Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team are the new kids on the Big 12 block.
The Buffaloes join Arizona, Arizona State and Utah as the conference’s latest additions to make up the first-ever 16-team Big 12.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire welcomed Sanders, his longtime friend, to the conference on Tuesday at Big 12 media days.
“I love Deion,” McGuire said. “I always tell everybody, I coached Bucky — his oldest son — in high school and he’s honestly the best dad of a player that I’ve ever had. He’s who he is. He doesn’t make any excuses and he doesn’t take anything back. He’s going to say what he believes in.
“He brings a lot of excitement and I think Colorado is going to be really good. They’ve added a lot of talent and they do have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Whenever you have a quarterback like his son (Shedeur) who can make plays with his arm and his feet, you have a chance to win games.”
Colorado will travel to Lubbock, Texas, on Nov. 9 to play Texas Tech for the first time since 2010.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” McGuire said of the early-November matchup. “I’m glad that he (Sanders) gets to come to Lubbock first before I have to go to Boulder. I think that’s going to be a big game late in the season and I’m excited to see him.”
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was also complimentary of Sanders and the direction of the Colorado football program.
The Utes — who were picked to win the conference in the preseason media poll — are one of just two Big 12 teams (Arizona) who played the Buffs last season. With Colorado and Utah both starting backup quarterbacks for last year’s matchup, the 2024 edition in Boulder will have a much different feel.
“Coach Sanders has done a great job of infusing excitement and talent into that program,” Whittingham said ahead of his 20th season as Utah’s head coach. “His own sons are terrific players. I know we didn’t get to see Shedeur but, watching the tape, he’s a terrific talent. Essentially, (Sanders) put Colorado football back on the map.
“Year two, I’m sure they’re looking for progress. They started off very strong last year before injuries caught up to them and it didn’t end the way they wanted. But he’s definitely rejuvenated things in Boulder.”
Colorado has lost seven consecutive games to Utah and hasn’t beaten the Utes since 2016. The Buffs’ last victory in the series came at Folsom Field, though, the site of the teams’ matchup on Nov. 16.
“We have to go to Boulder this year; it’s a tough place to play,” Whittingham said. “Last time we were in Boulder, there weren’t many people in the stands. Now, it’s full every week so that’ll be an environment that we haven’t experienced.”
Colorado’s regular season ends on Black Friday (Nov. 29) with a home matchup against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have been led by Mike Gundy since 2005, and the longtime head coach feels “lucky” to have Sanders and the Buffs in the Big 12.
“I think that we’re lucky in our league that he’s (Sanders) with us because he brings more people, notoriety and viewers to the Big 12 Conference,” Gundy said. “That’s what makes it go; we need viewership and we want people to watch our teams play.
“It’ll be fun to have him in our league. It’s fun for me to have Colorado back in our league and to be able to compete against him. I can only imagine what his competitive level is so that’ll be fun.”
Sanders will be joined Wednesday by his sons — Shedeur and Shilo — as well as two-way star Travis Hunter and punter Mark Vassett for day two of Big 12 media days.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes sports reporter Scott Procter on X.
Source link : https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/2024/07/09/mike-gundy-kyle-whittingham-speak-on-colorados-addition-to-big-12/74334336007/
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Publish date : 2024-07-09 17:41:28
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