CSU Rams coach Jay Norvell says he has ‘no feelings’ for CU Buffs coach Deion Sanders

By Tyler King July 11, 2024 | updated 1 year ago

Colorado State coach Jay Norvell speaks with reporters at Mountain West football media days on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at Circa Resorts & Casino in Las Vegas.
Tyler King, The Denver Gazette

LAS VEGAS — It’s safe to say there’s still no love lost between Jay Norvell and Deion Sanders.

With both coaches attending their respective conference’s football media days this week, it was inevitable that one would be asked about the other and it was Norvell on Thursday at the Circa Resorts & Casino.

The Colorado State coach didn’t hold back.

“I don’t have any feelings for Deion Sanders, I really don’t,” Norvell said when asked if his relationship with Coach Prime has changed since last year’s Rocky Mountain Showdown. “I don’t think about Deion Sanders unless you guys ask me a question about him. No, nothing’s changed.”

Last year’s matchup between the two in-state rivals wasn’t expected to feature much animosity considering the amount of newcomers in both programs that had yet to experience the game.

But Norvell opened the floodgates when he said during his weekly coach’s radio show, “When I talk to grown ups, I take my hat and my sunglasses off” in a clear nod to Coach Prime, who is often seen wearing a hat and sunglasses during his press conferences at CU and various national interviews he does.

Sanders took it to mean Norvell that he was criticizing the way Sanders’ mother, Connie Knight, had raised him. It was revealed during the Amazon show “Coach Prime” that during the postgame handshake between the two coaches that Norvell told Sanders that his comments were not about Sanders’ mother, but Sanders didn’t believe him.

Coach Prime used the comments in the days leading up to the game as motivation, telling his team that Norvell and the Rams had made it “personal.”

CSU nearly pulled off the upset at Folsom Field, but surrendered a 28-17 lead and lost by a final of 43-35 in double overtime.

“It was a good game. We fell short,” Norvell said Thursday. “We gave the game away, that was the experience. I think it was a fun game for our kids. I thought it was great for our fan base and I thought it was good for the state of Colorado.”

That’s why, regardless of who the coach on the other sideline and how he feels about him, Norvell wants to see the Rocky Mountain Showdown continue on annual basis past this season’s matchup, which is slated for Sept. 14 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins in primetime on CBS.

“It’s been a special game for a long time to the people of Colorado,” Norvell said. “I do wish we played them every year because it’s a rivalry game. I think it’s something the fans love and the players love to play in those kind of games. We get to get ‘em in our stadium this year. It should be a great atmosphere. People are excited about the game, we’re excited about the game. It should be an incredible night.”

Tyler King

Reporter

CSU Rams

CSU Rams’ Owen Long, Rocky Beers named Group of Five All-Americans | Colorado Sunshine

Chris Schmaedeke

chris.schmaedeke@denvergazette.com

Updated 3 days ago

Where the good news shines Colorado State’s Owen Long and Rocky Beers were named to the Hero Sports Group of Five All-America first and second team, respectively, on Friday. The award is the second all-America honor for Long, who was named...

Chris Schmaedeke

Reporter

CSU Rams

Which Colorado basketball program is bound for the NCAA Tournament? | Friday Faceoff

Paul Klee

Tyler King

tyler-king@denvergazette.com

Updated 2 weeks ago

FORT COLLINS — Jim Mora is a climber. As he was introduced as Colorado State’s newest head football coach, the 64-year-old wanted to know how many 14,000-foot mountains there were in the state. When he found out the number was...

Tyler King

Reporter

Denver Gazette

CSU Rams coach Jay Norvell says he has ‘no feelings’ for CU Buffs coach Deion Sanders

Colorado State Rams fall to Maryland on Derik Queen’s buzzer beater in 2nd round of NCAA Tournament

Tyler King

Chris Schmaedeke

Paul Klee

Paul Klee

Tyler King

Tyler King

Stephen Swofford

Tyler King

Tyler King

Tyler King

Tyler King

CSU Rams women's golf places record number on WGCA All-American Scholar list | Colorado Sunshine

'It’s just a different team': Jay Norvell believes patience, recruiting philosophy is about to pay off for his CSU Rams