Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders put the selection committee for the Jim Thorpe Award on blast for not listing Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter as a finalist. Sanders questioned the decision and called it “the most idiotic thing in college football."
“How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Thorpe Award?" Sanders said. "You can have my award. You can have it back. Matter of fact, I’m going to give him mine. I ain’t using it. It’s just sitting up there collecting dust.
"So Travis can have my Thorpe Award, because if this ain’t the most idiotic thing in college football, that he’s not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and he is, I would say arguably, but I don’t think it’s really an argument about this young man being the best defensive back in college football.”
Deion Sanders continued his argument, saying:
“He rarely gets thrown at … they just messed up all the integrity of the award and he can have mine. Whoever’s voting down there, whoever’s bringing it home, thank you. Because I don’t even want mine now. God bless you.”
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame director gives calm reply to Deion Sanders’ criticism of Jim Thorpe award
The executive director of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Mike James, emailed USA Today Sports, regarding Deion Sanders’ criticism of the Jim Thorpe Association selection committee. The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame runs the Thorpe Award and selects the semi-finalists and finalists for the award.
In his email, Mike James acknowledged Deion Sanders' statements, saying:
“We offer no criticism of Coach Sanders and wish our former award winner the best.”
He went on to explain the process behind the decision, stating:
“Since 1986 the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association selection committee has done their due diligence to identify the top defensive backs across the college football landscape. Although no easy task, committee members pour measureless amounts of time, energy, and resources into doing just that.
"Each year presents scores of challenges for our committee and this year was no different. Numerous young men were in contention for the coveted finalist position; be that as it may, the committee was tasked with the difficult job of picking our top three.
"I commend all the coaches who believe that their players deserved greater recognition. We look forward to announcing our winner and welcoming that deserving young man into the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award fraternity.”
Whether Deion Sanders’ claim is appropriate or not is up for debate, however, Travis Hunter’s talent is in no way being ignored. Hunter won’t be receiving the Jim Thorpe award but he is still in line for the Heisman Trophy and the Biletnikoff Award, two highly important awards that highlight his status as a top player.
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