This was the first time Deion Sanders watched his son play from the stands instead of coaching from the sideline.
Sanders’ Colorado team is 3-8 after four straight losses, prompting a ‘come-to-Jesus meeting’ with his players.
Despite his team’s record, Sanders stressed that he is ‘not a loser’ and knows how to fix the program.
Colorado football coach Deion Sanders thanked Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis for allowing him to sit in his stadium suite and watch his quarterback son Shedeur beat Davis’ Raiders Sunday Nov. 23 in a 24-10 win for the Cleveland Browns.
It was Shedeur’s first start as an NFL quarterback and also the first time Deion Sanders watched his son play from a stadium seat instead of on the sideline as a coach. Sanders shared this Tuesday at his weekly news conference in Boulder and noted he returned to his job Monday for a “come-to-Jesus meeting” with his team as the Buffaloes prepare for their final game this year at Kansas State on Nov. 29. His team is 3-8 and has lost four straight games, but Sanders also stressed he’s “not a loser” and knows how to right the ship.
“The owner of the opposing team allowed the dad of the quarterback on the opposing team to sit in his box,” Sanders said Tuesday. “Like how many times did that happen? Like, that is unbelievable, man. So I’m so thankful and appreciative for that opportunity in that moment. That’s the first time I’ve ever watched him play without me on the sideline. I’ve never seen him play without me coaching him, so that was strange.
Sanders it was “healthy” because “I was just in straight dad mode.”
“I wasn’t in coach mode, and I loved that I was able to see him gain the first victory,” Sanders said.
Asked if he was a “nervous wreck” about it, Sanders dismissed that notion. He’s not known to admit being nervous about anything.
“No, no, no,” Sanders said before indicating he couldn’t answer that question the way he might have wanted. “Thank you, Lord. You know where I was going with that.”
Deion Sanders says he knows how to right the ship
Colorado often practices on Sundays. But Sanders returned to campus for a “come-to-Jesus” meeting with his team Monday as he plans to change quarterbacks again by redshirting freshman starter Julian Lewis.
“I know how to get it right,” Sanders said. “I’ll get it right. We’re headed in the right direction.”
Sanders said he has key pieces in place, including Lewis, and just needs a “reset’ with his roster and staff.
Deion Sanders: ‘I’m not a loser’
He said leaving Boulder to go see watch his son Sunday left him feeling “funky” because his team had just suffered a 42-17 loss against Arizona State the night before.
“I don’t want to take a ‘L’ with me,” Sanders said. “I wanted two ‘Ws’ you know, over the weekend (including his son’s game). And so that had me feeling a little funky, because… I don’t like that on me, man. I don’t like that.”
Sanders then stressed he’s “not a loser.”
“You could be a loser or a guy who lost games,” Sanders said. “I would rather be a guy who lost games than a loser, ‘cause I’m not a loser. And that bothers me, man.”
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com