received late last year was in addition to the $5.5 million he earned in guaranteed salary for the 2023 season.
Not only is the University of Colorado happy to have Sanders in Boulder, the Big 12 Conference is seemingly pleased to have him as well.
Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy — the longest tenured head football coach in the Big 12 — was one a few Big 12 coaches to praise Sanders earlier this month in Las Vegas.
“I think that we’re lucky in our league that he’s (Sanders) with us because he brings more people, notoriety and viewers to the Big 12 Conference,” Gundy said at Big 12 football media days. “That’s what makes it go; we need viewership and we want people to watch our teams play.
“It’ll be fun to have him in our league. It’s fun for me to have Colorado back in our league and to be able to compete against him. I can only imagine what his competitive level is so that’ll be fun.”
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said at Big 12 football media days that Sanders has “definitely rejuvenated things in Boulder.”
“Essentially, (Sanders) put Colorado football back on the map,” Whittingham said ahead of his 20th season as the Utes’ head coach.
Colorado opens the 2024 campaign against North Dakota State on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes sports reporter Scott Procter on X.
USA TODAY network reporter Brent Schrotenboer contributed to this report.
Source link : https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/07/22/why-colorado-football-coach-deion-sanders-received-a-250k-bonus/74498630007/
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Publish date : 2024-07-22 03:00:00
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