Deion Sanders' Assistant Coaches Challenge Colorado Players in Team Meeting

Coaches emphasize the importance of mindset and hard work to reach desired goals

Feb. 19, 2026 at 3:23am

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In a team meeting, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders and his assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, linebackers coach Chris Marve, tight ends coach Josh Niblett, and offensive line coach Gunnar White, spoke to the players about developing a strong mental foundation and the value of maximizing the opportunity they've been given at CU. The coaches highlighted the benefits of changing one's perspective, having a clear vision, and putting in the necessary work to achieve their goals.

Why it matters

This early team meeting sets the tone for the Colorado Buffaloes' upcoming season, as Coach Prime and his staff work to instill a winning mindset and culture within the program. By challenging the players to take ownership of their development and embrace the hard work required, the coaches aim to position the team for success both on and off the field.

The details

During the team meeting, the assistant coaches delivered passionate speeches emphasizing the importance of mindset and work ethic. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion told the players, "All of us have the ability change the way that we see what we see. We can change that... Everybody in this room is different. Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, you're different. That's why you're in this room." Linebackers coach Chris Marve spoke about the need to have an honest self-assessment, saying, "It's about how do I view myself? I understand that other people have opinions, other people have perspectives. But the longest conversation that you're ever gonna have is the one that you have with yourself." Tight ends coach Josh Niblett emphasized the power of having a clear vision, stating, "Your vision is gonna do three things. It's gonna give you fuel every day. If you wake up every day and have a vision of what you want to become, what we all want to become together, it's gonna fuel you." Offensive line coach Gunnar White summed up the common theme, saying, "The common denominator on this is work. Where you start off, where you're born, where you're from, if you don't like it or you love it, it doesn't matter. If you want to build your own, you got to work for it."

  • The team meeting took place earlier this week.
  • The Colorado Buffaloes' season opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is still over six months away (August 2026).

The players

Deion Sanders

Head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team.

Brennan Marion

Offensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Chris Marve

Linebackers coach for the Colorado Buffaloes, previously served as the defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech.

Josh Niblett

Tight ends coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Gunnar White

Offensive line coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.

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What they’re saying

“All of us have the ability change the way that we see what we see. We can change that. Sometimes, we forget that we're special, that we got that dream in our heart. That's why we're in this room. Everybody in this room is different. Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, you're different. That's why you're in this room. You're not no average-(expletive) regular person.”

— Brennan Marion, Offensive Coordinator (Thee Pregame Show)

“It's about how do I view myself? I understand that other people have opinions, other people have perspectives. But the longest conversation that you're ever gonna have is the one that you have with yourself. So how do you view yourself? You go to make sure that you do this too now. Because a man tells himself one of two things every morning. When you look in the mirror, you tell yourself the truth or you tell yourself a lie.”

— Chris Marve, Linebackers Coach (Thee Pregame Show)

“For me, it's not just about seeing things, it's about vision. Your vision is gonna do three things. It's gonna give you fuel every day. If you wake up every day and have a vision of what you want to become, what we all want to become together, it's gonna fuel you.”

— Josh Niblett, Tight Ends Coach (Thee Pregame Show)

“The common denominator on this is work. Where you start off, where you're born, where you're from, if you don't like it or you love it, it doesn't matter. If you want to build your own, you got to work for it. If you start at the bottom, you're gonna stay at the bottom if you don't work.”

— Gunnar White, Offensive Line Coach (Thee Pregame Show)

What’s next

The Colorado Buffaloes will continue their offseason training and preparation, with the team's season opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets scheduled for August 2026.

The takeaway

Coach Prime and his staff are instilling a winning mindset and culture within the Colorado Buffaloes program, challenging the players to embrace a positive perspective, set a clear vision, and put in the necessary hard work to reach their desired goals. This early team meeting sets the tone for the team's upcoming season and beyond.