Sanders ‘amazed’ at Colorado spring atmosphere
6:33 PM ET Paolo UggettiESPN A year after having less than 2,000 individuals in attendance for the annual Colorado spring game, the Deion Sanders age began in earnest Saturday as over 45,000 individuals packed into Folsom Field in Stone for this year’s version of the black and gold game.Near-freezing temperature levels and snow did not stop the sellout crowd from filing in to get a glimpse of the new-look Enthusiasts led by their superstar head coach, who was worked with in December far from Jackson State.Sanders, wearing a stetson and wearing a Tee shirts that stated,”I AIN’T HARD TO DISCOVER “and a coat with”PRIME “on it, was himself much more part of the program than the real football that occurred on the field. The head coach was more buzz man and emcee than playcaller– Sanders was mic ‘d up throughout the broadcast, took part in in-game interviews, carried out the band and appeared to manage the volume of the crowd by merely raising his hands.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated”I was surprised,” Sanders said postgame of the Colorado crowd.”It was a moment you’ll always remember.”The previous Florida State and NFL star kicked things off by enabling 98-year-old Colorado superfan Peggy Coppom to take the opening kickoff
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escorted her up to the ball, which she kicked to a giant cheer. After the game, Sanders called Coppom the MVP.”
She fasted, her initial step was unbelievable,”Sanders said. “She was extremely physical when she got me and made certain I held her arm.”If there was another MVP, it was most likely the offense led by Sanders ‘son Shedeur, who followed his daddy and transferred from Jackson State. Shedeur threw for a number of goals in the spring game format, consisting of a 98-yard score to returning pass receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig. Lemonious-Craig and Shedeur integrated for
154 yards and 2 goals, while Shedeur likewise had a rushing touchdown.”What did you expect? He’s a Sanders!”Deion said throughout his in-game interview when inquired about his child’s performance.Among lots of hiring victories, Sanders has actually already scored in his brief Buffs period, being able to bring former top general hire Travis Hunter from Jackson State to Stone seeks to already be paying dividends.Hunter, a cornerback coming out of high school,
will– in Deion-like fashion– effort to play both sides of the ball as a pass receiver this upcoming season. On Saturday, Hunter was the recipient of another Shedeur goal toss while playing on the offensive side of the ball. During that drive, Hunter was targeted three times and, while on defense, he did not allow a catch.The glances of star qualities that players like Lemonious-Craig, Shedeur and Hunter revealed Saturday might be a preview of what the bright, immediate future could appear like for Sanders and Co. But to complete in the Pac-12, a conference where the majority of the offenses are similarly, if not more, explosive, the Buffs will have their work eliminated this fall.For now, however, the main takeaway after Saturday’s spring game was clear by simply glancing at the stands and listening to the sound: A new period of Colorado football has actually gotten here.