Colorado Players Quit Over Lil Wayne Concert: REPORT

Published|Updated

The Colorado Buffaloes program is no stranger to the transfer portal; head coach Deion Sanders essentially rebuilt the program from scratch heading into 2023.

But a number of players may have hit the portal to leave the school thanks to Sanders' handling of a Lil Wayne concert held at the school in late April. That's not a misprint; a Lil Wayne concert may have been what pushed several players out of the Colorado program. And all because it was mandatory.

That's according to a new report from Steve Corder at AthlonSports, who said that a source believes that the mandatory attendance was the "final straw" that pushed a number of players to hit the portal. 

"The Wayne concert was the final straw for a few players who hit the transfer portal," a source told Corder. "When Coach Prime told us we all had to be there to support Shedeur as a rapper, they were not happy at all. To be honest, it was nothing but a huge distraction and Daddy Ball was being played."

Deion Sanders

Pasadena, CA - Colorado coach Deon Sanders talks with his son, Colorado defensive back Shilo Sanders, before the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Mandatory Lil Wayne Concert Pushes Some Colorado Players Over The Edge

Sanders reportedly also threatened to dismiss anyone who didn't attend the concert, though the report didn't specify if the "mandatory" directive was because of Shedeur Sanders being part of the opening act, or because Sanders wanted to ensure that Lil Wayne played to a packed house.

Regardless, it's not surprising that some players didn't respond well to being told to attend a show featuring Sanders' kid. Even if it wasn't explicitly said, the implication is clear that Deion was trying to make sure that the team he runs supported his son's music career.

That might fly in youth sports, but at the college level, it's not hard to see how that could rub some players the wrong way.

After an up and down season in 2023, the Buffaloes are hoping for more stability and growth in the first season in the Big 12 Conference. After opening the season on August 29 against North Dakota State, they'll start conference play on September 21 against Baylor. Presumably with fewer players available thanks to a Lil Wayne concert.