Coach Prime has turned Colorado into a national hotspot for football talent. With sold-out games two seasons in a row and unmatched community support, CU football is thriving like never before.
But while the stadium’s packed every weekend, something’s still missing. CU hasn’t had a baseball program since 1980, and now questions about gender equity are surfacing, too.
In an open letter that’s gaining traction fast, a female CU student asked Deion Sanders a powerful question, reflecting on a growing sentiment in Boulder.
Softball Star’s Bold Plea to Coach Prime
Bailey Tickle’s letter to Deion Sanders has sparked a major debate about what’s been missing in CU. A 2028 CU hopeful and softball player, Bailey made a bold request: “Will you help bring softball and baseball to the University of Colorado?”
Her message is clear: while CU football has soared under Coach Prime, the school still offers no softball or baseball programs. “CU continues to not support softball or baseball. Why?” she asked. On the contrary, Boulder hosts two of the nation’s biggest youth softball tournaments each summer, attracting “literally 1,000 teams” and top college recruiters.
In the most pointed line of her letter, Bailey asks, “When will CU take us girls seriously?”, challenging the university to reflect on its lack of support for women’s sports.
Deion Sanders, a former MLB player himself, has often credited baseball with shaping his approach to athletics. With his influence and recruiting power, many people, including Bailey, believe he could help push for the return of baseball and the launch of a long-overdue softball program at CU.
However, Bailey’s plea isn’t just for her own future. “This is not about me… but future generations,” she wrote. “The class of 2032 is waiting.”
Now, all eyes are on Coach Prime to see if he’ll step up for girls in Colorado. Even Deion Sanders’ daughter Shelomi used to play basketball at CU. But she transferred to Alabama A&M despite his disapproval. Later, Prime called that transfer “stupid.”
Why Bringing Softball to CU Remains Difficult Even for Deion Sanders
“When we get a $10M gift we will have some movement. Until then, no movement,” CU Athletic Director Rick George tweeted recently, responding to a fan asking if there’s been any progress on reinstating baseball and adding softball.
It was a candid update, but not a new one. Almost a year ago, George made a similar point, explaining how Title IX makes baseball and softball a package deal: “If you’re going to have baseball, you’re going to have softball… I’d love to have [them] at some point, but it’s not going to happen in the near-term, in my opinion.”
Colorado hasn’t had a varsity baseball team since the early ’80s, and remains one of only two Big 12 schools, along with Iowa State, without one. Softball isn’t much better; CU is one of five Big 12 programs that don’t offer it.
The barrier isn’t passion, but money. And in today’s college sports landscape, building new programs means navigating rising costs, Title IX compliance, and major fundraising efforts.
George, a former Texas Rangers executive, knows the financial weight behind such a move. So while Deion Sanders has the spotlight and influence, even he can’t change the equation without that $10 million catalyst.
Still, BuffsBlog reports that Colorado AD Rick George recently met with Red Sox legend Dustin Pedroia to discuss reviving CU’s defunct baseball program.
However, later, when the outlet asked George directly, he denied it, stating, “Not adding any sports at this time.” Still, a denial doesn’t necessarily mean the meeting didn’t happen.
For now, though, CU’s girls and supporters like Bailey are left with hope for a major donor. Without that, it’ll be an uphill task to revive softball and baseball, even with Coach Prime’s help.
Also Read: Was Deion Sanders Better Than Michael Jordan In Baseball?