Deion Sanders holds press conference ahead of Colorado Buffaloes 2024 season opener

As they would. Sorry to go for a walk man and stay in shape so I can f my coaching uni oh God, oh few tickets still remaining for the North Dakota State. We're gonna sell it out. So you know what they waiting on. Let's go kick off uh luncheon yesterday. Over 1000 fans came in attendance, which was wonderful. But the fresh freshman welcome. Uh night, last night was awesome. Over 7000 freshmen total enrollment now uh be over 37,000, more than 67,000 applications were processed for newcomers this semester of 20% blah, blah, blah, applications for people of color. That mean us. All of us up 29% applications for black uh brothers for the brothers of 50% North Dakota State. Uh go to Polis Polos, right? Uh Wonderful coaching history, wonderful coach. I got the utmost respect for he and his programs and what he's accomplished through his coaching career coming over from uh Wyoming OC and DC quarterback coach last three years. They won 17 national championships including nine since 2011, 37 conference championships. So this team will be well prepared and they will be uh disciplined and they will come to play. Let's get it started. Hey, coach uh Tyler King with the, I'm good, thank you. How are you doing? Um I wanted to ask a little bit about kind of locker room o overall you guys, not just your sons, Shor and Shila. There are multiple sets of siblings on the team. I think we have five, don't we? Yeah. Yeah, I was just curious what kind of unique atmosphere maybe that creates in, in the locker room and how that maybe strength, strengthens the term brotherhood that you guys have. We, we want all of the young men regardless of their ethnicity to understand it is truly a brother hood. Um We just happen to have six siblings on the team, which is a blessing, which is unbelievable. It's not like we target that and try to bring it in. But um oftentimes uh uh one of those kids could really play, then we find out that the sibling can really play as well. So to create that type of brotherhood in that environment, we just invite them both to play for us. So that's a blessing. It really is. I think that that's gotta be leading the nation. Ty. Who that man? Hey man, Ryland Scholes from Ralph Port. You're playing a team that's gonna run power for the vast majority of the game on Thursday. How do you feel about new defensive friend? You got guys like Dion and Sam and C Dozy. And then, well, you're talking about, um, some of the past rushes that you just forementioned. That's why we revamped the things to stop the run. The number one thing, uh, was to be able to run the ball, protect your door as well as to stop the run defensively. And that's what we sought out to do and we feel like we've done that. We don't know how it's gonna play out. We, we figure, we think we know how it's gonna play out, but don't underestimate the depth that we have at those positions. You you never know from practice to practice, who's gonna start. We have two phenomenal defensive line coach and you're throwing coach Dancy with the rush ends and you got three phenomenal guys with a wealth of knowledge as well as experience. So I'm excited about what I've seen in practice. I'm excited about what I feel like we're gonna see next Thursday. Um because right now these guys are tired of hitting each other. They wanna hit some of the colors right now because just following up quick on the locker room, I also want to ask about uh Camden Dempsey, obviously, he's got a new role as a, as a governor this year. What's it been like for you to see his kind of emergence as a kind of a notable figure in the locker room over the last couple of months. He's been that way since I arrived, I've noticed uh his countenance, I noticed his, his, uh just who he is on the field as well as off the field. And he, he just not only inspires me but encourages me to wanna do more for him because I know what direction he's gonna go soon there. After football. I know the history of his family, how much uh cu means to them. And you're talking about a great young man. He is all of that. So that's why I wanted to create a special role for him to get him more involved in. And what I feel like his career path is gonna be, I don't want him to wait till it's over for him to get started. I want him to get started right now, but I love him to life. I really do. Hi, how you doing? Good. How are you Nicky Edwards to sport support? I'm just curious, how has it been adding George Hilo to the staff? And what does he add to the defense? He is unbelievable. You talk about a pro, you're talking about a guy who's professional, a guy who's very knowledgeable, a guy who's, you don't have to tell him what to do. Uh or, or question him on what he accomplished his practice. You could see it, you could hear it uh in the energy that he's displays when he's one on one with the kids or he's coaching a group, he commands their attention. He's a track record and it's unbelievable. His, uh, he's, he's been everywhere and he's also done a wonderful job. Uh, I'm happy we got him. I really am happy. We have him, uh, as well as Adalius Thomas. I don't know if you guys have seen, uh, ad at practice several times but he comes back and forth because he's fathering as his son and that's more important to me, um, than anything, but he's doing a wonderful job. He comes in and helps us as well. Hey, coach, do you, uh, name starters at positions where they'll