Deion Sanders: Buffs "better win"

Driving the news: Sanders and several CU players traveled to Texas this week for Big 12 media days.

• In an energetic press conference, Sanders acknowledged that this time last year, he was battling bladder cancer and was wearing extra layers to hide his weight loss.
• "Now I'm here with full strength, full energy. I got that 'thang' back, I got that swagger back, I got that dog back, I got that charisma back," Sanders said.

State of play: He praised the team's offseason work, his new coaches and new athletic director Fernando Lovo.

Reality check: Sanders said: "We better win. And we're gonna win ... I love what I got, I love what I see."

Between the lines: He also reflected on an emotional offseason, touching on the deaths of former quarterback Dominique Ponder and longtime reporter Adam Munsterteiger.

• Players will wear a patch honoring Ponder, Sanders said, and the team will save a seat at press conferences for Munsterteiger.

What we're watching: The Buffs enter camp as the longest shot to win the conference, and without a player on the preseason all-conference team.

• Sanders' message: "We don't care about what people say ... (The players) know what they gotta do and how they gotta work."