Weekly Press Conference Quotes

Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders

Opening Statement
"First of all thank you Lord for giving them here, being under the weather tremendously tremendously by the grace of God I made it through the last game that we actually played like I felt that wasn't good. Levonta Bentley academic student of the week, Shilo forced four fumbles this season, leading the Pac-12 and Power Five players. Ranks fifth most in CU history but most by a player in the last 10 years. Travis surpassed a 900 snap count this week, he is phenomenal. CU ranks seventh nationally and turnover margin leads the Pac-12, isn't that unbelievable?"

On the greatest challenge he has overcome
"Preconceived notions, preconceived ideas and people purposely think you're a certain way and they haven't met you. They don't even know you and your stereotype because of how you talk, how you walk, how you look what you wear, instead of waiting to really find out who you are, truly, that's something that we all must overcome, because this is such a judgmental world we live in, and it's so much judgment to this in all of us. And I don't understand it one bit. I really like you to show me who you are, and I'm gonna believe you. I'm truly gonna believe you so you got to be careful what you show me. Great question."

On how Shedeur is feeling
"Shedeur is not feeling well right now. It is a day-to-day situation and we're praying he gets healthy and is able to play because he is who it is. When he's on the field we have a tremendous chance to win."

On keeping the team focused on Utah and not the offseason
"Well, we see we have a theme of each week and we try to focus. We got to finish, we got to finish anything. It's not something that's finished like a sentence we got to finish and I want to finish with an exclamation mark. I don't want to finish with a comma you know, in a long sentence I want to finish and these guys practice their butts off the day. Man I see no quit in him. I didn't see no poor little me. We had a tremendous meeting this morning and kind of got some stuff out that was in house and you know, I'm not wanting to walk away from whatever was saying I said this in front of all of us. Why do you say that and why did you felt like that? Let's do this. So that happened this morning and it was tremendous. I love it. For 100% of it."

On philosophy going into recruiting
"We want players that want us trying to convince somebody and in doing that and being held hostage financially, we end with that. We want players that want to be a Colorado Buffalo and want to come here for all the right reasons. Academically, the city is so darn beautiful. It's just taking rent. It's so beautiful. And just people that want to be a part of what we're building. We're not going to buy anybody whatsoever. So that's how we approach it. We have tremendous needs. I'm pretty sure everybody in the country knows what we need and how much we need it. It's not a secret that the recruits are responding. Trust me it's not a day that goes by that kids aren't blowing our recruiting staff up. They're there. They're calling in and we're responding trust me."

On filling what the team needs instead of everything
"So now it's more focused on let's go fulfill the needs. You had to just feel the kitchen up. You know, Oh Mother Hubbard, you know, went to the cupboard and when not now, so we had to feel the kitchen out with everything. Now it's more directed and more accurate. Okay, we need three of those. We need two of those. We need one of those. That's pretty much how we're going at it and we have a we, we know what we want and we're gonna go get it. I promise you that."

On how Travis Hunter is doing this week
"He's gonna be alright. You know, we usually don't practice on Tuesday, so he's gonna be okay. He'll start practicing tomorrow. That's what he normally does each week."

On Coach Whittingham
"He's a legend man. He's a darn legend. He's a guy that I truly respect I truly admire I truly glean from afar. I don't really know him personally. I met him once. They get to PAC 12 meetings, but he's a darn legend man in his consistency and persistence speaks volumes. I love what he's doing with a program. I love what he's done with the program."

On if the team is playing for pride vs Utah
"Well, I think you should always play to win. I don't know about pride. You got to play to win. You gotta play to the best of your ability. You got to play because this is what you chose. This is like you chose nobody's forcing you to go out there to play like you. You gotta want this. You may not have the same amount of handclaps that you had at the beginning, you may not have the same amount of noise and the same amount of fans have the same amount of passion, but you gotta figure this thing out. And you got to play."