be like rotations such as running back, wide receiver, how it really don't benefit us to name a starter. That's for you guys. If you want that, we'll probably try to provide for you, but that don't matter who starts the game, it matters who's finished the game and who makes the most out of their opportunities. And some guys, they play better, you know, coming in late, uh or, or third down or coming in on the nickel or dime packages or the three down receivers, a third down receiving package. Some guys are just built like that. Some guys, they play better early then, you know, you, you tear them out for the other guy. Another guy comes in and kick butt. But the best thing about that is to have enough depth to be able to do that, you could close your eyes and point at the receiver board and pull out a starter. Same thing with the defensive line, same things with the, that linebacker, same thing with the cornerback, same thing with the running backs and so forth. Um, so I, I love the roster that we've established. I, I love what I'm seeing on a day to day basis, not only from the, the players but from the staff as well. Those guys are challenging those guys to, to do their jobs at a high level with no exceptions. And, and that's what I love. I'm, uh, I'm surrounded by a bunch of pros. Who knows how to attack the K. Hi, Coach Adam, what's your Tiger? 24 7 sports doing well. Uh, you were talking at the kickoff luncheon about last year, instilling hope in that, transitioning into expectations. I'm curious, what are your expectations with this football? Tremendous? I never, I'm never gonna, I don't think even in my career when I played, I never talked about what I was gonna do contrary to what you all believe. Um, never talk about what I'm gonna do. Um I wanna win. Certainly that if you gotta be an idiot, if you don't wanna win in life or you don't wanna win as a coach, that's just stupidity if you don't want to do that. So that's necessary that I say those type of things. But, um, I expect to, to do some amazing things. Will, will I share those things that that we expect. No, uh, we got several players that I expect the world from and I expect to count on them in so many different avenues and vasts of life. I brought them into my office. We've talked about it. They filled out some, um, a sheet and let me know what do they want to do? What they need to work on and, and how they can help this team and I'm gonna hold them accountable to that. But as far as just sharing out my expectations, I don't even do that with life. Hey, coach, uh Jack Carlo with Buffalo Carlo. Good to see you coach. Um, just curious with Hank Zens, he had a really good spring. It seems like he's kind of held that certain job this morning, just what has allowed him to perform consistency. Hank is not only smart, Hank is consistent, you know, he comes from a, you know, a family of, uh, people that are truly consistent of ball players, but Hank is, uh not only a great young man, but Hank loves the game, he loves to, to compete. He, he loves to be that underdog that a lot of people counted out and he just slowly but surely like little engine that could, he just kept saying, I think I can. And next thing, you know, he's a starter and I'm truly proud of and we've done some special things um with Hank to kinda keep him in the middle of certain groups that we have. So he, uh he could understand the, the communication and articulation and how people vibe and he's got it, man. And I'm proud of him. He's done a wonderful job. He's one of those guys that didn't flinch. You know, he didn't flinch, stood up. He, Trevor, uh, Ben and so many other guys of the governor, so many other guys on this roster, they didn't flinch. They're still standing. I wonder why they never get interviews nationally. I had to, I'm sorry, Pat Rooney Boulder Daily Camera. What's up, man? Not much coach. How are you? Um, you mentioned yesterday at the luncheon that you feel like the improved roster depth can lead to better special teams this year, I guess. What do you think? Uh, how do you think you can get more out of those units this year? Uh, first and foremost, are kickers. Let's, let's talk about the specialists. Um We have one that should be a pro, you know, mate is, uh un unbelievable. I'm sorry, I just, I'm so used to call the mate. Me, I'm so used to calling the mate. I love him and Mata is Mata Jase is doing his thing. He probably get to start and not on Kickoffs because he's been consistent, um, all through spring and all through now. But those guys are, are, are really good now finding the coverage teams. You have so many athletes you, you have probably five starting corners. So those guys will follow the special teams. You got probably four starting safeties particularly, you know, you transfer those guys in a special team. Don't forget Carter ST Mere and, and so many guys that contributed last year is there, Hodge? I mean, you got so many guys with, with talent G I could just, I'm just looking at these guys in my mind, um which could compile a tremendous special team. But um what I do particularly guys that I feel like has pro aspirations, we give them the nod. They're gonna have to prove that they can't do it, not prove that they can. We're gonna give them the nod to go out there and try to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. So if it's a senior and uh a guy like Bentley, you know, not only is he a linebacker, but if he makes, when he makes the NFL, he's gonna