BuffsBeat's Jeff Hauser relayed a personal goal Coach Prime is looking to achieve during the 2024 Colorado football season that he wasn't able to in his initial go-round in Boulder: running behind the Buffs' mascot, Ralphie, at Folsom Field. Hauser referenced Deion Sanders' recent appearance on Well Off Media running down the field for the first time in years after several bouts with blood clots led to the amputation of several toes.
"Sanders is working toward being able to run behind Ralphie next year," Tolle prefaced before saying, "He gave it his best effort but admitted this is the first time he could jog down the field."
Sanders was emotional talking about his journey back from being in a cast, unable to walk at all, to now being able to jog the field; giving the hope of being one with CU's most cherished tradition, and a feat the former two-sport athlete never imagined would give him so much trouble.
"This is the first time I've jogged," Sanders said. "I reflect on all the turbulent times. Eleven surgeries. Multiple hospitals. God is so good."
Coach Prime wanted to run with his Colorado football team in 2023
The health setbacks Coach Prime suffered in his first year took a toll on both his mental health and his personal life -- so much so that he said it himself after Colorado's brutal 56-14 Week 12 loss to Wazzu.
As previously mentioned, Sanders wanted to run with his team in 2023 and publicly proclaimed it as a personal goal during his debut season in Boulder.
“I should be able to run out with the team at Fort Worth — that’s the goal, and we’re going to eclipse it,” Sanders said (h/t Fox News). “It’s going to happen. We have some wonderful doctors, man. Wonderful staff, wonderful trainers that are committed to getting me healthy as well as the players and the staff. I’m going to run out with the team in Fort Worth.”
Among the many heartbreaks suffered by the Buffs coach was seeing his health nearly sideline him for that season-opener against TCU. Thankfully, he's been given a new lease on life, and if you have a gambling spirit, bet on Coach Prime running with Ralphie sometime in 2024.