University of Colorado Athletics
Colorado Coaches Push Buffs To A Higher Standard
August 06, 2026 | Football
FOUNTAIN-- The Colorado Buffaloes football team has used its time away from Boulder to raise intensity while growing closer as a team.
Colorado's trip has created the immersive camp environment head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders envisioned when the Buffs traveled south.
"We wanted to get away so they can't have the urge to drive back home," Sanders said. "They're off the phones. We monitor that, and they're really getting to know each other and really getting a bond."
The Buffs completed their fourth practice Thursday. Sanders thanked the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs chancellor Dr. Jennifer Sobanet, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 Superintendent Dr. Keith Owen, and the surrounding community for welcoming the program.
The team also visited the United States Air Force Academy on Wednesday evening.
"They were wonderful," Coach Prime said about the team's interaction with the Falcons team. "The coaching staff welcomed us with open arms. They talked about the intricate details of attending Air Force and what they must do to get in. They are unbelievable. I'm thankful we had the opportunity to do that."
By living and working together away from Boulder, the Buffs have strengthened relationships that extend beyond the field.
Defensive back Ben Finneseth compared the experience to attending youth camp.
"It feels like youth camp, back when we were growing up," Finneseth said. "It's hot in the dorms. There's no AC, and the food is not near as good as Chef Carl's, so it's an adjustment. But having to go through something like that all together, it just makes it enjoyable, and it brings us all closer together."
Tight end Zach Atkins said the trip has reinforced an offseason emphasis on brotherhood and commitment.
"Us being here shows that the whole staff is committed," Atkins said. "It shows all the players are really committed to that mission."
Intensity On The Rise
That solidarity has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in intensity.
Coach Prime said the Buffs have developed a better understanding of one another, the coaching staff's expectations and the tempo required during practice. On occasion, the competition has boiled over, but Sanders has been pleased with the passion and effort behind it.
"You see skirmishes, and you see fights," Coach Prime said. "You're going to see that. If you don't see that, something's wrong. I'm pleased with the effort that we're giving."
Finneseth said the tone was reinforced during team meetings on Sunday and Monday that delivered several wake-up calls.
"He's (Coach Prime) brought an entirely different energy, an entirely different passion, and same with the rest of the coaching staff," Finneseth said. "There's a lot more intensity, a lot more fire this year than there's ever been."
Atkins has felt the difference on the field.
"Our practices have been super intense, extremely physical," Atkins said. "We're only a week in, and I'm starting to get a little sore. But that's football, and we all love it."
Much of that physicality has started along the offensive and defensive lines. Atkins said the two position groups determine how the rest of the team practices by establishing the standard for intensity.
Finneseth has been impressed by the defensive line's response after the group was challenged to improve at the end of spring practice.
"Our D-line's getting after it," Finneseth said. "They were challenged at the end of spring ball to really come along, and they have. You can see the work that they've been putting in."
Coach Prime said Colorado deliberately targeted that mentality while assembling its roster, looking beyond physical traits and past production for players who fit the program's desired identity.
"When we recruited, we recruited mentality," Coach Prime said. "It wasn't just size and stature and status of where they came from. It was a mentality that they displayed on the field."
Pressure From Within
That standard also applies to Colorado's returning players, with Coach Prime directing much of his pressure toward the team's leadership group.
"He knows what it takes, and he knows that we have seen what it looks like both ways, when leadership is not handled correctly versus when leadership is handled correctly," Finneseth said. "He's really putting it on us, and we also are expecting the same thing of each other."
Atkins said Colorado's leadership group has grown since January, taking greater responsibility for addressing issues within the team and helping teammates improve.
"It's our responsibility internally to fix all the problems and help everyone grow," Atkins said. "All of us leaders, from when we started in January to now, have experienced a lot of growth."
Away from their normal routines, the Buffs have used each practice, meeting and night in the dorms to strengthen that leadership and togetherness.
"It's a bond that you can't replace by anything, because you're just there thinking football, football, football," Coach Prime said. "Waking up together, going to sleep in the same locations, it's a beautiful thing."
