Deion Sanders fires back at controversial locker room speech by Oregon coach

25 September 2023 , 21:38

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Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has hit back at rival Lanning for his fiery pre-game speech (Image: Getty)

Deion Sanders won't be forgetting Oregon head coach Dan Lanning's comments any time soon. Lanning fired up his team in a pregame locker room speech before they earned a blowout 42-6 win over the Colorado Buffaloes.

"It's rooted in substance, not flash. It's rooted in substance," Lanning said. "Today, we fight with our pads. The Cinderella story is over, man. They're fighting for clicks, we're fighting for wins. There's a difference. This game isn't going to be played in Hollywood, it's going to be played on the grass."

Oregon's Evan Williams revealed the impact of Lanning's pre-game words. He said: "He knows how to get us hyped up. He's a master at what he does.

"We know that every time we step onto the field, he has our backs and we have his. Whenever somebody like that is getting fired up for you guys, it's going to be a big moment and you have to be ready for it.

"That speech got us all fired up. I think we were all ready for the moment. Not as much because of his speech but of how we prepared and how much effort we put into it. A speech wasn't really necessary but he got us going. He got us in our right mind state."

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But Sanders, who was far from impressed with his team's performance that saw their record drop to 3-1 in 2023, is also displeased by Lanning's comments.

"I don't say something just to say stuff for a click, despite what some people might say," Sanders told reporters. "Yeah, I keep receipts."

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Lanning told his team of the Buffaloes: "They're fighting for clicks, we're fighting for wins." (Getty)

Last weekend's defeat also saw Colorado drop out of AP's Top 25, while Oregon moved up to ninth in the standings. The Buffaloes could also see back-to-back defeats when they play USC on Sept. 30. That game will see Shedeur Sanders go up against 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.

Like the Buffaloes, USC also took a tumble in AP's Top 25 despite still being undefeated. USC fell to eighth from fifth following a 42-28 win over Arizona State. Williams was again USC's standout performer, with the quarterback throwing over 300 yards and three touchdown passes.

Colorado is also expected to be without two-way superstar, Travis Hunter, with the 21-year-old still recovering from a lacerated liver. "Travis is always missed," Coach Sanders said of Hunter's absence against Oregon, with Colorado now at No. 28. "He’s the best darn player in college football. That’s like you writing an article and your pen is missing.”

Joshua Mbu