Deion Sanders left Air Force with a souvenir that fit the setting perfectly: a customized Air Force pilot helmet, complete with academy branding, a protective shell and a drop-down tinted visor.
It was the kind of gift that looked right at home in a fighter jet, not a football building. Sanders received it during Colorado’s visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy this week, one stop in a camp that took the Buffaloes out of Boulder and into Colorado Springs for their first off-campus fall camp under Sanders.
The trip had already given Colorado a different kind of routine. The team stayed at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, practiced at Fountain-Fort Carson High School and spent the week living in dorms and riding buses between housing and practice. Colorado returned to campus Saturday after using the time away to reset the roster in a camp environment.
At Air Force, Sanders and the Buffaloes spent time with Falcons coach Troy Calhoun and his team. The visit gave Colorado’s players a chance to hear directly from a program whose daily demands go far beyond football. The group learned about military training, academic requirements and the academy’s football schedule, and Sanders said the welcome was open and informative.
“They talked about the intricate details of attending Air Force and what they must go through to get in,” Sanders said. “Our kids talked about our disciplines, and they talked about their disciplines, and we ain’t like them. They’re unbelievable.”
For Colorado, the stop offered a look at a football world shaped by something bigger than practice and film. Air Force players balance the sport with military training and academy responsibilities, and that reality made an impression on the Buffaloes.
“Hanging with those guys was super cool,” Finneseth said. “Just seeing the different things they have to go through, just their basic training and their survival camp. That’s a real grind.”
Sanders has pushed for more chances like this in recent years, even though NCAA rules keep Colorado and Air Force from holding a scrimmage or combined practice. He said he would still like to see college football create room for in-state programs to stage joint spring events in the future.
For now, the Buffs were limited to the visit and the conversations that came with it. Sanders’ helmet was the flashiest reminder of the day, but the bigger point was the week itself: a camp built around chemistry, evaluation and a look at a very different football program.
Colorado now heads back to Boulder and continues camp on campus as it prepares for the Sept. 3 season opener at Georgia Tech. The offense is still in the installation phase under new coordinator Brennan Marion, while defensive coordinator Chris Marve is evaluating personnel in his first camp leading the defense. Colorado has stressed competition throughout the roster, including at offensive line, receiver and secondary.
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