Deion Sanders, the coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, began his press conference on Saturday with some black humour.
“A wonderful win,” he replied, beaming. “I’m just joking.”
Colorado fell 48-41 against No. 8 USC in front of a sellout crowd at Folsom Field that featured personalities from sports and entertainment. The Buffaloes, led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, outscored the Trojans 27-14 in the second half and 14-0 in the fourth, outgaining coach Lincoln Riley’s offence 564-498.
Neither Deion nor Shedeur Sanders believe in moral triumphs (“I don’t know what that means,” Shedeur remarked), but Colorado’s strong second half against reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and the Trojans reset expectations and hope for a programme that went 1-11 in 2022.
“Overall, I’m really proud,” stated Deion Sanders. “Not just of the young men, but also of the coaches, the fan base, and the student body.” I’m quite happy of how Boulder was portrayed tonight.”
Following a 42-6 setback at Oregon last week, in which they were practically shut out, the Buffaloes seemed to be in for another rude awakening against a Pac-12 heavyweight. USC took a 34-7 lead thanks to four touchdown passes from Williams, who ended with six and 403 yards. Colorado trailed 41-14 halfway through the third quarter after Brenden Rice’s second touchdown catch. Rice began his career with the Buffaloes.
But Shedeur Sanders rallied his squad with the aid of Omarion Miller, who established a rookie record with 196 yards on nine catches.
“All we had to do was lock in and realise, ‘Look, this isn’t going to be a recap of what happened last week.’” We’re not going out like that,’ remarked Shedeur Sanders. “I’ll do whatever it takes.” That was the theme of the week.”
Shedeur Sanders corrected numerous reporters and gave the proper pronunciation of Miller’s name, saying, “Everybody, here is my guy, Omarion! He ran a lot of yards today!” On fourth-and-5, Sanders found Miller for a 9-yard score through a tight window, bringing Colorado within two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter.
Miller, a four-star recruit according to ESPN, had not caught a pass in Colorado’s first four games but claimed he “dreamed about” a huge game versus USC.
“I’ve got so much to prove, this is just one game,” Miller said. “Y’all ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Miller was one of many young players to emerge for Colorado, which opened the season without three defensive backs: safety Myles Slusher, cornerback Travis Hunter, and safety Shilo Sanders, who missed his first game due to a kidney ailment suffered in the Oregon game. Freshman cornerback Cormani McClain, ESPN’s No. 14 overall recruit, made a pass breakup in the end zone and helped cover up USC’s missed PAT try.
Deion Sanders expressed his desire for McClain to “be that dude,” adding that both McClain and Miller “separated themselves from their yesterday,” which he described as “terrible.” He said that both had now adjusted their expectations for the future.
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders improved his outlook with his fourth game of 348 yards or more and third with four touchdown throws. Deion Sanders, who dubbed his son “Grown” for his maturity, believes Shedeur would have led Colorado to another score if the Buffaloes had recovered an onside kick with 1 minute, 43 seconds remaining.
Deion Sanders referred to Shedeur as “a baller” and a “now player.”
“He’s been built and reared for this his whole life,” Deion Sanders said. “He’s always won, he’s always been dominant, he’s always been smart, intelligent, and concise, he’s always been a competitor.” He has always given us the opportunity to excel at every level.
“I could go on, but I don’t want to sound like the father.” “The kid can just play.”
When asked whether she shared a stage with Williams, Shedeur Sanders said, “My stage is my stage.” Colorado has been outscored 90-28 in the first half of its last three games, so his objective is to play more complete games.
Deion Sanders said that although the team’s strong finish is crucial, the squad is still seeking for its “true identity” after a 3-2 September in which Colorado became the biggest story in college football.
“If you can’t see what’s coming with CU football, you’ve lost your mind,” Sanders said. “You’re just a hater if you can’t see what’s going on and what’s going to happen in the coming months.” “There’s something wrong with you.”
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