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Under the glow of hundreds of flickering candles in Folsom Field, the world of Colorado football came to a silent, tearful standstill. The team gave a final goodbye to Dominiq Ponder, the 23-year-old backup quarterback whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident on March 1, 2026.
Amidst the grief, the powerful image of Deion Sanders emerged once again, standing as a pillar of support for Ponder's mother, Catrina Hughes, proving that the word "family" is more than just a locker room slogan for him and the Boulder community.
A mother's gratitude amidst unthinkable loss
Standing before the team on March 25, weeks after the devastating crash on Baseline Road, Catrina Hughes struggled to find words for the support the Buffaloes have provided.
"I have no words. We couldn't get through without all of you
The sentiment was also shared by Dominiq's father, Wendell Ponder, who revealed how much the university meant to his son.
During a recent break back home in Florida, Dominiq told his father, "Dad, Boulder is going to be my home." That sense of belonging has been reciprocated by the program, which has treated the Ponder family as its own since they arrived from Florida to navigate the aftermath of this enormous tragedy.
A dream achieved but unfulfilled
Dominiq Ponder's journey at Colorado was a testament to the "Coach Prime" philosophy. For Sanders, this young man was a true future star who was born to be a leader. In a public prayer, he said:
"Dom was one of my favorites! He was loved, respected, and a born leader. Lord, you're receiving a good one. Comfort us, Lord, comfort us
After transferring from Bethune-Cookman in 2024, Ponder spent the 2025 season wearing No. 22, which was certainly an unconventional choice for a quarterback. Sanders challenged him to fight for a traditional playmaker's number despite his preferences.
"I said, 'You got to take one of these low numbers if you want it, you got to fight.' And he worked his b-t off. In this season, he was going to wear number seven
While Ponder will never get to take the field in that No. 7 jersey, his legacy will be stitched into the fabric of the 2026 season. After considering several tribute ideas, the team decided to honor him with a "DP 22" patch, placed on the left side of the jersey above the Nike swoosh.
With these gestures among many others, the bond between a grieving mother and a legendary coach stands as a reminder of the human lives behind the football gears.