Deion Sanders, CU Buffs, not ready for prime time, get punched in mouth by Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — You don’t bring a 30-carat diamond watch to a sword fight.

A Maybach can’t block. An NIL deal won’t chip an angry defensive end. You can’t microwave what has to be baked, slowly.

The Buffs were built for this moment. A foundation made of glitter, sand and promises, broken like so many hearts. Nebraska punched CU in the mouth. By the time the Buffs got up off the canvas, the bell had rung and the judges had gone home.

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 You can’t nuke what has to be buttered and basted.

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The transfer portal is a finisher, a garnish. Not a base. ...

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 “We’ve got a lot of guys who haven’t played with each other,” said Buffs safety Cam’Ron Silman-Craig, who finished with a team-best 11 tackles. “We’re really just feeling each other out … we’re going to get better and better.”

We'll see about that last. They were 4-8 in 2023.

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You can’t hurry love. Or the trenches. Nebraska grounded and pounded its way to a 28-0 halftime lead before staggering to the finish. ...

THAT is a takeaway from this game that is disquieting for Nebraska's program and fans. They were shut out in the second half.

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In the macro, most of what Deion Sanders promised is still on the table. Technically. But not the College Football Playoff. Not this fall. Not for a team with more penalties at the half (seven) than first downs (six).

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 Coach Prime has been running a program without a huddle, hurrying up to maximize the last collegiate years of sons Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders, trying to milk the pre-NFL time the superlative Travis Hunter has left.

His sons.

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 But as a test? As an affirmation? Saturday wasn’t just telling. It was screaming.

Fire up the portal.

Can we get a new offensive line in here?

New defensive line?

New offensive coordinator, maybe?

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By the hosts’ second series, Shilo was on the bench, getting treatment. With 5:51 left in the first quarter, he was seen headed to the locker room with a presumed arm injury. Things for Shedeur didn’t start much better.

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[CU's third possession]...started at the CU 2, and rather than run to make room, Shedeur dropped back on the first play, firing a pick-6 to Nebraska’s Tommi Hall that pushed the Big Red’s cushion to 13-0 with 5:46 left in the first quarter.

“Why would we keep running the ball if, OK, we’re out there, we’re in a situation where it’s a must-get,” the Buffs QB explained, “and we won’t get it?”

They don’t get it. They might never get it. Deion Sanders could outrun the football gods and dare them to keep pace. Coach Prime can’t. At some point, all that empty catches up with you.

The reporter here is Sean Keeler. He has been banned by the CU athletic department from asking questions at Deion Sanders press conference.