The Daily Deion: Is Deion Deflecting Blame for the Stanford Loss?
The best thing for college football? Deion Sanders. But some think he’s the worst thing as well. Here’s your dose of Daily Deion.
Disclaimer: I have always been a fan of Deion Sanders. Loved him as a player at FSU, in Atlanta and Dallas and even respected him as a 49er against my Cowboys.
Deion’s comments after the loss to Stanford were interesting to me:
“They gotta make up their mind, are they in love with this game or like it, he said of his team.” When you love something, you give to it unconditionally. You give everything you got to it. But when you like it, that’s just a button you push.”
He further added:
“It’s hard for me because I love this. Without a shadow of a doubt, I am truly 100 percent in love with this thing. I just want people to match me. Match my passion, match my heart, match my love, match my consistency.”
So what do we take from this? Is Deion deflecting blame for a blown 29-0 lead over a Stanford team that lost to FCS Sacramento State that could easily be blamed on the coaches for a complete lack of adjustment and control as the Cardinal roared back? Is he insinuating that his team quit a bit when things got tough because they don’t “love” the game with the passion needed? I’m not sure.
But I see people ripping him apart for his comments and that’s to be expected. Why? Because Deion has always been the center of attention and he wants that — he always has. As a player and as a coach it’s all eyes on Deion so when he deflects in any manner for any reason, people will attack. However, I see it a little differently.
As a coach, you need to challenge and motivate your players constantly. And that shows in many different ways. Personally, I think Deion was challenging his team to want it more and not be complacent after building a big lead. If you “like” football you relax, if you “love” it with a passion, you are always striving to get better. At least that’s what I think he was doing.
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I’ve been critical of Deion because I just see so many hypocritical things over and over from him as a coach. And I’ll continue to point those things out as you can’t be labeled as altruistic by so many but be so self-absorbed as well. But in this case, I think he wants his team to want it more. And it’s that simple.
Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the sidelines during double overtime against the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field.
© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
