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Rob Livingston doesn't yell much. He doesn't chest-thump or toss chairs. What he does do, though - maybe better than anyone else on Colorado's staff - is take responsibility. Especially when things don't go as planned.
In a world where college football coaches love the spotlight when things go right, Livingston prefers to step back. But when the Buffs blow a coverage or get gashed on the ground? That's on him - and he's the first to say it.
"When things go great, the players should get all the credit," he said in a recent sit-down on Thee Pregame Show. "But when things don't go great? It's all my fault."
That type of honesty might be rare in college football, but at Colorado, it's becoming a trademark. And after what Livingston helped engineer in his first year as defensive coordinator, it's clear the message is working.
Colorado's defensive rebirth wasn't just a scheme: It was a shift in ability
When Livingston came in from the Cincinnati Bengals, Colorado's defense was reeling. The Buffs had given up nearly 35 points per game in 2023 and struggled to create any consistent pressure. Fast-forward a season, and they were leading the Big 12 in sacks, topping the conference in fumble recoveries, and ranked near the top in picks.
And now? He's staying - on a $3.1 million deal that makes him the highest-paid assistant in school history.
But ask anyone in the building, and they'll tell you it's not just the paycheck that makes Livingston valuable. It's the way he talks to players. The way he owns bad days. The way he makes 19-year-olds believe in something bigger than the next snap.
"He's the first one in the film room and the last one to blame anyone else," junior linebacker Jaden Millstone told The Athletic. "That's why we go all out for him."
It also helps when your boss is Deion Sanders - a coach who's made it clear that culture matters just as much as playbooks. From bringing in NFL greats like Marshall Faulk to mentoring staffers like Livingston, Coach Prime isn't just building a football team. He's building an identity.
"Rob's a leader," Sanders told USA Today Sports. "And more than that - he's real."
Livingston doesn't see himself as a star. He sees himself as a teacher. And maybe that's why his defense plays the way it does - fast, focused, and with purpose. Because when the guy calling the plays is also willing to take the fall, there's nothing to fear.