have to play special teams. So you get him started with that. Now he and guys like JB Jeremiah, hey, coach Pat, how you doing? Hey, when you're playing an F CS team, is it easier to get everyone's on board when you say, hey, they've won 17 national titles and you show them the film and they look more like a maybe, no, I don't think that encourages them. I think, uh you know, who we are, encourages them, you know, everybody knows, everybody wanna beat us, you know, and we wanna beat everybody. So that encourages them tremendously. They know they're on national television. They know the world is watching. I think we had 45, maybe five scouts out there today. Scouts out there every day watching practices, they see that kind of stuff. So, no, regardless of who you place on a roster, not the roster, the, uh, the schedule, these guys want it, they want to go out there and dominate. Coach Matt Smith 1043. The fan. Good to see you. Good to see you. You've coached, obviously you never invited me on your show. Would you like to come on? I just wonder why you never invited me. I wasn't sure that you'd come on. I'd love to have you on. Wouldn't come on. I don't know. I've reached out before when you first got too. I reached out to the, uh, department and I never heard, you know? Yes, I understand. I understand. I reached out to the, I got you. I would love, I would love, thank you very much. So, I'm curious, you've coached your Children obviously their entire lives and you haven't coached a game without them. Does this feel like a culmination for you arriving to this season? Now, this being the last go around and obviously for, for, for, with my sons or just in your life? It's not the last go around for me. I'm just getting started in this college football. Does it feel like the closing of a chapter. Is it with my kids? Yeah, certainly. Um, I don't think it's the closing. It's just different levels to this thing. Um, although I, I'm 100% sure that I'm not going to be their coach next year, I'm still gonna have influence on their lives because I'm their father. So, you know, I play two roles in their lives and just so happens when I'm on the field, I'm, I'm, I'm not that I'm, I'm coach. So off the field, that's when I become dad. So I'm still gonna play those roles. I'm proud of him, man. I'm proud of Junior Bucky. He don't have a uniform on and, and I'm so darn proud of him for what he's doing for us. You know, as a school, as a, as a uh social media and he's changing the game. So he's probably the MVP of everything right now. He's, he's not jealous, not envious, he loves his brothers and you can see it and hear it in his voice when he's filming them as a competitor, an elite competitor that you were. I imagine that, that you still are clearly, I guess post playing career is what I meant. It changes, right? For different athletes, I've worked with plenty of them that experience different, you know, things after they retire. Does it feel like this season heading into it for you is maybe from a coaching standpoint, some of the most competitive juices that you felt yet. That's a great question. Everything I do is competitive. I mean, even, uh, endorsements, even, uh, just talking to the, the young men and women last night, the freshman. So I'm just a competitive person. We just walked during the two miles and, you know, I had to win. You know, I'm gonna turn it on the first, the last few steps that I had JF and coach poll got, I think I can get them anyway. But I, I, you know, we compete so I'm a competitive natured person, not only with sports but with life, I wanna win in life. I want, I want you all to win in life. I don't want anybody in this room to lose. I want you guys to be successful. But let's go about it the right way. Thank you. Hey, Mark Kisler, Denver Gazette. How you doing, sir? Good. Two parter. Go back to the elite competitor. Do you think a elite competitor blocks the outside noise or feeds on the outside noise? Um You don't care really? Because they don't influence you. I've never read an article or a comment and said, oh, that's gonna make me go harder. I'm gonna go hard regardless. But that comment just allowed me to know where you stand. So that's, that's the only differential um of the thing. It, it doesn't propel me where I came from. Propelled me, how I grew up, propelled me like, you know, being uh, uh, African American, one of few that's the head coach in college football, that kind of stuff. Propels me. It's not what you say. That lets me know where you stand. Ok. The second part goes to where do you stand or where do I stand or where do we stand together? So, uh, I hope that I'm covering you from now through the college football playoff. I hope so too. Yeah, I pray so. Yeah. Um But I'm also known as a person that sometimes asks less than supportive questions or critical questions. If I ask a negative question, will you not answer them anymore? That's being negative right now. Like you take an approach that I'm gonna be negative. I'm, I'm not negative to anybody in here. I would challenge you and ask you why or where is this coming from? So I'm not, I'm not built like that. I'm not built to hate. I'm not a hateful guy. I'm not a, I, I come with love. I think any, if anybody in here has had encounters with me, I don't come with the bull jump. I come with the peace in the joy. Now when you show me where you stand, I might have to change that a little bit. So I'm not gonna match your ignorance or whatever. I'm