Colorado has two days left of camp here in Colorado Springs.
Colorado's trip has created the immersive camp environment head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders envisioned when the Buffs traveled south.
"We wanted to get away so they can't have the urge to drive back home," Sanders said. "They're off the phones. We monitor that, and they're really getting to know each other and really getting a bond."
The Buffs completed their fourth practice Thursday. Sanders thanked the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs chancellor Dr. Jennifer Sobanet, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 Superintendent Dr. Keith Owen, and the surrounding community for welcoming the program.
The team also visited the United States Air Force Academy on Wednesday evening.
"They were wonderful," Coach Prime said about the team's interaction with the Falcons team. "The coaching staff welcomed us with open arms. They talked about the intricate details of attending Air Force and what they must do to get in. They are unbelievable. I'm thankful we had the opportunity to do that."
By living and working together away from Boulder, the Buffs have strengthened relationships that extend beyond the field.
Defensive back Ben Finneseth compared the experience to attending youth camp.
"It feels like youth camp, back when we were growing up," Finneseth said. "It's hot in the dorms. There's no AC, and the food is not near as good as Chef Carl's, so it's an adjustment. But having to go through something like that all together, it just makes it enjoyable, and it brings us all closer together."
Tight end Zach Atkins said the trip has reinforced an offseason emphasis on brotherhood and commitment.
"Us being here shows that the whole staff is committed," Atkins said. "It shows all the players are really committed to that mission."
Intensity On The Rise
That solidarity has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in intensity.
Coach Prime said the Buffs have developed a better understanding of one another, the coaching staff's expectations and the tempo required during practice. On occasion, the competition has boiled over, but Sanders has been pleased with the passion and effort behind it.
"You see skirmishes, and you see fights," Coach Prime said. "You're going to see that. If you don't see that, something's wrong. I'm pleased with the effort that we're giving."
Finneseth said the tone was reinforced during team meetings on Sunday and Monday that delivered several wake-up calls.
"He's (Coach Prime) brought an entirely different energy, an entirely different passion, and same with the rest of the coaching staff," Finneseth said. "There's a lot more intensity, a lot more fire this year than there's ever been."
Atkins has felt the difference on the field.
"Our practices have been super intense, extremely physical," Atkins said. "We're only a week in, and I'm starting to get a little sore. But that's football, and we all love it."
Much of that physicality has started along the offensive and defensive lines. Atkins said the two position groups determine how the rest of the team practices by establishing the standard for intensity.
Finneseth has been impressed by the defensive line's response after the group was challenged to improve at the end of spring practice.
"Our D-line's getting after it," Finneseth said. "They were challenged at the end of spring ball to really come along, and they have. You can see the work that they've been putting in."
Coach Prime said Colorado deliberately targeted that mentality while assembling its roster, looking beyond physical traits and past production for players who fit the program's desired identity.
"When we recruited, we recruited mentality," Coach Prime said. "It wasn't just size and stature and status of where they came from. It was a mentality that they displayed on the field."
Pressure From Within
That standard also applies to Colorado's returning players, with Coach Prime directing much of his pressure toward the team's leadership group.
"He knows what it takes, and he knows that we have seen what it looks like both ways, when leadership is not handled correctly versus when leadership is handled correctly," Finneseth said. "He's really putting it on us, and we also are expecting the same thing of each other."
Atkins said Colorado's leadership group has grown since January, taking greater responsibility for addressing issues within the team and helping teammates improve.
"It's our responsibility internally to fix all the problems and help everyone grow," Atkins said. "All of us leaders, from when we started in January to now, have experienced a lot of growth."
Away from their normal routines, the Buffs have used each practice, meeting and night in the dorms to strengthen that leadership and togetherness.
"It's a bond that you can't replace by anything, because you're just there thinking football, football, football," Coach Prime said. "Waking up together, going to sleep in the same locations, it's a beautiful thing."
Colorado has two days left of camp here in Colorado Springs.
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