Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders doesn’t appreciate the media narrative that sprouted after his team’s 27-20 loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Week 1. Now, nearly a month later, he’s still using it against those who questioned if Pat Shurmur’s offensive play-calling was up to snuff.
Coach Prime taunted the media after the Buffs produced 497 total yards of total offense against the Wyoming Cowboys in a 37-20 win at Folsom Field on Saturday. With Kaidon Salter having his best performance since arriving via the transfer portal from the Liberty Flames, Sanders rhetorically questioned the media if they still wanted to talk about Shurmur.
“I don’t think he lost his confidence, I just think he had to understand how we do things,” Sanders said postgame. “When you do those type of things that we need done and understand what we need as a team, it’s easy. I don’t hear anybody talking about [offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur] tonight, where that went? Anybody? Anybody?
“Oh that’s gone? For at least a week right? When we execute, it’s a beautiful thing. When we don’t, it’s going to be blame assessed. I understand that life. I’ve been in this sports world for a long time. I’m thankful that you got to see some wonderful plays that he’s capable of making. That you got to see some wonderful calls that was made from the top. You got to see some wonderful execution that was by the offensive line as well as the backs. They ran their butts off.”
Coach Prime isn’t happy about a lot of things with a 2-2 team now facing the most difficult stretch of their season. Chief among them is criticism of the offensive coordinator who made his son, Shedeur, a record-breaker in Boulder.
Sanders may have reserved the sharpest tongue for the media, but he didn’t let his team off the hook either.
Sanders found a way to sneak in a shot at his own team while speaking about the new Ralphie mascot, Ralphie VII. Unlike her predecessor, who often didn’t make it to the 20-yard line, let alone the 50, and the Buffs on Saturday night, Sanders assessed Ralphie VII’s performance as a complete one.
“I heard she was energetic, started out well and finished strong unlike us. I’m not happy with the finish. I’m happy with the results but I’m not happy with the finish. I told our young men, too much haha and heheing on the sideline when we got the lead and hats off to the opposition. They did a wonderful job, Wyoming, of getting back in that game and playing their butts off with a no-quit attitude. Much love to their head coach, much love to that coaching staff. Nothing but the utmost respect,” Sanders said.
There’s a lot of work to be done at CU. A chance at revenge against the BYU Cougars, who ended the Shedeur and Travis Hunter era with a 36-14 Buffs loss in the 2024 Alamo Bowl, looms this coming Saturday at home under the lights.