Everyone has an opinion on Deion Sanders, but there is something fans can universally agree on: He's unconventional.
Sanders does just about everything his way, and that includes the way he rewards players for their performance and leadership. There are no captains on Colorado's team. On some jerseys, an "L" replaces the traditional "C" for captain. On others, a "D" is in place of the "C."
Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter might be playing like captains, but Coach Prime believes he has a better way of motivating his players.
So, what do these letters mean? Here's a closer look at Sanders' unique system.
MORE: Coach Prime eager to show his way will work in Year 2 at Colorado
What do L and D mean on Colorado's jerseys?
There are no captains in Boulder, but there are "leaders" and "dawgs," Colorado assistant athletic director Curtis Snyder announced ahead of the 2023 season.
Coach Prime doesn't use the term captain. The L on Shedeur and Cokes' jerseys are for Leaders. The D on Feely and Travis are for Dawgs. Those four were out for the coin toss. #GoBuffs
— Curtis Snyder (@CurtisCSnyder) September 2, 2023
Players with an L on their chest are designated "leaders," while players with a D on their chest are designated "dawgs." What's the difference between the two? That isn't so clear, but Sanders does claim they're not interchangeable titles.
Coach @DeionSanders had me ready to run through a wall with this one!
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) September 4, 2023
“I don’t believe in no captains, I believe in leaders and dogs. Every dog ain’t a leader, and every leader ain’t a dawg!” pic.twitter.com/fYzmCq7ivT
Sanders' description of Hunter might shed some light on what it means to be a "dawg."
"He does not tire of loving the game and wanting to be in the game and studying the game and all the intricate details of the game," Sanders told FS1's "Undisputed in 2023." It's possible Colorado players wearing an "L" on their jerseys is something that can be used against them after a loss, but that's not Coach Prime's concern. He's approaching the job with his own style.
MORE: Inside Travis Hunter's explosive game in Week 1 win over NDSU
Why doesn't Deion Sanders name captains?
Ahead of his first season as head coach at Colorado, Sanders said on FS1 that he doesn't believe in captains but he didn't offer much of an explanation as to why.
What's become clear, however, is that Sanders is perfectly content with doing the job his own way, regardless of what the rest of the nation's coaches are doing. Sanders' message has resonated with his players, and outstanding performances from some of his "leaders" and "dawgs" validated his bold decisions.