Colorado Football Program Faces Accusations of ‘Hating’ the American Flag
Shedeur Sanders managed to stay calm and composed while addressing a question about the American flag during Saturday’s postgame press conference. A dominant comeback win over Texas Tech likely helped Sanders suppress any frustration over the supposed controversy that had been swirling around the Colorado football program all week.
He quickly dismantled the false narrative.
The Red Raiders were hosting their annual ‘Celebrate America’ game on the Saturday prior to Veterans Day weekend. This tradition features a special game day t-shirt sold exclusively by Red Raider Outfitter, a well-known store in Lubbock that offers “the largest and most exclusive collection of Texas Tech merch.” All proceeds from the t-shirt sales go toward a local initiative called ‘Monument of Courage,’ which provides support for military veterans.
According to Stephen Spiegelberg, the owner of Red Raider Outfitter, Texas Tech’s athletic department had immediately approved this year’s t-shirt design request, which featured the logos of both Texas Tech and Colorado along with an American flag. However, when Colorado was approached about the design, the response was reported to be just two words: “not interested.”
Spiegelberg didn’t give up there. He went back to the drawing board and later reached out to Colorado again with a revised design. However, he was rejected for a second time.
“At that point, we pressed a little bit more, and we were told they won’t be licensing a product that had an American flag on it,” Spiegelberg said. “We decided we would not be selling any type of Colorado merchandise in the store with the logo. We refuse to do that because Colorado would receive financial benefit from those shirts. And we don’t think that anybody has the right to limit the use of the American flag in this great nation.”
The statements from Spiegelberg quickly went viral, and Colorado found itself at the center of a brewing controversy. Many critics accused the Buffaloes of being unpatriotic or even anti-American, with some implying that Deion Sanders and his players were opposed to celebrating the country they live in. The controversy took on a life of its own in the days leading up to the game, drawing criticism from various corners.
However, the University of Colorado sought to clarify the situation. A university spokesperson offered a statement on Thursday explaining the reasoning behind the decision to deny the request. According to the university, the refusal had nothing to do with Spiegelberg, Red Raider Outfitter, or even the American flag.
“We get requests to use our marks and often decline for any number of reasons,” the university spokesperson said. “In this case, the decision was unrelated to the ‘Celebrate America’ theme. Our standards are consistently applied and are based on widely accepted licensing and trademark best practices used by national and global brands.”
Despite the university’s explanation, Colorado faced significant criticism in the 72 to 96 hours leading up to kickoff. The narrative that emerged portrayed the Colorado football team, and particularly head coach Deion Sanders, as unpatriotic. Players were unfairly labeled as ungrateful, with some calling them a “bunch of Benedict Arnolds” who did not appreciate the country they called home. All of this criticism came despite the fact that the players themselves had nothing to do with the licensing decision.
Shedeur Sanders, the star quarterback and son of head coach Deion Sanders, took the opportunity to address the controversy after Colorado’s 41-27 victory over Texas Tech. He made it clear that the team was not going to let the negative comments and misinformation distract them from their goals.
“Well, that settles that!” Sanders said with confidence, effectively putting an end to the controversy. He added that while the Buffaloes are tired of the negative conversations surrounding their program, they remain focused on what matters—playing football and winning games. With a commanding win under their belts, Sanders and the Colorado football team were ready to move on to their next challenge.
The entire incident serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread, particularly in the world of college sports, where passions run high.
The Colorado football program found itself caught in a whirlwind of controversy based on a decision that had nothing to do with patriotism or the American flag. Shedeur Sanders’ response after the game was a clear indication that the Buffaloes are choosing to rise above the noise and focus on the game they love.
As the Colorado football team moves forward, they do so with their heads held high, refusing to let false narratives dictate the conversation.
The win over Texas Tech was not only a statement on the field but also a chance to address the unnecessary drama off of it. For the Buffaloes, it’s now all about looking ahead to the next game, leaving the controversy behind.
