Brett Yormark’s visit to Colorado and his relationship with Deion Sanders
- Leo Rivera IV
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark made a pit stop in Boulder on Friday night to watch the Colorado Buffaloes face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Commissioner Yormark had made two previous visits to Dublin and Houston before making his third appearance of the season in Folsom Field. On an ESPN primetime window, suffering a 27-20 defeat was not the desired outcome for head coach Deion Sanders, but the presence of Yormark was a win for Colorado.
Before the Buffaloes kicked off, three different Big 12 teams were represented in the spotlight during Week 0. A matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State headlined, while a Kansas versus Fresno State capped off the day. National media highlighting his conference’s athletes was a sense of pride for Yormark.
“I think it was a great opportunity for this conference because it gave us a chance to kind of own the moment, if you will,” Yormark told Sko Buffs Sports. “I like to say there was a lot of clean air last weekend, and the focus was on the Big 12.”
Yormark viewed Week 0 as a stepping stone to build excitement for Week 1. Displaying talent early gets fans intrigued about other teams.
“Kansas opened up their renovated building, so it was terrific,” Yormark said. “It was a great weekend for the Big 12, and that kind of gave us a head start to this weekend.”
In the Sanders era, Colorado has not lacked star power on the sidelines, with a host of celebrities and athletes attending games alike. Whether it's Friday night or Saturday afternoon, the Buffs have been a draw the Big 12 has welcomed. Beginning Week 1, there was a clear destination for Friday night lights.
“I'm excited to be here; being on campus now is terrific,” Yormark said. “I love the excitement around this program. It's been building. I know it’s sold out tonight, 50,000 [people]. So I'm just thrilled to be a part of this.”
The close connection between the conference coaches and the commissioner was evident during Big 12 Media Days, where they participated in a roundtable discussion on college football. Both Sanders and Yormark have echoed each other's praises over their short time together, but their relationship has grown stronger.
“Deion and I have become very dear friends. I think he's a fantastic coach, but he's a better person, and he brings a lot of value to this conference,” Yormark said. “He's connected this school to culture, which, being said, I think is critically important.”
Yormark's attendance demonstrates the growth of respect Colorado has earned in the conference. As they look down the schedule, they will see a multitude of hungry teams eager to take them down. While still two weeks from conference play, receiving the co-sign of the big boss is an added confidence boost for Sanders' squad.
“I love the direction of the program and what he's building here, and it's become very foundational,” Yormark said. “There's only one place to go in that’s up. So I’m very excited about the future.”