Deion Sanders talks Depend partnership, Colorado’s locker room responding to adversity and tragedy

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders was candid about many topics during a recent discussion we had in promotion of the launch of “Depend Wake Up Calls.” The “Depend Wake Up Calls” promotion is in honor of “Prime Wake Up Call for Men’s Health Month,” plus the nationwide rollout of the new Depend Real Fit packaging, which features Coach Prime on pack for the first time ever.

Today, DependWakeUpCall.com launched, allowing people to choose from one of three video text messages encouraging them to schedule a physical, supporting those navigating a recent health diagnosis, or empowering those experiencing bladder leaks to move past embarrassment and get back to living life.

I asked Coach Prime about the initiative, how he depends on Depend, and tackled several difficult subjects, like his publicized use of porta-potties on the sidelines due to incontinence caused by bladder cancer, which is thankfully now cleared. He also revealed the Buffs locker room’s response to the tragic death of quarterback Dominiq Ponder on March 1, and their general attitude towards adversity.

On what point he was finally comfortable using Depend and having a porta-potty on the sidelines…

“The porta-potty on the sideline is always a tremendous help. You got to understand, it ranges from being on the sidelines for all the practices. So being able to make it throughout a whole entire game, and be comfortable, having Depend over there, knowing that I got to go to whenever I need…I'm happy. I'm thankful to them helping me get my life back, and the products help me stay active.”

On how he helped his players navigate the tragic loss of Dominiq Ponder…

“That was a tremendous tragedy that we dealt with. We unified, we stayed together, leaders led, and the rest of the team did what they needed to do to make sure they didn't medicate pain. They dealt with it. They took it head-on, and we handled it. We got through the storm.”

On the main takeaway he wants people to take from “Prime Wake Up Call for Men’s Health Month”...

“Never giving up. And never looking at the day in the sense that it's a bad day. You have the authority to make today whatever you want it to be. So just because you may have had a bad moment, minute, or hour, that does not mean it's a bad day. You have much more time to make it right and to make it better.”

On what he tells his locker room about fighting a public battle with cancer and blood clots…

“We have a common theme in our locker room that everybody's going through something. It may not be at the enormity that mine was. But everybody is going through something. And we just did a poll one day, and I just randomly started pointing at people around the room, in the big meeting room, and they stood up and said what they were going through…

“And that coincided with the thought process that everybody's going through something. We got to keep going. We can't stop. We can't stop, take the picture, do our Instagram post; we gotta keep going and make it through.”

On how much longer he wants to prolong his coaching career given his recent active focus on his health…

“It's a way of life. I've always walked in the light. I've always been focused on it. My kids as well. So, we just might as well make the best of it. And we've partnered with a tremendous brand that understands life has its challenges, but we're prepared to walk through and walk beyond those challenges.”

On his sons’ attitude towards their health and if they are vocal about it…

“Instead of speaking on it, because we're not one of those families who talk about the trials and tribulations much, we focus on the positivity of life. So instead of focusing on and speaking about it, they would go out and make sure they're up on their game, with early detection, checking themselves out, and taking action on their health. They make sure they're on top of those types of things…

“Shedeur’s not like that, man. Shedeur’s football, football, football. So he's not trying to send a message to the Browns locker room. This kid is trying to compete, and he's trying to win.”