Former Colorado tight end slams Deion Sanders, state of the program

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Being Deion Sanders means taking criticism, even when it is unwarranted. People don't like his persona, they don't like how he coaches and they think they know better than him.

The CU head coach was on the receiving end of quite the tirade recently from former Colorado tight end Christian Fauria. Fauria, a member of the program from 1990 to 1994, called Sanders not "very bright" and said that people only support him because he "brainwashed" them. The comments came on "The Zach Gelb Show."

Fauria's son, Caleb, was on the Colorado team the season before Sanders was hired, but transferred to Delaware following Sanders' first season. It seems clear that his son's experience in the Sanders' led program rubbed him the wrong way.

"I'm just not a fan of the coach," Fauria continued. "I'm not. I'll never be a fan of the coach I love the school. And this isn't me picking on Deion Sanders, because I pick on (former NFL coach) Joe Gibbs. I just don't like the way he coaches football. I don't think he's very bright. I don't think he can manage a game. I think there's a lot of flash, but I think there's no substance, you know. And he's got a lot of people, like, brainwashed."

Fauria sounds like someone who needs to dive into the current Colorado program more before making such brash comments. However, some of his points are valid and ones that surfaced throughout Colorado's 3-9 season. Sanders has mismanaged games, and at times last year, it seemed there was more flash than substance.

But this offseason, Sanders and CU altered their direction, bringing in "football guys" to coach players who wanted to prove themselves at the next level of college football. While the results in the field will ultimately decide whether the changes worked, it does show growth from a head coach who, in reality, has had only three years as an FBS coach, let alone as a head coach.

I'll admit there are plenty of things Sanders can improve upon within his Colorado program, his clock management and culture being two of those things, but to go at him in a personal matter without knowing the current state is shallow.

And if Sanders, who put the Buffs back in the national spotlight, should not be Colorado's coach, according to Fauria, then who would and could do a better job? I can't think of too many names, if any.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Deion Sanders, Colorado football ripped by ex-CU TE Christian Fauria

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