The University of Colorado Buffaloes gave new head football coach Deion Sanders a massive five-year contract to lure him from Jackson State.
The vote for that contract among university sachems, however, was not unanimous.
Colorado regents voted 8-1 in favor of awarding Deion a contract that paid $29.5 million in salary before bonuses, making him the highest-paid coach in university history.
Colorado regent Jack Kroll spoke to USA Today about why he voted against the contract.
“I had gone to the press conference to hear what Deion had to say,” Kroll told USA Today. “There is no doubt he is a really charismatic guy, and I had gone with the intent to hear him and see if I could get behind him and support him. I wanted to go shake his hand, and so I shook his hand and wished him luck because I figured whether I vote yes or no on this, he’s still going to be the football coach. I shook his hand, and there was a photo. I wished him luck.”
Kroll gave three reasons for his vote:
- The business model is not sustainable.
- Players might soon be classified as employees under law.
- Concerns about head injuries from football and their long-term impact on players.
Obviously, Kroll’s colleagues didn’t see the issue the same way.
