Deion Sanders praises BYU coach Kalani Sitake ahead of showdown

Brian Schaible

Deion Sanders praises BYU coach Kalani Sitake ahead of showdown image

As Colorado prepares for Saturday night’s primetime clash with BYU, Deion Sanders made it clear that his respect for Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake runs deep.

“BYU coach Sitake, I consider him a dear, dear friend. A god-fearing man, a man of standard and principle, and a darn good coach and a good dude,” Sanders said. “His team is physical and tough. They’ve been shutting things down defensively and doing the doggone thing offensively. That’s who we know we’re facing.”

Sanders admired Sitake not only for his coaching acumen but also for his personal journey. “I admire him so much. Played at the university, had opportunity to play pro ball. Just a straight up winner. He’s a winner,” Sanders said.

Colorado’s head coach knows exactly what kind of opponent awaits. “They’ve been playing superbly this season, even with a young quarterback. Defensively, they’ve been shutting things down. Offensively, they’re physical and tough,” he said.

For Sanders, this matchup is about more than game-planning. It’s about testing his team against a program built on discipline and toughness. These are values he sees reflected in his friend across the sideline. “He’s going to have his team ready,” Sanders concluded. “That’s the team I know we’re going to face. A physical, tough football team.”

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Brian Schaible

Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.