not saying that you're ignorant but a person I'm not gonna match that. Well, that's your prerogative. I don't have to come where you, where you are because my life is complete. I don't like what you say. What you do is not gonna change my life. I agree with that. Um, with as many good things happening in this program, this football program. Do you feel persecuted by outside noise? Um I don't know about persecuted. This is a way of life for me. You, you guys act like this is the first time I've been shot at, I've been lied on cheated. Talked about mistreated. That's a gospel song and this is not the first time for this, but as I mature instead of shooting back or lashing out or just dismissing you, I wanna know why, like let's help each other. Let's figure out the why because if you understand the why in people that, that helps you tremendously because that's all I come from. I just come to find, I wanna know why, what provokes that it takes longer to. Hey, coach, how you doing, sir? Good. How are you Troy Finnegan cu sports support football question. I wanted to ask you about the tight end spot. You know, last year you guys had Mikey, more of a converted receiver should have talked about Sam Hart a couple of weeks ago. I'm curious what role that position has in, in this offense this year? Block first, um receiver, second, block, first receiver, second because you gotta understand last year Mikey did a phenomenal job but uh, defenses didn't change because we had a tight end slash receiver in and it, it don't make sense that the defense don't change. So if the defense not change, not changing, why don't you just put a receiver in? So that didn't make sense for me for, for uh, multi multiplicity reasons. So when we put a tight end in, we want that personnel to change on the defense so that we could do some of the things that we want to do. That's the reason we put um, 11 personnel in or we might as well just go 10. Alright, go ahead. Hey, coach Arnie Stapleton, how are you doing? Are you? Ok. I'm uh, I've been better but I'm good. What happened? Carpal tunnel surgery. I got this one coming in three weeks, so we're praying for you. I hope you're all right. My man. I appreciate you. Hey, I got a question. I see you brought Ed Reed in. Um, you know, I was wondering what it's like for you to be able to tap into this NFL royalty and then obviously you got Warren Sapp and so it's a two parter. What's it like watching him sort of connect with the youth like you have first bringing in these, these, these young men, uh, as well as women. You, you probably don't, don't get to see all the videos that the people we bring in some, we just zoom them in and they do a phenomenal job. Uh Lewis Redick was on he, he zoomed in as well. He did a phenomenal job. So it's not just the guys who have gold jackets. It's guys that I feel like could pour into our young men and, and they have value that these young men could take back with them. Uh First of all, Ed Reed is Ed Reed. You just say his name that commands attention. So when he, he said, no, I don't wanna do it Zoom. I'm coming. So to come here and they see him visually and then he's on the sideline, you know, saying this or that and maybe giving them pointers here and there about how to play this position and what they saw Ned Reed and, and all that, it's phenomenal to be able to tap into those resources. Um Also just give me the second part. I, I was wondering what it was like for you to have Warren Sapp and watch you connect with the youth coach Sap he's have done, he has done more than a phenomenal job. Just the connectivity, just the understanding the different type players and the layers they have like this guy, you could go at pretty hard because he could handle this guy. You can't raise your voice because he's, he's a little more sensitive, this guy. Um You can't ignore him because he wants attention. This guy um you, you gotta ignore him because he's gonna seek too much. You know, like Youve got to know all those different uh personalities and he's done a great job of understanding the different personalities, but this is the first time he's seen it from the other side. So it's a learning process not only for, for us as a staff, but for him as a coach, but he's doing a phenomenal job with the defensive line. I promise you. Last one. Do I take? Hey, coach, um, my question is who are the candidates to have the D and the L patches on their jersey? I think we already have four leaders. I think it's uh Charlie is one of the leaders. Uh cam should do made uh Who's the other one? Is that, was that it so far? That's all I know. I'm, I'm, I'm visualizing the, when we stretch up front. Now, the dogs, I give out the dogs uh week of the game, I identify those guys see the thing about it. You know, you have some guys that you, you, you, they've shown you what they could do, but not out there. I gotta see it out there. So a lot of the dogs probably would come from last year's team. Not, not newcomers, newcomers gotta earn that because I know what you did for them, but I need you to do that for us and your teammates need to understand who you are and how you come. So that's uh that's something that's truly, truly earned really is, but we have a bunch of potential guys that can fit that MD Travis is certainly one of them. Thank you. God bless you all. Why you didn't ask me nothing. Yes, you good bye. Best waitress ever at one point. Right. We've grown, we've grown out of that from. Thank you.