Why Charles Barkley lobbied for Auburn to hire Deion Sanders

If it had been up to Charles Barkley, the excitement currently happening in Boulder would be taking place at his alma mater.

In an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show” Friday, Barkley reiterated that he lobbied the administration at Auburn to hire Deion Sanders to be their head football coach.

“I made it publicly and privately known that I wanted Deion. That’s all I could do. I really wanted Deion at Auburn,” Barkley said.

“I think wherever he goes he’s gonna be successful. He’s just that great of a coach and a person.”

Barkley wanted to emphasize that he wasn’t putting down Hugh Freeze, whom Auburn ultimately hired.

“You know what, I have to be careful with that Dan, we hired Hugh Freeze and I’m all in on Coach Freeze, but I really want Deion at Auburn. We’ve got Coach Freeze now and I’ve got to support him 100 percent,” Barkley said.

Barkley was asked about what has made Sanders successful so far at Colorado.

“He has the ‘It’ factor,” Barkley explained.

“First of all he’s a really great person. Sometimes I think we see people’s persona and don’t listen to them. He’s a great coach and he has a great staff.

“He reminds me a lot of Nick Saban, and I think Nick Saban’s the greatest coach ever. He’s not afraid to hire great assistants. You look at Deion’s staff, and I think everyone either played or was a head coach somewhere. I think what separates Saban.

“A lot of coaches are cowards. They’re afraid to hire good coaches because they’re afraid about their jobs. If you’re secure in your coaching, you hire good assistants, because you can’t do everything.”

Last November, after Bryan Harsin was fired at Auburn, Barkley made it clear he wanted Sanders.

“I personally want Deion Sanders, because No. 1 he is going to recruit like hell,” Barkley said at the time.

“Deion is going to win wherever he goes.”