On rating this season
"We didn't accomplish what we wanted. But we accomplished what we needed. I think hope is in steel tremendously in this city, in the student body, within his team within his building. Can you see the direction that we're headed? So when you see things that you look to as a loss, some kind of way I see it as a win. And we certainly didn't do what I wanted to do. We pretty much put a mark in college football and what we're going to do from here on it will never be the same. I promise you that because I know how we recruit, I know what I know. And you you got to be crazy if you can't see it. It's easy to look at us play and say okay, all they need is that that that and that in a straight. How many times have you said that? But see when I said you get a lead to the rest of the period tell you what we need. But you can say it but I can't write insensitively? You want to treat grown men like babies. We don't do that right here. We call it like it is. We say, "What's the truth?"

On importance of sticking to his big picture plan
"I mean, we are right on schedule with the plan. Your plan is to improve every darn thing we touch. Then we sell out every game the same way better. So what you're trying to say is we didn't live up to their expectations because I know this team I know what this team is capable of doing. So What didn't we do? Oh coach you didn't win. But four games on the point. Yeah, that's three more than we did. You got to understand, man, I will find a smile in the middle of a frown. I must find that thing."

On if he needs to make adjustments to his plan
"Yeah, because when there is pressure on people, you find out who they are. So you find out some things you have to make adjustments you have to call some things one thing about it when I make a move I don't look back on it. It is what it is and you have no idea what prompted that. So we are good man. You got to understand we're good. We might not be where we want to be when we show ain't what we used to be. And I think all of you real Colorado fans shoot you should be clapping right now saying well, you guys Darn it. Everybody and their mom was here. people talking about oh, you humble Now, what does humble really mean? somebody to help me today. I got What does humble What does humility really mean? So if I'm sitting up here, talking about a program positively with energy and life in aspiration and passion, that means I'm not humble. I am a humble man. I'm very humble with the things of God not the things of another man. I don't live up to Oh, and never live up to your expectations. But God is well pleased with me. Trust me. Oh, no. Oh, you're feeling good. Now. Let's go."

On how he was feeling Saturday
"My god. I apologize for the press conference afterwards. I don't remember the flight back like you'd have no idea like how sick or medicated I got before the game and I just had to be out there with the kids. There's no way I was gonna miss the game but I hadn't been this sick in a long time. I mean, that was bad. Bad, bad, bad and we played just like I felt."

On chances his current prime effect can influence a black and Colorado gold colorway for his shoe
"Yes, that may be in the works. You got to understand that the black and white ones were the first original Okay, so you put a little gold check on it and we good? Yes. Yes, that will happen. It's going to happen real soon. We're happy with our newfound relationship with Nike and what they've done for this university the new uniforms. I put next season as well as is phenomenal and that matches the cleats and so forth. So all the skill positions will be wearing cleats as well as the tennis shoe version. So Nike is doing a phenomenal job of outfitting this all in it's gonna be good. So I don't know about the effect, but I'm thankful. So every time you think we lose and we wind up winning, maybe guarantee every darn thing you do and they lose and none of it is how you look at it."

On the potential of Colorado player's entering the transfer portal
"Our kids? You wait until that's over. You can't do that in season. I'm really sure those kids are thinking about it -- those young men. I'm pretty sure the majority of those kids want to stay. You're going to have some kids jump regardless. You plan for that kind of stuff. We've already -- before the season started, we already knew what we needed. We know what we want. Even by portal or high school kids. Age and stuff to that nature. We've been there. I think I showed [Athletic Director] Rick [George] the projections and what we're trying to get well before the season even started. I showed him those. Everything that has transpired is not new to us. We knew a lot of these things were coming. We know what we have. We didn't just go out on the field and find out 'Hey, we're weak there'. We knew that before we went out there. Unfortunately, they exposed it. Great question tough."

On RB Kavosiey Smoke's comments
"I like that comment. I think that's a great comment. I'd like to quantify what does that mean? That's the question I asked the team today. What does that mean? They told me a plethora of things. You should've been there. It was good. That's not going to happen. I love y'all but I don't trust you like that."

