The football field is a place for competition—not a political arena. That’s the powerful message that Deion Sanders, aka “Coach Prime,” the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, sent after his controversial move to force three players who recently knelt during the national anthem to stand up or leave the team.

The story has caused an immediate stir. Supporters have called Sanders “a restorer of true sportsmanship.” Critics have called it a silencing act that tramples on free expression.

Is Coach Prime reviving the team’s focus or inadvertently pushing American college sports back into the era of repression?

In the last three games of the NCAA season, the media discovered that three players on the Colorado Buffaloes’ starting lineup knelt during the playing of the American national anthem before the game . Although this action was done quietly, without announcements or banners, it still attracted a lot of attention – because it appeared in the sensitive context between sports and politics in the US.

When asked about the action, the players said they knelt to “show support for the racial justice movement and protest against police violence.” This is an action that was initiated by Colin Kaepernick – former NFL quarterback – and became a symbol of progressive social movements in the US.

However, unlike the silence of many other coaches, Deion Sanders responded immediately . In an internal meeting leaked and later confirmed by sports reporters, he made it clear:

“I love America. I respect the national anthem. And I want every player to come out on the field ready to play — not to make a statement. If you want to be an activist, do it outside of the office. I coach players here, not activists.”

He is also said to have asked the three players to either stop kneeling, or withdraw from the starting lineup , if they did not comply with the “spirit of unity.”

This action caused public opinion to be clearly divided into two factions.

Many Deion Sanders supporters immediately spoke out, claiming that he was defending the professionalism of sports . Sports analysts like Jason Whitlock and Clay Travis praised him as “a man who dares to do the right thing in an era where everyone is afraid of being ‘cancel’.”

On social network X (Twitter), the phrase #StandWithCoachPrime is trending. Some typical comments:

“We came to the stadium to watch football, not politics.”
“This is a football team, not a protest movement.”
“A black man who loves his country does not mean he is a traitor to his race – he is leading with discipline and conviction.”

Several former NFL players like Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin also support it:

“Deion always taught us to respect the game and this country. That’s why he was successful.”

In contrast, social organizations such as Black Lives Matter , the ACLU , and many scholars said that Sanders’ actions were “suppressing students’ freedom of expression.”

An editorial in The Atlantic criticized:

“The coach has no control over the players’ love – hate – opposition. The national anthem is not a test of loyalty.”

Many people question: is forcing players to stand when they feel injustice still exists in society truly patriotic, or is it just a form of coercion?

Some transgender athletes and LGBTQ+ people have also spoken out, warning that college sports is being politicized in reverse — not to include, but to exclude.

Deion Sanders is one of the greatest athletes in NFL history and a colorful icon both on and off the field. As coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, he has revitalized the team, attracting talent and inspiring them with his tough but old-fashioned style.

However, he is also known for his conservative views on morality, religion, and athleticism . Sanders frequently mentions God, family, and discipline in his coaching sessions.

His public rejection of “too political” behaviour within the squad shows that he draws a clear line between sport and society . If you want to protest, do it off the pitch – but on the pitch, everyone must be of one mind.

The University of Colorado has remained officially silent, but insiders say the board “respects Mr. Deion Sanders’ professional coaching decision.”

Meanwhile, the NCAA – which governs American college sports – is being called upon to issue specific regulations on athletes’ right to express themselves during the national anthem. However, this is a legal gray area: individual expression is still protected by the Constitution, but the right to manage the team belongs to the coach.

Some legal experts say that if the player sues the school for being dropped from the team because of his personal views, the case could set a major legal precedent regarding freedom in sports.

On Reddit and YouTube, fans shared their views that:

“We don’t hate people kneeling. But if it distracts the team, the coach has the right to discipline.”
“I want to see tactics, goals, spirit. Not to politicize everything.”

Some other viewers suggested a more neutral solution: allowing players to stand or kneel as they please – as long as they don’t carry slogans or cause division.

As American sports increasingly drift toward two poles—one embracing diversity, the other defending tradition—Coach Prime’s actions have raised an important question: Should sports be a place for expressing opinions, or just a place for competition?

Deion Sanders isn’t trying to be political. But through his actions, he’s forcing society to think about the line between individual freedom and collective responsibility in the professional game.

Is he doing the right thing, or is he turning the wheels of progress backwards? That’s something every fan must answer for themselves.