Deion Sanders has already established himself as one of the most effective motivators in college football. However, Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell may have played right into his opponent’s hands by making derogatory remarks about his character. This decision is unlikely to bode well for Norvell or his team as they prepare to travel to Boulder this weekend.
The first two weeks of the season couldn’t have gone better for the Buffs. They confidently defeated TCU, last year’s national runners-up, in Week 1 and followed up with a convincing win against Nebraska in Week 2.
RELATED: Deion Sanders Reveals Why He Slept In His Office on Friday Night
In both cases, Coach Prime managed to infuse a personal element into the game. Shedeur Sanders, for example, had “extra motivation” to defeat the Horned Frogs after feeling snubbed by their offensive coordinator during a recruiting camp. Additionally, Colorado took offense to Matt Rhule’s (largely harmless) comments made during the offseason, viewing them as a direct affront to their program and head coach.
Coach Prime emphasized these points in pregame talks, and the Buffaloes maintained their dominance throughout the game against the Cornhuskers.
As Week 3 approaches, both ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff are converging on Boulder for the Rocky Mountain Showdown. While the game may appear lopsided on paper, it holds immense significance for both programs.
Moreover, this historic matchup will mark the first time that two Black head coaches face off in the game.
Colorado is heavily favored to defeat Colorado State by 23.5 points, making it their expected easiest win of the year.
However, Norvell’s comments on Wednesday night have injected a dose of extra motivation into the Buffs.
Coach Prime often dons a hat and sunglasses during press conferences and media interviews, a style choice he maintained on Wednesday.
Shortly afterward, Norvell spoke with ESPN and took a dig at his opponent’s demeanor, criticizing the way Sanders carries himself.
During the first two weeks, Colorado found added motivation in their opposition’s coaching staff. Colorado State and Norvell had not provided any such motivation—until Wednesday.
If history is any indicator, Norvell’s comments directed at Sanders are unlikely to yield positive results.
