Sports Illustrated has named their winner of the highly-coveted “Sportsperson Of The Year” award, and it’s not who anyone expected.
In a surprise move, the publication went with Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, who brought a ton of attention to Boulder — and to the college football world in general — but still only managed a 4-8 record on the season as they struggled mightily against Pac-12 competition down the stretch.
It was a controversial choice, as many voiced their displeasure with Sanders receiving the honor, despite his team’s awful record.
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As you can see, many on social media used this controversial decision as an opportunity to take a shot at Sports Illustrated for their recent scandal involving AI writers.
Despite their struggles and their 4-8 record, some consider Sanders’ first season in Colorado to be a success, as he was taking over a team that went 1-11 in 2022. Not only did Sanders help the team win an additional three games in a very tough conference, but he also brought a ton of eyes on the Buffaloes and the college football world in general.
Many expected Colorado to remain one of the worst teams in the nation in 2023, but Sanders actually had them ranked in the top 25 at one point during the season, which is a massive accomplishment in itself.
Still, it’s understandable that many would question Sports Illustrated’s decision when there were plenty of other candidates who had much more success than Coach Prime in 2023.
Do you think Sanders deserves this honor? Let the debate begin.
