Overview
- Fauria told USA TODAY Sports his frustration crystallized in April 2025 when Colorado retired quarterback Shedeur Sanders' No. 2, a move he called a vanity project driven by the head coach.
- He said his stance has nothing to do with his son Caleb leaving the program before transferring to Delaware, adding that he wants Colorado to succeed.
- Fauria described Deion Sanders’ messaging as confusing and contradictory and reiterated earlier podcast remarks that criticized Sanders’ game management and the substance of the program.
- Colorado declined comment to USA TODAY Sports, while former Buffaloes lineman Matt McChesney said he agreed with many of Fauria’s concerns but questioned attacking Sanders’ intelligence.
- Context around the honors decision included Colorado also retiring Travis Hunter’s number despite not having retired Darian Hagan’s, as Sanders enters a fourth season after a 16-21 start with a 9-4 year in 2024 and a 3-9 finish in 2025.