Coach Deion Sanders spoke generally over the weekend about the negative criticism he’s faced as Colorado’s head coach, but didn’t directly address the Denver Post columnist being banned from asking questions at press conferences.
The ban on Denver Post reporter Sean Keeler’s questions came after the school said the reporter had written “a sustained series of personal attacks against the football program, and Coach Prime in particular.” According to USA Today.
Sanders, known as Coach Prime, told reporters Saturday that he was never fazed by outside noise and never felt like he “had to try harder.”
“I really don’t care because it doesn’t affect me,” Sanders said. “I’ve never read an article or a comment and thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to try harder on this.’ I’m always going to try harder, but that comment put me where the other person is. So, that’s the only difference. It doesn’t motivate me. It’s where I come from that motivates me.”
“How I was raised is what drives me. You know, being African-American, being one of the few people to be a college football head coach, those kinds of things drive me. It’s not what you say. It tells you where you stand.”
The Buffaloes finished 4-8 in Sanders’ first season as coach and will open the 2024 season on Thursday against North Dakota State.
The former NFL star said he’s used to the spotlight and criticism.
Sanders said his focus is not to get upset about it, but to understand where it’s coming from and “why.”
“This is a way of life for me. You guys act like this is the first time I’ve been attacked. I’ve been lied to, cheated, called names, abused. It’s a gospel song… This is not the first time, but as I grow, instead of attacking you guys, condemning you guys or just ignoring you, I want to know why. Let’s help each other. Let’s understand why, because if you understand people’s reasons, it helps a lot,” he said.
The State of Colorado confirmed this in a statement. The Paper announced on Friday that it would ban Keeler from asking questions, but he will still be able to cover the game and other Paper staff members will still be able to ask questions.
