For that $54 million the CU Buffs forked over to him, shouldn’t Deion Sanders be expected to look at a clock and tell the time?

As a showman, Coach Prime shines more brilliantly than the huge necklace he wears in Folsom Field.

As a cancer survivor, he’s a beacon of hope to anyone facing a similar fight.

But on game day, Sanders is a bad football coach.

“Sometimes,” he said after Colorado’s 24-21 loss to nationally ranked Brigham Young, “it felt like the moment was just too big for some of our athletes.”

Oftentimes, the member of the CU football program stumbling worst under the glare of the bright lights is Sanders.

He blew an early 14-point lead against the Cougars and went home a loser with two timeouts in his pocket.

“In the awkward moment when you get your butt kicked, it’s always awkward to run across the field to greet the (other) coach,” said Sanders, whose record against ranked foes since taking over in Boulder is now 1-8.

Well, know what’s even more awkward to watch?

With Sanders flanked by assistant coaches Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk, there are three – count ’em- three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the CU sideline.

And, sometimes, I swear there is no common sense.

For the second time this season, Sanders’ inability to manage the clock late in the fourth quarter contributed significantly to a Colorado loss.

The Buffs did not call a timeout to stop the clock, settle the hyperactive nerves of quarterback Kaidon Salter, or dial up the perfect play in the game plan after the 6-minute, 45-second mark of the final period.

And Sanders wasted that timeout to let staff talk a $54 million head coach out of his gut instinct to go for the gusto on fourth down near midfield while trailing by three points to 25th-ranked BYU.

“I thought about going for it … I really wanted to do it,” said Sanders, admitting it was a collective decision to punt.

Punt? That’s not Prime. That’s lame.

Without Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and a pro-quality quarterback in Shedeur Sanders, these Buffs aren’t good enough to play scared and pray for the best.

Taking the safe way out and punting in front of a national television audience when the vast majority of 52,265 fans have your back seems to be the very antithesis of “We Comin’” and “Ain’t Hard to Find.”

As the only professional athlete in history to play in both the Super Bowl and World Series, he never choked in the big moment as a cornerback or outfielder.

As coach of the Buffs, however, Sanders doesn’t seem to make any better choices in the clutch than Mike MacIntyre or Mel Tucker did.

With the constant Louis Vuitton threat to send under-achievers packing, Sanders exhorted his players to “step up.”

As a wild card that proved to be a joker no matter what position he played, CU sophomore Dre’Lon Miller stood up and stepped out against the Cougars, producing 79 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 touches from scrimmage.

Much more than a fluke, Miller looks like a fixture of the CU offense in the future. “That was real-real,” insisted Sanders. “We’re going to use him as much as we can and even more.”

So all is not lost for the Buffs. And, yes, it could be worse.

Look to Fort Collins, where Colorado State would be crazy to keep clueless coach Jay Norvell employed even one more day.

Or take a gander at the Air Force Academy, where it feels like the time is rapidly approaching to give distinguished coach Troy Calhoun a gentle nudge into the wild, blue yonder of retirement.

Already stuck in last place of the Big 12 Conference standings and with not a gimme victory remaining on the schedule, Sanders finds himself with his back against the Flatirons.

“I’m trying to find light,” Prime said, “In a dark tunnel.”

Summer has come and passed.

Will these Buffs wake up when September ends?

Prime shouldn’t require a timeout to know the score.

Right now, CU has more gold jackets (three) on the sideline than victories (two) in the books.

Guess $54 million doesn’t go as far as it once did.