Video: Deion Sanders Blamed ‘Horrible’ Special Teams for Colorado Losing at HT to BU

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 22, 2024

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Saturday’s dramatic 38-31 victory over Baylor ended up being arguably the most memorable and impactful win of the Deion Sanders era at Colorado, but it wasn’t a celebration for the entire night.

After all, the Buffaloes found themselves trailing 24-17 at halftime in large part because of special teams blunders. And the head coach let them know about it during intermission.

“If our teams were special, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Sanders said at halftime (28:25 mark). “Our special teams are horrible right now. Horrible right now. That’s the reason we’re in this situation. Special teams. You’re supposed to be special.”

Jamaal Bell scored a touchdown for Baylor on a 100-yard kickoff return in the first half. Josh Cameron also averaged 30.3 yards per punt return during the game and returned one for 54 yards.

It was a special teams performance to forget for the Buffaloes, but they probably did forget it by the end of the game.

Everyone probably did.

That’s because they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with an incredible ending. With his team trailing by seven, Shedeur Sanders uncorked a Hail Mary in the final play of regulation that fell into the waiting hands of LaJohntay Wester.

Colorado started with the ball in overtime and scored on a Micah Welch touchdown run, and it appeared as if Baylor was going to respond with a touchdown of its own to force double-overtime.

However, Travis Hunter had other ideas.

The versatile star forced a Dominic Richardson fumble at the goal line, and it went out of bounds for a touchback. That clinched the win for Colorado, although the student section stormed the field before that was official and the play was still under review.

It was announced as a fumble and turnover after the crowd was cleared off the field, which prompted the second field storm of the evening.

The result was just the second conference win of the Sanders era at Colorado and some reason for optimism heading into the teeth of a Big 12 schedule that may not be as daunting as last year’s Pac-12 slate that featured games against Oregon, USC, Oregon State, Arizona and others.

Sanders also knows his team has plenty to work on if it is going to build momentum from Saturday’s win, and that improvement may start with special teams. Fortunately for his side, it survived the special teams mistakes this time that could prove costly in conference play down the line.