Colorado tight end Caleb Fauria announced Monday that he intends to enter the transfer portal, an announcement made notable by two things: 1.) Fauria is one of a relative few holdovers from the Karl Dorrell era to play for Deion Sanders with Buffaloes, and 2.) the graduate transfer is the son of longtime NFL tight end and former Colorado star Christian Fauria.
“I appreciate my time spent at the University of Colorado and all the memories I have made,” Caleb Fauria wrote on social media, announcing the move. “I will be entering the transfer portal as a grad transfer (May 2024) with 2 years of eligibility. Looking for ward to my next opportunity and ready to compete.”
The younger Fauria’s note is pretty standard fare for a college football player in the transfer portal era. His father was not so complimentary toward his alma mater, however, just one day before his son’s announcement.
“I thought there wasn’t an ATM?” Christian Fauria posted on Sunday, sharing a quote from Sanders stating that Buffaloes boosters need to be “giving” more in NIL funds to land top players.
I thought there wasn’t an ATM? https://t.co/PWdjJHtqKC
— christian fauria (@christianfauria) November 26, 2023
“It’s unfortunate to say this, but some kids cost,” Sanders said. “… We can sit here and talk about great coaching and great this and great that all we want. But it’s going to be a credit card swipe with all these guys going to these playoffs.”
Fauria’s “ATM” reference points to a pretty significant about-face on the subject of player compensation from Sanders. Just days earlier, he said the program wouldn’t be trying to draw players that way.
“We’re not an ATM. That’s not gonna happen here,” Sanders said on Nov. 21. “If you come to Colorado to play football for me and the Colorado Buffaloes, it’s because you really want to play football and receive a wonderful education.”
Craig Melvin/USA TODAY Sports
After his son’s announcement, Christian Fauria proceeded to share a number of posts about it, along with one particularly scathing message from SiriusXM’s Danny Kanell, outlining recent struggles for Colorado as the team finished its 2023 season.
CU didn't beat one team with winning record, lost last 6 games, players are hitting the portal, coaches leaving, recruits decommitting, they have the 64th recruiting class (behind UNLV, BYU, USF, all ahead)....
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) November 28, 2023
But sure everything is great because people watched in @RGIII's world https://t.co/yenPeEBDgk
If Sanders has come to believe that Buffaloes boosters need to step up through NIL contributions, losing someone like Fauria likely won’t help. The 52-year old Buffaloes great is a former third-team All-America selection and first-team All-Big 8 selection who went on to win a pair of Super Bowls with the Patriots during a career that also saw him spend time with the Seahawks, Panthers and Washington.
Sanders, who was named Sports Illustrated’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year on Thursday, took college football by storm, starting his first season in the Power 5 at 3–0 with a win over last year’s national runner-up, TCU. However, Fauria’s comments show that Coach Prime isn’t beloved by the entire Colorado football community. He certainly has put the Buffaloes back on the map in the sport, elevating a team that went 1–11 a year ago and overseeing a massive roster transformation.
However, after sputtering to a 4–8 finish, it is evident that there is still plenty of work to be done in Boulder, whether or not the ATM opens up.
