If you just look at the final score, you might not realize how competitive the Colorado/Arizona State game was. Yes, the Sun Devils ultimately pulled away in the 4th quarter to win by 25 points, but early in the game's final period, the Buffaloes only trailed by four and were approaching the redzone with a chance to take the lead.
That was until Colorado inexplicably inserted Ronald Coleman into the game and put the ball in his hands for the first time in his two-year career in Boulder. Coleman made a nice run for 14 yards, but then fumbled the football inside the Arizona State 20. The Sun Devils recovered, and on the very next play, Raleek Brown ran for an 88-yard touchdown to push the deficit to 11. It was all downhill from there.
If you were curious why Coleman was in the game in that moment, well, you're not alone. It's the question that was on the minds of all Colorado fans as soon as it happened. Who made that decision, and why?
Deion Sanders took full accountability in his post-game press conference.
"The gentleman who fumbled, that's on me," Sanders said. "I put him in the game to try and have a change of pace. Figured he was going to hit it, and he hit it and he fumbled. It is what it is."
Coach Prime admitted that the two-play sequence completely changed the course of the game.
Coach Prime's game management is under fire once again
This is not the first time this season that Sanders' in-game coaching has come under intense scrutiny.
In the season opener against Georgia Tech, Sanders received heavy criticism for clock management gaffes that could have given the Buffaloes a few more plays to try and tie the game down the stretch. Coach Prime didn't help matters by doubling down on his decision-making.
It has been a frustrating season for Colorado fans to endure. The team has had plenty of noticeable flaws that would have prevented it from being a realistic threat in the Big 12. But there's also been some unacceptable mistakes from Sanders and the entire coaching staff that have allowed the season to spiral to its current 3-8 form.
The coaching staff has frequently not set this team up for success. Colorado fought hard against Arizona State, and might have even had a chance to win the game, but Sanders took the game out of their hands.