Colorado Football: Deion Sanders Makes Tough Coaching Call for Struggling Buffaloes

(Photo : Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) BOULDER, CO - Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis of the Colorado Buffaloes claps after an offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter against the USC Trojans at Folsom Field.

The Colorado Buffaloes are struggling and need to make changes heading into their game against Oregon State. Deion Sanders has reportedly made a tough call on the coaching end, promoting quality control analyst Pat Shurmur as the team's play-caller in their Saturday, November 4, match against the Beavers.

Shurmur, a former NFL coach, will take over as offensive coordinator from Sean Lewis, according to college football insider Brett Murphy in the Colorado vs. Oregon State matchup.

The scribe added that while Shurmur will take over play-calling duties, Lewis will still be signaling plays into the huddle.

Colorado quality control analyst Pat Shurmur will take over play-calling duties from OC Sean Lewis vs. Oregon State, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Deion Sanders must elevate Shurmur from analyst to full-time coach to be eligible to coach. Lewis will still signal the plays in, a…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 3, 2023

Coach Prime's reported move to demote Lewis left many baffled, SI.com reported. The Buffs are averaging 32.1 points per game this season, and some feel that Sanders may have overreacted with the coaching change.

Sanders and the Buffs have lost four of their last five games after starting the season 3-0. Coach Prime has been critical of the offensive woes of his team, although it remains to be seen if this move will improve the team's performance.

Stolen items returned to Buffs players

In a related development, some Buffaloes players were able to get back their belongings that were stolen in their locker room last Saturday, October 28, in Colorado's Rose Bowl loss to UCLA, NBC Sports reported.

This was confirmed on Friday, November 3, by the Pasadena Police Department, which served search warrants and identified the perpetrators as juveniles. It was not detailed what belongings were returned to Buffs players. An investigation of the Rose Bowl theft case is still ongoing.