On if he believes RB Kavosiey Smoke's comments were positive
"Yeah, first of all, I love [Kavosiey] Smoke man. Smoke is a great kid who worked his butt off. He plays hard. I'm upset that we didn't live up to our expectations that he had for us. I'm upset about that. You're talking about a running back that's a pro. Smoke is a pro man and never got an opportunity because we're so deep at that position and we're run deficient. I'm upset that we didn't live up to the expectations that he had for us. I love that kid man and his mom. I'm 100 with Smoke. He said what he felt and he felt what he said. I have no problem with guys doing that as long as it justified. That wasn't an attack on us, that was the truth. Every team has a little bit of that. I'm riding with him."

On what selfish football means to him
"No. People really aren't taking their job serious sometimes. Maybe not studying properly. Maybe not holding each other accountable. Things of that nature. That's nothing derogatory man. That's a challenge and that's how Smoke speaks. I got love for the brother man."

On the quarterback position this week
"Nah, you have to understand Shedeur really on Tuesday's doesn't work anyway. He digresses. Wednesday he normally does 7 on 7 or whatever. He really works his way into it. He has like a schedule that his body responds. So Staub has been getting a lot of work anyway the last several weeks. He digests the playbook -- digests what we expect of him so he can go out there and perform if he's called upon."

On adjusting from being a player to a coach
"I don't think you have less of an impact. I'm not playing. I can't make a play. I can't get out there and do my thing but I can impact those players that are out there doing those things. I can speak volume into those players. The gift that I have is knowing people and getting the best out of people and knowing what they're capable of and what they're not capable of. Trying to put them in the proper positions to excel and exceed all expectations. Pushing them to the point that they are that person that they desire to be. I don't think it's less of an impact. I think it's even more of an impact. Playing the game, I had a direct impact. Now I can touch every darn thing that's on the field. I love it. I absolutely love it. I really do."

On what advice he would give to young people
"Well, first thing I want you to do is get your grades. I want you to make A's or B's. I wasn't straight A [student] so I'm not going to expect that. Okay. But B's mean I'm about that business. Alright, I want you to make A's and B's. Yes sir. No, sir. Yes ma'am. No, ma'am. Be respectful to your elders and always treat people kind. Do not ever in your life -- no matter how upset you are, never be disrespectful to anyone because you never know. You just never know. Alright."

On players de-committing
"I'm trying to figure out how to frame. A kid ain't even faithful to his girlfriend. You think he gonna be faithful to a school? Like come on, man. Like that's that's that's like an emotional thing. What I wish the NCAA would do -- Honestly, if you're committed to somewhere, you can't go to any other visits. I wish that would be. Like if you're committed, that means you're committed -- you can't go and visit. So why would you be committed but you still let kids go to other places. That doesn't make sense. So that means they just playing. They just playing. And one thing about it, we're not an ATM. That's not gonna happen here. If you come to Colorado to play football for me and the Colorado Buffaloes [it's] because you really want to play football and receive a wonderful education and all the business stuff is going to be handled on the back end if that's the case. We are not an ATM. You're not coming here to get rich unless you really come here with a plan to go to the NFL and get your degree. Not to come here and be Moneybagg Yo. That's a rapper right? I got that one right. I don't even know him but I thought it was a good timing."

On what the Boulder community can do to support the team
"The community has been wonderful. They have been absolutely phenomenal. When I tell you, even when the community hears that we're recruiting someone -- what they do socially to encourage them and inform them about how beautiful and wonderful this is has been phenomenal man. So the community is is doing its part we just have to do our part to to nail it. You're gonna see, you're probably gonna see some commits come real soon. But trust me, we haven't really lost nothing we want. We haven't lost nothing we want. We truly won't. Trust me on that one."

On being humble and advice about being humble
"I need them to be unapologetically who they are. I'm so tired of people judging people. I mean, I don't care what religion, what race, what your thought process or your sexual preference. I don't give a darn, I want you happy. I want you happy and at peace. So we have to stop that man. We're always judging somebody when they don't come in a package that we want to put them in. I've never been packaged in my life and I'm not going to be packaged ever in my life. I'm going to be unapologetically me. I'm gonna walk like a walk. I'm gonna talk like I talk. I'm gonna be who I am and that's it. I'm not changing. No time soon. I'm 56. I'm have to make sure. I'm 56 and I have no plans on changing. So Colorado Buffaloes fans. I love you. I appreciate you. We're gonna win. Just put your seat belt on. The ride is going to get a little shaky. He's going to look ugly, but we're gonna win The climax that we gave you early on, we're gonna get you back there because I know you liked that ride, didn't you? We're gonna get you back there. We have the same passion, the same purpose and we're gonna win. Just hold on. It's going to be a great ride. God bless y'all. Have a beautiful day and if you're sick I'm praying for you."

LaVonta Bentley

On watching the Washington State film
"Overall, I was sick. I wanted to win going into the game, watching film, knowing what play is coming from just film study and stuff like that. So I wanted to win, but we didn't come out victorious so that was frustrating at the end of the day. All we can do is get better from it and try to win the next game."

On Utah
"When I see them play they're much like Oregon State as far as what they're trying to do so at the end of the day we just need to fit the gaps, play down here and hit them in the mouth. That's what football is about, imposing your will on your opponents so that's what we got to go out there and do."

On how close this team is to success
"I think we're still close. Like I said, at the end of the day, we got to play as a unit and play together. I feel like nobody has quit and we still got one more game so we gotta get out there and put on. Most of the guys came here for a second opportunity to get to the league so they know what they have to do once they're out there, get their stats up, play together and get this win."

On his message to players who might want to transfer here
"Put the work in. Don't get a big head. When things don't go your way stay the course and that's really about it. Control what you can control. Once you get in, you never know how things might go so you just gotta stay the course, stay down and grind at the end of the day."

On if he would tell players to transfer here
"Yeah, why not? I came here to win, play under Coach [Prime] and get to the league. That's my goal. I know coach will help me with that and learning from the greatest coaches at every position. So learning from them and knowing what it takes to get there is going to help me get better."

On how the team is handling the losses
"Yeah, it's been tough. Coming from Clemson it was win win win. My last season we took a couple of Ls there, but for me I just know I gotta show up each and every day no matter win or loss you still need to get the job done for the next opponent. Like I said, you gotta control what you can control once you're out there. I know for me, I'm gonna put my best foot forward each and every day to try to get better. My goal is to get to the NFL so I know each game counts and I know the little things matter. So I can learn from this game tape to get better for the next game."

On playing for pride vs Utah
"We said we gotta finish how we started. We started with a win vs TCU and we got to end that way. That's the main thing. I feel like the guys came in today ready to get better, not pouting or doubting themselves. So we got one more game and like you said it's a pride game so we gotta go out there and win."

On what a win would mean going into the offseason
"That would mean a lot. Winning is hard, I learned that from coach. Celebrate the small wins no matter how you did it because at the end of the day winning is hard. It means a lot to us because of what we've been through throughout the season. Everybody wants to win at the end of the day so if we get that done then we did what we came to do."

On his philosophy of see ball get ball
"Just growing up playing football that's the main thing. Coach says football is simple, it's a game of tackling and blocking. And for me as a linebacker that's my eyes. Whoever has the ball, I gotta go attack and get them down. So that's what it is, just trying to impose my will on them."

On who he's seen a lot of improvement from this season
"Rodrick Ward. He's definitely one of the leaders that the back end pays attention to. Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig also. There's a lot on the defense that stepped up once we needed them to and communicated on and off the field just being a leader. But those two are like me. They don't talk too much, but when they need to, when they put those pads on they know what they need to do in their job."

Colorado University Athletics

Players Mentioned

LaVonta Bentley

Travis Hunter

Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig

Kavosiey Smoke

Rodrick Ward

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