Jay Norvell sparked off a controversy with Deion Sanders prior to the Colorado State-Colorado game when he criticized Sanders for not taking off his hat and sunglasses during interviews. Sanders, now with the win over Norvell, is just looking to put the whole business behind him.
Colorado roared back from a late, two-score deficit to win in tie the game and ultimately win in double-overtime 43-35. The two coaches met at midfield after the game for the handshake, during which many expected something to happen as had been suggested by Sanders multiple times leading up to the game. Instead, they appeared to just have a brief exchange while shaking hands and went their separate ways.
Coach Prime, Shedeur Sanders & Jay Norvell meet after the game 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VQEe3fYG2B
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 17, 2023
“I could be petty if they petty but I ain’t got time for that man. I’m on to bigger things," Sanders said in his post-game press conference. "I’m happy for the brother. I really am. And I’m happy that they played a good game. I’m happy he’s a head coach. I’m happy for any brother that is doing it and successful man I truly am. I don’t know where all this stuff come from. I have to respond because my mama taught me that, you know you just don’t attack me and I’m going to sit back and I ain’t going to say nothing.
"But I’m happy for that dude. I don’t know him, but I’m happy for him. I wish the best for him. I really do. My success ain’t got nothing to do with his so why wouldn’t I want him to succeed. I don’t know how people get down like that. My blessings ain’t got nothing to do with his blessings.”
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Leading up to the game, Norvell said on his locally-syndicated radio show that "when I talk to grown ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That's what my mother taught me." The comment was clearly directed at Sanders, who has often worn his hat and sunglasses during press conferences.
Sanders did not take long to respond to the comments.
"Once again, why would you talk about us when we don't talk about nobody," Sanders said during the week. "They done messed around and made it personal."
While Sanders made it clear he was ready to move on from the Norvell situation, that also didn't mean he still wasn't thinking about taking down Norvell's team during the game. Sanders said during his post-game opening remarks that at one point, he knew the Buffaloes were going to need to comeback to win.
"Truthfully, it was one point in the game I said, ‘We can’t let this dude win. Ain’t no way we let this dude win. His press conference is going to be unbearable if we let this dude win,'" Sanders said.
