Why Deion Sanders is still 'optimistic on everything' after Colorado loss to Georgia Tech

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Why Deion Sanders is still 'optimistic on everything' after Colorado loss to Georgia Tech

Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sat, Aug 30, 2025 ·

5 min read

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BOULDER, CO – Colorado football coach Deion Sanders admitted he had tears in his eyes before Friday night's season-opening game against Georgia Tech .

In previous years, he would take a pregame walk on the field with one or two of his sons: quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo .

But both are gone now, having moved on to other pursuits. So he found it touching when another player, receiver Isaiah Hardge, came up to him before kickoff and said "let's take the walk" in their place.

"That was a wonderful moment, man," Sanders said after his team lost the game, 27-20 . "It's a moment that I will never forget, never, because it was not like I initiated it.

"He came to me and said, 'Let's go.' That's what this college football thing is about. It's about love. It's about peace, forgiveness, trials, tribulations. It's a tremendous journey that we just want these kids to develop into men. Hopefully what transpired tonight will bring us closer together as a team, as well as challenge us to go to the next level and fix what was broken."

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the sideline during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colo.
(Andrew Wevers, Getty Images)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium in Houston on Sept. 12, 2025.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens on Sept. 6, 2025 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders congratulates Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter following a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. on Aug. 29, 2025.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and head coach Todd Bowles look on during the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center on July 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
(Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)

2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star on July 9, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
(Raymond Carlin III, Imagn Images)

2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on as a field goal drill is attempted in the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images for ONIT)

2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks on the field during the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images for ONIT)

2024: Deion Sanders embraces Travis Hunter after the wide receiver/cornerback won the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
(Todd Van Emst, Heisman Trust via Imagn Images)

2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches from the sidelines during the second half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team plays their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)

2024: Shilo Sanders (21), Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) and social media producer Deion Sanders Jr. following a win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

2023: Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and celebrity guest picker Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson exchange pleasantries on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the Buffaloes game against Colorado State at Folsom Field on Boulder, Colorado.
(Andrew Wevers, USA TODAY Sports)

2023: Colorado coach Deion Sanders in attendance before the national championship game.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

2022: Deion Sanders is introduced as the head coach of the University of Colorado.
(Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)

2022: Deion Sanders during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders went 27-6 in three seasons leading Jackson State.
(Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

2021: Deion Sanders coaches during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders required a scooter following blood clot issues that ultimately led to the amputation of some toes.
(Mickey Welsh, USA TODAY NETWORK)

2017: Deion Sanders, working for NFL Network, interviews New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount during Super Bowl LI Opening Night at Minute Maid Park.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Melissa Stark (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Kurt Warner (right) smile during an NFL Network broadcast at the Super Bowl XLIX NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center on Jan. 26, 2015.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Rich Eisen (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on Dec. 5, 2013.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

2013: Deion Sanders as "Leon Sandcastle" of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

NFL network broadcaster Deion Sanders interviews San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Jan. 29, 2013.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

2011: Former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders poses with his bust at the Enshrinement Ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 6, 2011 in Canton, Ohio.
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)

Deion Sanders makes his return to football with the Baltimore Ravens after a three-year retirement in the 2004 season opener iat Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 12, 2004. The Browns beat the Ravens, 20-3, in the game.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

2003: Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.

(Ray Amati, Getty Images)

2000: Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.

(JEFF KOWALSKY, AFP via Getty Images)

1999: Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders acknowleges the cheering crowd after intercepting his first pass of the game versus the Miami Dolphins at Texas Stadium, November 25,1999 in Irving, Texas.
(Paul Buck, AFP via Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys' Deion Sanders outdistances Indianapolis Colts defensive back Tito Wooten to score a touchdown at the RCA Dome on Oct. 31, 1999.
(JOHN RUTHROFF, AFP via Getty Images)

1997: Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.

(Tony Tomsic, USA TODAY Sports)

On Oct. 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a game against the Miami Dolphins, then flew to Pittsburgh for the Atlanta Braves' NLCS game against the Pirates (he did not appear in the game).
(H. DARR BEISER, USA TODAY)

Atlanta Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders (21) on a kick return against the Green Bay Packers at Fulton County Stadium on Dec. 1, 1991.
(Manny Rubio, US PRESSWIRE)

The Atlanta Braves' Deion Sanders bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 7, 1991.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

The Atlanta Falcons' Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium on Sept. 17, 1989.
(US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders was a two-time All-American, the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner and a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
(Allen Steele, Getty Images)

Deion Sanders has a lot to fix

∎ Colorado gave up a 45-yard touchdown run from Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King with 1:07 remaining, a score that broke a 20-20 tie by exposing the Buffaloes' new-look defense.

