Colorado Coach Deion Sanders Gets Personal Ahead of Rivalry Game Against Nebraska
Colorado coach Deion Sanders is intensifying the rivalry between his team and Nebraska as they gear up for their Week 2 game. Sanders, a former member of the Big Eight and Big 12 conferences, has made it clear that this game is personal for him and his team.
“This is personal,” Sanders declared during a press conference on Tuesday. “That’s the message of the week: This is personal.”
The game on Saturday will mark the 72nd meeting between the two rivals. Colorado and Nebraska were both part of the same conference until 2010 when Nebraska joined the Big Ten and Colorado joined the Pac-12. Since then, the teams have only faced each other twice, resulting in both victories for Colorado.
Sanders, along with his sons Shedeur and Shilo, is relatively new to the Colorado program. However, they are not the only newcomers. A staggering 87 new players have joined the team since Sanders took over as coach in December. Despite the fresh faces in Boulder, Sanders has made it a priority to share his knowledge of the rivalry with his roster.
“Colorado, we don’t like Nebraska. Simple,” stated Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. “That’s just what it is.”
Shedeur Sanders showcased his talent in the team’s recent game against then-No. 17 TCU, breaking a school record with 510 passing yards. Colorado emerged victorious as a 20-point underdog in a thrilling 45-42 win on the road. As a result, the team debuted at No. 25 in the coaches poll and No. 22 in the media poll on Tuesday.
Heading into the game against Nebraska, Colorado is considered a three-point favorite. The Huskers, under new coach Matt Rhule, suffered a heartbreaking loss in their first game, surrendering a late touchdown and a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
Despite Nebraska’s advantage in the all-time rivalry record, with a 49-20-2 lead, Sanders remains unfazed and fully embraces the magnitude of the rivalry.
“Learning the dynamics of the different rivalries, I like it. It’s delightful,” admitted Deion Sanders. “I’ve learned the severity, the serious nature of this rivalry, and I’m embracing it 100 percent.”
As the anticipation builds for the showdown between Colorado and Nebraska, fans on both sides eagerly await one of the most anticipated games of the season.
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(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)