Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham and Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders have a relationship that has become rare in major sports. Once described by Sanders as being “Big 12 rookies together”, both revere the other at a level that is uncommon today.
Both coaches will face off against each other this Saturday and both will be adversaries come game time. However, before and after that, both often will have nice and complimentary things to say about the other. This week will prove to be no different.
Going back to last year, Sanders took some time to talk up Dillingham and their relationship. Including a short story about Sanders recruiting Dillingham to join a staff Sanders would not get specific on.
“I’ve been very happy to see every step he’s taken because I know he’s that guy,” said Sanders. He also said Dillingham is “great for that program, he’s great for college football, and he’s a great mind.”
On Monday, coach Dillingham addressed his local media. Dillingham spoke on several Arizona State specific topics. From NIL and local Tempe businesses to frustration despite a good record to player leadership and recruiting. Then the head coach took questions on Colorado.
Dillingham was asked about facing a true freshman quarterback for the second week in a row and what have you seen on tape that Colorado does well?
“They play hard. They're defensive line is good. They get off the ball” Dillingham said. “The quarterback is someone I recruited a little bit. I offered him at Oregon. He's a really good player. You can tell he can locate the ball, especially vertically down the field.”
Then he went in on the Sanders specific aspect. “You know, they had games that didn't go great and then they had games where they, they beat good teams. So we're no different. Like, we can't just be good an entire game. It's definitely a team that's dangerous.”
Julian Lewis and what has Colorado done well this year?
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. If you're looking at it from his perspective, you know he's won 300% more games this year than the year before he took over”, Dillingham said of Sanders.
“Life is about relativity. So, relative to when he took over that program, that program is 300% better. Not including what you just mentioned (reporter included health concerns in his question). Just the wins on the field.”
Dillingham would then double down on the job Sanders is doing. “Sometimes you got to put things into perspective. I think he's done a great job there” he said. “I mean, people are talking about Colorado. Recruits want to go to Colorado. They've won, like I said, a high percentage of games with him than before him.”
Then Dillingham added a more personal comment regarding some of the challenges Sanders has faced. “He's battled a bunch and just shows the type of person he is. You know he's a fighter and a winner and that shows up at Colorado since he's been there.”
Dillingham sees similarities in the defenses
StartFragment "I mean this defense (Colorado) is truly pro style. Four down. Literally straight from the NFL. They're kinda similar to us," Dillingham said of Colorado's defense. EndFragment
Arizona State is having a good year despite Dillingham’s claim that they have not had one good and complete game all season. Sitting in the fifth spot in the Big 12 standings, they need to win out vs Colorado and Arizona if they hope to move up. Utah and Houston, both ahead of ASU have a slightly tougher task ahead of them.
Colorado on the other hand, has not had a good season by virtually any measure. As Sanders has preached for the last few weeks, this is about pride at this point. With freshman Julian Lewis named the starter, there is optimism and something to root for. If Colorado can beat ASU or the Arizona Wildcats or both, Sanders can avoid the team’s worst record under his tenure.
Arizona State travels to Boulder to take on Colorado. That game has an 8:00pm ET kickoff and will broadcast on ESPN2.