∎ The Buffs gave up 463 total yards, including 320 rushing yards, in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,868 at Folsom Field.

∎ Their new quarterback, Kaidon Salter , also threw the ball at times when he should have run, Sanders said. He finished with 43 rushing yards on 13 carries.

At the same time, this was Sanders' first game back since having his cancerous bladder removed in May .

He said he "felt darn good during the game" and still liked what he saw from his team.

"I'm optimistic on everything," Sanders said. "We're definitely going to be fine. I'm not concerned about that. We could have won that game. It's not like we got our butts kicked."

What did Deion Sanders say about his new QB?

He said Salter was a "little nervous" but did well, except for one main thing. Sanders wanted Salter to be the "dual threat" QB Salter was at Liberty , with the ability to burn opponents with his legs and arm.

"Couple times he could have ran, and he decided to throw," Sanders said. "It was like, dawg, you're a dual threat, you know what that mean? Like, use your legs. But man, he's a great kid and he played his butt off. I'm proud of him in a lot of aspects."

Salter completed 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown, which came on the game's first possession – an 8-yard throw to receiver DeKalon Taylor. His best drive came in the fourth quarter, when he capped a 75-yard possession with a 7-yard touchdown run to help tie the game at 20-20 with 8:25 left.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders congratulates quarterback Kaidon Salter following a touchdown pass in the first quarter against Georgia Tech.

Salter was the only quarterback who played for CU. Freshman recruit Julian "JuJu" Lewis did not, even though Sanders previously said Lewis would play occasionally depending on game situations.

Salter agreed with Sanders afterward.

"Most definitely, I feel like I could have used my legs better," he said.

What happened on Colorado's final drive?

After King helped put Georgia Tech ahead, 27-20, Salter took over with 1:07 remaining at his own 25-yard line. Colorado had two timeouts left but never used them .

Why not?

"I think we got out of bounds a couple of times so we didn't have to take 'em," Sanders said.

He also said, "We were just really trying to preserve them till we certainly needed them."

Instead of preserving precious seconds by using those timeouts, Colorado wasted chunks of that final minute by running around and letting the clock tick down. The Buffs ran five plays to get to the 50-yard line − three complete passes, a 5-yard run from Salter on third-and-1 and a deep throw that didn't connect.

With three seconds left, Salter then tried a final Hail Mary pass from the 50, which fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired.

What happened with the Colorado defense?

The Buffs missed Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter , who played cornerback and receiver before moving on to the NFL. In his place, cornerback DJ McKinney intercepted a pass from King in the first quarter, but the Buffs couldn't convert it into points.

The defense actually came up with three straight turnovers to start the game, including two fumbles. The problem for the Buffs was that they netted only one touchdown from all of that– Salter's touchdown pass on his first possession. It gave Colorado its only lead of the game at 7-0, less than three minutes after kickoff.

After that, the Georgia Tech offense just kept gashing the Buffs with motion, counter plays and guard pulls. By halftime, the Yellow Jackets led 13-10 and had 18 first downs, compared to five for CU.

"Maybe it messed with our eyes a little bit," Colorado linebacker Reggie Hughes said of Georgia Tech's offense.

Sanders joked that his team turned King into a Heisman Trophy candidate. King scored all three of Georgia Tech's touchdowns on runs of 4, 17 and 45 yards. He finished with 156 yards on 19 carries. He also threw for 143 yards on 13-of-20 passing.

"It's hard to applaud the defense when we gave up darn near 500 yards," Sanders said. "That's kind of tough."

His team now faces Delaware at home Sept. 6.

"We will do better next week," Sanders said.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer . Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders 'optimistic' despite sour Colorado-Georgia Tech result

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Why Deion Sanders is still 'optimistic on everything' after Colorado loss to Georgia Tech

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

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See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

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Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

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Deion Sanders through the years

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Deion Sanders has a lot to fix

What did Deion Sanders say about his new QB?

What happened on Colorado's final drive?

What happened with the Colorado defense?