Most football coaches advise their players to maintain their composure during the sweltering heat of August practices, but Head Coach Deion Sanders took a different approach at a recent Colorado practice.
Sanders reprimanded some of his players for not fighting and sticking up for their teammates.
The incident in question unfolded during a spirited goal-line drill – a staple of preseason training camps.
Running back Anthony Hankerson burst through the defensive line for a touchdown run, only to find himself unceremoniously thrown to the ground by safety Jaden Milliner-Jones well after the play had concluded.
The tackle didn’t sit well with offensive lineman Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, who quickly confronted Milliner-Jones, triggering a tempestuous scene of shoving and shouting.
Assistant coaches rushed to intervene, managing to separate the players in the midst of the skirmish. However, the intensity of the altercation drew the attention of none other than Prime himself.
Addressing his team in the huddle, Sanders minced no words about his displeasure.
“I saw two of you walking off, over there, and you’ve got a key teammate fighting,” Sanders said. “Where do they do that at? Where do they do that at?”
His players were quick to respond with assurance that such behavior wouldn’t be tolerated within their ranks.
“If one fights, we all fight,” Sanders emphasized. “You understand that? I don’t want to see you all walking off when somebody’s fighting. Never again!”
A fight broke out during a Colorado Football practice and some players walked off the field instead of joint in.
Deion Sanders was not happy about this and he let them know! pic.twitter.com/XH5FliiNCj
— Wanderlust (@natureboyleflre) August 17, 2023
The Buffaloes, who endured a miserable 1-11 season, are now poised for a resurgence in the upcoming season under the guidance of Coach Prime.
The influx of talented transfers who have followed Sanders to Boulder has sparked renewed excitement among fans and greatly raised the hype and expectations surrounding the program.
The highly anticipated Sanders era kicks off on September 2, as the Buffs face off against national title runners-up, TCU.
A week later, they’ll take on longtime rival Nebraska in a home game at Folsom Field, a venue that witnessed a spring game sellout and even hosted a broadcast by ESPN amid a snowstorm.
How do you think Sanders will do at Colorado?
Do you think he’s in it for the long-haul, or do you think he’ll use the Buffs as a stepping-stone to a bigger program (or the NFL)?