Colorado Coach Deion Sanders shocked the college football world earlier this month when his Buffaloes upset heavily favored TCU.
“Thank you, Jesus,” he said in a nationally televised postgame interview, he stated. “I’m so thankful right now. This is a blessing.”
The head coach, who gained the nickname “Prime Time” during his playing career, led Colorado to a 45-42 victory at No. 17 TCU, thanks in part to standout performances from quarterback Shedeur Sanders (510 passing yards and four touchdowns) and two-way player Travis Hunter (119 receiving yards and one interception). Sanders is the coach’s son. Hunter plays both offense and defense, which is rare in modern football. TCU was favored by 21 points.
This week, in response to criticism from Colorado State coach Jay Norvell over Sanders wearing sunglasses, the Buffaloes coach stood firm. “I’m not going to get in front of you and change who I am just because you’re here,” Sanders added. “I don’t do that. I’m consistent with who I am.” He went on to say, “I’m a grown man.
The two teams compete in the Rocky Mountain faceoff Saturday night. UPDATE: Colorado defeated Colorado State 43-35 in overtime.
Sanders, 56, was named head coach at Colorado in December after leading Jackson State (Miss.) to records of 11-2 and 12-0 in his last two seasons. Before that, he was a football analyst on television. Sanders played college football and baseball at Florida State University and then in the National Football League and in Major League Baseball.
He is one of the more outspoken Christians in sports. During his first news conference in December as Colorado head coach, he gave God all of the credit.
“Don’t you ever tell me what God ain’t,’ he said. “Don’t you ever tell me his limits. Don’t you ever tell me what you’re up against and what you can’t do. Out of all the persons in the world, God chose me. For that, I thank you. For that, I owe him. Each and every day, I’m trying to please him.”
In a previous interview, he discussed how faith fuels his success.
“I don’t believe you can be at your optimum without your faith,” he said. “Sports is sports, it’s a game. My faith is everything. It’s the gas that propels the courage, the truth, keeps me going. It’s the wind, it’s the wings, it’s the air that pumps into my lungs that provokes me to live. Faith is everything.”
Sanders is a member of the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame.
