Colorado football HC Deion Sanders reveals sadness about Nick Saban's retirement

Deion Sanders revealed a genuine disappointment that Nick Saban is now retired from coaching while speaking with former Colorado football QB Joel Klatt as part of a "Big Noon Convo."

"It's changed," Sanders prefaced before saying, "It's different. He kept it a buck, he kept it 100. I know how he got to that point You hear the stories, but you know the truth when you hear the truth and I know the truth. I just hate it for him because I felt as though he had so much more left, but I understand."

Sanders coped with Saban's retirement in the immediate aftermath by firing off shots at the NCAA in the NIL era.

“WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement," Coach Prime tweeted. "Wow! I knew it would happen (one) day soon but not this soon. The game has change(d) so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let's hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what (do you) see.”

Deion Sanders has complicated relationship with NIL since becoming Colorado football HC

Sanders has taken public stances against NIL, but there's no doubt that even dating back to his Jackson State days, his kids and Travis Hunter have been able to monetize their collegiate careers with a "Prime Time" boost.

Sure, he famously claimed Colorado "isn't an ATM," but that was lip service. The reality is that his kids are reaping in plenty of profits from to match CU's record revenue.

Colorado won't be an Ohio State or a Texas when it comes to spending -- the infrastructure just isn't there like it is in Columbus and Austin -- but it will likely reel in Shedeur's replacement using pay-to-play funds.

It's a different world right now in college football, but Sanders is catching on quickly. His kids are fully caught on, at least.