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Deion Sanders on Dan Lanning: 'I respect the heck out of this man and what he's accomplished'

Jarrid Denneyby:Jarrid Denney•09/19/23•

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Sep 9, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the sideline against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

With No. 10 Oregon and No. 19 Colorado set to face off in Eugene this week, fans of both programs were likely expecting a war of words in the lead-up to the game.

After all, Buffs’ head coach Deion Sanders hasn’t been shy about using perceived criticism of his team for motivation this fall. Following Colorado’s Week 1 win over TCU, Sanders said he has been ‘keeping receipts.’

Earlier this year, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning took a subtle jab at Colorado during his program’s media day.

“Not a big reaction. I mean, I’m trying to remember what they won to affect this conference. I don’t remember. Do you remember them winning anything? I don’t remember,” Lanning said on July 31 when asked for his reaction to the Buffs leaving the Pac-12.

However, Sanders refused to add fuel to the fire Tuesday while speaking with reporters.

“I respect the heck out of this man and what he’s accomplished; stepping in and taking over it and keeping it not only rocking steady but accelerating it,” Sanders said of the job Lanning has done at Oregon. “I respect the heck out of him. I love what he’s accomplishing. I love who he is and the way he runs his team. I love the way he operates. I have a lot of respect for him.”

On Monday, Lanning was asked if he regrets the comments he made about Colorado in July.

“I don’t regret anything that I’ve said for this program,” he said. “At the end of the day, obviously, I wasn’t talking about Deion’s team. I was talking about the past and future for our team. If that serves as material for them, great. I don’t think it’s gonna have any bearing on the game and the success of the game.”

Throughout his Monday press conference, Lanning spoke glowingly of the job Sanders and his staff have done during their first season in Boulder.

“You have to be a fool to not recognize the results that they’ve created on a team that didn’t have a lot of success before,” Lanning said after Saturday’s 55-10 win over Hawaii. “He’s done a phenomenal job. He’s recruited a lot of players that I’m familiar with personally. They’re playing for him. He’s got a good roster, and they’re winning games and doesn’t always matter how, but they’re winning games. So obviously, he’s doing something right up there.”

Oregon and Colorado are set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. PT this Saturday at Autzen Stadium. The game will air on ABC. The Ducks are a 21-point favorite to win.

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