TCU players share feelings on facing Deion Sanders in season opener

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has had no problem making big promises ahead of his first season leading the Buffaloes. Nonetheless, TCU won’t make his debut easy.

The Horned Frogs and Buffaloes will square off on Sept. 2. Coming off a run to the National Championship last year, TCU will have something to prove. But, don’t take it from me.

“I’m very excited. I know it’s gonna be a big game. It’s going to be a sold-out crowd,” TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge said. “[It’s] Deion’s first Power Five game being the head coach. After the season we had, the world is going to want to see something happen.”

If the crowd meets expectations, it’ll be to TCU’s advantage. The game will be at the Horned Frogs’ home field, Amon G. Carter Stadium, which holds 50,000 people. Hodge isn’t the only one excited.

“I’m excited to see who [Colorado] is going to bring,” TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman said. “You’re just excited to hit somebody else, especially after fall camp. You’ve been hitting your boys, your brothers, the whole August, so now you get to play against a different team, different colors, and go show out.”

Sanders knows a thing or two about hitting. The now 55-year-old head coach was an eight-time Pro Bowler in the NFL and 1994 AP Defensive Player of the Year. The legendary defensive back has 512 career tackles.

TCU safety Bud Clark can’t help but admire Sanders’ game.

“It’s pretty great because he’s somebody I looked up to, growing up,” Clark admitted. “I modeled my game after him, so I feel like it’s going to be pretty great going against him.”

Deion won’t be the only Sanders Clark is competing against on Sept. 2. Deion’s son, Shedeur Sanders, will be behind the center, hoping to give Clark headaches. Despite Sanders being his opponent, Clark gave him props.

“He’s going to be a hard player. He can fit it in like tight gaps and different things like that. He’s going to be a really, really great quarterback,” the TCU junior said. “They got to come right here to Texas, baby.”

“Coach Prime” doesn’t seem to be worried. When Joel Klatt asked the former two-sport star if he thinks he has a team that can compete with TCU, Sanders gave a typical response.

“I don’t think. I know.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to discover if Sanders is correct. The two teams will face off at 11 a.m. CT on Sept. 2.