Deion Sanders to players after Stanford loss: ‘Are you in love with this game, or in like with it’

Deion Sanders and Colorado were absolutely stunned at home by Stanford, 46-43 in overtime. That was after a 29-0 lead at halftime, in front of the home crowd in Boulder.

The loss dropped Colorado to 4-3 on the season and 1-3 in the Pac-12. To be bowl eligible, the Buffaloes need six wins, but it’s hard to think about that following a brutal loss.

Sanders kept it in perspective and revealed how this team moves forward after losing to Stanford.

“We have no choice but to go forward, that’s life,” Sanders said. “This ain’t the only thing that’s going on in life. I mean all you guy’s dealing with something, you still moving, you still progressing, you still going forward, we got to do the same darn thing. We didn’t expect that. A lot of things that go on in life that are unexpected and this was one of them. 

“We got to knuckle up and let’s go. We can’t sit down having a pity party. I don’t feel bad for us. Some all y’all ecstatic about what transpired today. And I know that, but let’s go. We’re gonna take this one on the chin because we deserve it.”

Sanders and Colorado have a bye week but they face the gauntlet of their schedule from October 28 on. No. 18 UCLA on the road, No. 15 Oregon State at home, Arizona at home, No. 19 Washington State on the road and No. 16 Utah on the road.

Are there two wins in there? Maybe, but it’s going to be tough.

Deion Sanders, Colorado need to move forward following stunning loss

There’s no question Sanders was a little shook after a shocking loss. It denied Colorado’s fifth win.

“29-0, I had never been in one of these,” Sanders said. “I don’t remember from youth (football) on, I don’t remember being up 29-0 and losing the football game. I really don’t. This is a little tough for me. And I’m trying my best and I thank you all for your patience and thank you for your heart. Because this is really tough for me. 

“But you can see when I’m amping up, I kind of see this stuff coming, you can see why I go at it like I go at it because I could feel my team. I could feel what’s about to transpire. And here we go.”

Sanders said his team has to be able to move forward and Colorado will get two weeks to do so and reset.

“What I just said in the locker room to the seam is they got to make up in their mind, are they in love with this game o are they in like with it,” Sanders said. “Because when you love something you give to it unconditionally. You give everything you got to but when you like it, that’s just a button you push. It lights up and like that’s what they do on social media. So we got to figure out, do they love it or they like it? And it’s hard for me because I love this. I love it. Without a shadow of a doubt, I am truly 100% in love with this thing. 

“And I just want people to match me, just match my passion, match my heart, match my love, match my consistency, match my mannerisms, just match every darn thing I give to this game. I love this. Sadly, I love it so much but the game don’t even occupy the ability to love you back. That’s a strange love isn’t it?”