Breaking: Coach Prime Benches 3 Persistent Anthem Kneelers, Says ‘I Do Not Want Activists’
In a fiery move that has ignited national controversy, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, has reportedly benched three players for repeatedly kneeling during the national anthem — declaring in no uncertain terms:
“I do not want activists. I want athletes.”
The decision, made just weeks before the start of the new college football season, has drawn swift reactions from both sides of the political aisle, with some hailing it as a return to discipline and others calling it an attack on free expression.
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Coach Prime Draws a Line
During a press conference following a scrimmage, Coach Prime addressed the move head-on when asked why three key players were noticeably absent from the first-string lineup:
“You can protest on your own time. You can kneel on the street, on your social media, or in your living room. But when you’re wearing this uniform — you represent this team, this school, and this country,” Sanders said.
He added bluntly:
“I respect their right to protest. But I also have the right to decide who plays.”
Who Was Benched?
While Coach Prime did not name the players directly, insiders close to the Buffaloes program say two defensive starters and one offensive lineman were quietly moved down the depth chart after repeatedly choosing to kneel during the national anthem in team walkthroughs and scrimmages.
One of the benched players reportedly shared a cryptic post on Instagram:
“Standing up for what I believe cost me a spot. I’ll still sleep just fine.”
Campus Reacts: Divide on the Sidelines
Reactions at the University of Colorado Boulder have been sharply divided.
Some students and alumni have praised Sanders’ decision, saying it reinforces team unity and puts focus back on football.
“Coach Prime is right. This isn’t the time or place for politics,” said one longtime donor. “This is about the game — not grandstanding.”
