In sports, a number is far more than just an item of identification. It's a statement of being. That's true in all sports, but especially so in football and even more so in college football, where more than 100 players jostle for the 100 available numbers.
Or, in Colorado's case, 97 available numbers.
A video produced by Deion Sanders Jr.'s production company took us far inside a recent Colorado team meeting, where Coach Prime spends a significant amount of time explaining to his Buffaloes how the numbering system will work under the new regime.
"Back in the day when we came up, single digits was That Guy. It was Him. It was Who He Was," said Sanders, who were No. 2 at Florida State before NFL rules forced him to switch to 21. "How can you ask for 1 and you a'int the one?"
Coach Prime has taken 0 off the table -- "that means you're nothing" -- as well as 2, for reasons stated above. No. 1 will be awarded as necessary, to a player who has proven himself to be "the one."
If two players request the same number, the position coach(es) involved will award the number to the better player of the two. "Everything you do around here will be earned," Sanders said. "We a'int giving you nothing."
The meeting then moved on to more substantive topics, and Coach Prime is just as interested in those as he is who dons No. 6 on the field this fall.
On academics: "95 percent of this locker room is not going pro. I hate to say it but I don't sugar coat nothing. I'm going to tell you the truth. You've got to get a degree. You've got to get a Master's. Whatever you're trying to attain, you've got to go get it.... It's not a game to me. If you're sitting up here with three or four Fs, how in the world are we going to trust you?"
On discipline: "If you have more problems than a math book, we're done. Everybody's got problems, everybody's got trials, everybody's got tribulations. But if it's one after the other after the other and your problems are outweighing your performance, you've got to go.
On work/life balance for the coaching staff: "When you're at home, I need you at home. Don't bring this bulljunk to your house. That's grounds for a divorce, and I don't wish that on nobody.
The video concludes on the field, where Sanders explains to wide receivers why the staff has painted a series of Xs onto the practice field in CU's indoor facility.
Not all of the eight and a half minutes is worth watching, but the part that is reveals a fascinating look at Deion's program. I don't know how many games the Buffs are going to win this fall, but the team is going to be much, much better.