Deion Sanders has never been one to turn away the spotlight.

Much like a thespian or one of those old-timey film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, Sanders is used to marquees. He basks in them, shining brightest when the flashbulbs get to snapping.

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The Colorado coach has long had cameras trailing him, following his every move. He’s embraced it, however. And no place is that more evident than on the sideline. There’s a reason why he’s called Coach Prime.

Speaking of his moniker, just how did he get it? How does such an epithet come to pass? The Sporting News details the story of Sanders’ “primordial” nickname.

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Why do they call Deion Sanders Coach Prime?

Sanders’ nickname is a derivative of the name he sported during his high school, college and NFL playing days: Prime Time.

He traded the helmet for a headset, becoming Coach Prime when he took over the Jackson State football program in 2020. But Sanders’ larger-than-life presence still lingers on marquees the world over. And thus, Coach Prime was born.

How Deion Sanders got his Prime Time nickname

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Sanders’ Prime Time nickname stems from his exploits not on a football field, but rather, the hardwood. Sanders was quite the talent on the basketball court at North Fort Myers High School in Florida, showcasing a style and swagger all his own during his adolescence — he was all-state in hoops as well as football and baseball.

That all came to the surface during a high school basketball game in which Sanders poured shot after shot through the hoop. He finished the day with 37 points. And a new moniker to boot.

“We were on our way home on the bus and my homie says ‘You know what, man? You’re Prime Time,'” Sanders revealed on the Jimmy Fallon Show last year. ” I said ‘You’re right.’ So, it was birthed from there.”

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How good was Deion Sanders at baseball and basketball?

Sanders’ skills transcended playing surfaces. He proved a force on the diamond and hardwood as well, mimicking a blur as he rollicked up and down each respective apparatus.

As a baseball player, Sanders went straight to the top. A slick speedster with range to boot, Sanders was taken by the Royals in the sixth round of the MLB Draft out of high school. He spurned big league interest initially, instead turning out for Florida State’s baseball team when he wasn’t causing mayhem on the gridiron.

Sanders posted a .922 OPS in 16 games as a freshman. His numbers tailed off as a sophomore. But it still was enough to get George Steinbrenner and the Yankees to take a chance on the then-20 year old. New York took Sanders in the 30th round of the 1988 MLB Draft.

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Sanders entered into New York’s system shortly thereafter. He then embarked on a 14-year professional odyssey, playing for five different MLB franchises.

Prime Time enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, major league career. He posted a career OPS+ of 89, indicating he was an average to slightly below average hitter. His pinnacle came in 1992, when he led the league in triples.

As a basketball player, Sanders didn’t quite reach the same heights. Still, he was confident that he could have produced at the professional level on that apparatus, as well. In a 2016 Sports Illustrated interview, Sanders revealed that he was close to exploring an NBA opportunity with the Hawks.

“I was close, I mean really close. This is a breaking story. I was really close to playing for the Atlanta Hawks for one game,” Sanders said. “When I was with the Braves, [former Hawks owner Stan Kasten was going to allow me to play in an NBA game so that I could play three professional sports.”

That didn’t end up happening. But Sanders is confident he would’ve made a good account for himself.

“I convinced Kasten that I could get him 10 points,” Sanders added. “I was going to get two steals, all right, and I could make the layups, so that was four. I was going to get to the free throw line, and I was going to hit one out of two free throws. I know me, I’m not going to hit both of them, so I got seven.”

Deion Sanders’ other nicknames

In addition to “Prime Time” and “Coach Prime,” Sanders was also famously handed the nickname “Neon Deion” during his Florida State days. However, he prefers to be called “Prime Time” given its links to the days of his youth.

Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY