Brent Key sends well-wishes to Deion Sanders
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
On Monday, Colorado coach Deion Sanders held a news conference to announce he had been diagnosed, and cured from, bladder cancer.
Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urologic oncology at the Colorado University Cancer Center and UCHealth University of Colorado hospital, said Sanders had his bladder removed as part of the surgical plan.
Sanders, 58, is expected to be on the sidelines Aug. 29 when his team faces Georgia Tech. Tech coach Brent Key addressed the media Tuesday after his squad’s first preseason practice and sent his regards to the former NFL and MLB star.
“Just really wish him full recovery, speedy recovery,” Key said. “Really just admire the courage it takes to come out and talk about that in public and really encourage other people to get themselves checked and tested. It hit home with a lot of people, I’m sure.
“Really look forward to him being on the other sideline a month from now. Terrible situation, but glad to see he’s really pushed through it. The grit and toughness that he has, that’s why the team plays the way they do. Wish him a speedy recovery.”
Sanders was an All-American at Florida State and was selected by the New York Yankees in the 1988 MLB Draft. He spent parts of four seasons (1991-94) with the Atlanta Braves and also played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1989-1993.
After becoming a high school football coach, Sanders took over at Jackson State in 2020 and coached at JSU before going to Colorado ahead of the 2023 season. His Buffaloes went 4-8 in his first season and 9-4 last season, with an appearance in the Alamo Bowl.
Tech and Colorado have never played each other before.
“Look, to be honest, (Sanders) was one of my heroes growing up as a kid,” Key said during ACC Football Kickoff. “I played baseball and football. It was Deion and Bo Jackson. Pretty cool thing.”
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