Colorado State coach Jay Norvell criticized Colorado coach Deion Sanders this week ahead of Saturday’s matchup in Boulder for keeping his hat and sunglasses on during some interviews.
“I sat down with ESPN today,” Norvell said Wednesday. “I don’t care if they hear it in Boulder. I told them, I took my hat off and I took my glasses off. I said when I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me.”
Sanders is soaking it all in. On a Friday appearance with ESPN’s First Take, Sanders handed a pair of his signature sunglasses to hosts Molly Qerim, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe in a nod to Norvell’s criticism.
.@DeionSanders shared his signature shades with @stephenasmith, @ShannonSharpe and @MollyQerim 😎
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 15, 2023
(via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/wHgSynWPx2
Sanders knows how to push the right buttons with his own team, too. In a team meeting on Friday, Sanders gifted a pair of his signature sunglasses to each player on the roster.
Colorado is a 23.5-point favorite at home against the Rams and likely didn’t need any additional motivation. Alas, Norvell talked trash anyway, and he might end up being sorry that he did if the Buffaloes play as expected on Saturday night.
Kickoff between the Rams and Buffaloes in Boulder is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.