A light-hearted political jab turned into a spirited response from one of college football's most prominent coaches.
According to The Western Journal, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders responded to former President Barack Obama's remarks about his team during a campaign stop in Tucson, Arizona.
The exchange occurred after Obama made comments supporting the University of Arizona Wildcats ahead of their matchup against Colorado.
During his visit to Tucson on Friday, Obama attempted to connect with local supporters by referencing the upcoming football game. Upon seeing Colorado's team buses at the airport, the former president made comments diminishing the Buffaloes' roster strength, suggesting they only had "a couple good players."
Obama tried to rally the Tucson crowd by referencing Arizona's previous victories over Colorado, encouraging locals not to bet against the Wildcats in their upcoming game. The former president's attempt at sports-related pandering didn't age well, as Colorado went on to decisively defeat Arizona 34-7.
The Buffaloes' victory showcased their depth, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Coach Sanders' son, throwing for 250 yards and contributing to three touchdowns. The team's defense demonstrated their prowess with seven sacks against Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita.
Sanders, now leading a 5-2 Colorado team, took the opportunity to address Obama's comments while maintaining his respect for the former president.
Sanders prefaced his response by expressing his admiration for Obama, stating:
President Obama is everything to me. I mean, I love him, I admire him. I respect him tremendously. But I heard what he said, you know?
The Colorado coach went on to critique the political nature of Obama's comments, suggesting that such remarks exemplified why he prefers to focus on people rather than politics. Sanders further elaborated:
That's why I really don't get into politics. I'm into people. Because politicians, they play the political game, and he was here and had to play the political games that they have two good players. We got more than two good players.
The Buffaloes' performance this season has exceeded expectations, currently ranking as the 40th best team according to ESPN's rankings. While they faced a setback against ranked opponent Kansas State, their winning record in a Power 5 conference demonstrates substantial improvement from previous seasons.
The team's success extends beyond just having "a couple good players," as their recent victory over Arizona proved. The Buffaloes' comprehensive win, featuring strong performances on both offense and defense, contradicted Obama's campaign trail assessment.
The interaction between Sanders and Obama highlights the complex relationship between sports and politics. While Sanders maintains his respect for the former president, his response underscores the challenge of balancing political messaging with accurate sports commentary.
The Colorado coach's measured reaction, combined with his team's decisive victory, effectively countered the former president's campaign-motivated remarks while demonstrating the program's significant progress under his leadership.
