Colorado coach Deion Sanders says he doesn’t feel persecuted or propelled by outside criticism after the university banned Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler from asking Sanders or Buffaloes football players questions.
“You don’t care really because it don’t influence you. I’ve never read an article or a comment and said ‘Oh that’s gonna make me go harder,’” Sanders said Saturday at his news conference previewing Colorado’s season opener against North Dakota State, set for Thursday night. “I’m gonna go hard regardless. But that comment just allows me to know where you stand.”
Sanders cut off a question from Keeler at the team’s media day on Aug. 9 and responded with a few questions of his own.
“You don’t like us, man. Why do you do this to yourself?” Sanders asked. “Why do you do this, though? No, I’m serious. Why do you do this? It would be hard for me to really engage with someone or something I really don’t like. I’m just asking, ‘Why? What did I do?’”
Days later, Colorado personnel declined to answer questions from Keeler, who was later informed of the ban. Post editors asked the university for an explanation, and on Friday, CU spokesmen delivered a statement citing “a series of sustained, personal attacks” in Keeler’s writing for the Post.
“Disappointing. But not surprising,” Keeler told The Athletic on Friday night.
In a meeting with the Post, Colorado officials declined to say whether or not Sanders asked for Keeler to be banned, the Post said. Sanders was not asked at Saturday’s news conference if he asked for Keeler to be banned. The ban is indefinite, but Keeler can still be credentialed for Colorado football events.
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Sanders, Buffs will no longer answer questions from local columnist
Sanders’ contract allows him to speak only with “mutually agreed upon media,” a phrase that does not appear in contracts for other coaches of revenue sports at CU and was not in former football coach Karl Dorrell’s contract. Sanders replaced Dorrell.
“This is a way of life for me. You guys act like this is the first time I’ve been shot at,” Sanders said. “I’ve been lied on, cheated, talked about, mistreated. That’s a gospel song ain’t it? This is not the first time for this. But as I mature, instead of shooting back or lashing out or dismissing you, I want to know why.
“Let’s help each other. Let’s figure out the why. If you understand the why, it helps you tremendously.”
In 2023, Colorado started 3-0 but lost its final six games and finished last in the Pac-12. This season, it begins play in the Big 12.
In the Aug. 9 presser, Sanders also declined to answer questions from a local CBS TV affiliate reporter, taking issue with the work CBS’ national website had done around the program. After an open practice earlier this month, Sanders said his issue with CBS had been resolved.
“I’m not negative to anybody in here. I’ll challenge you or ask you why or where this is coming from,” Sanders said Saturday. “I’m not built to hate. I’m not a hateful guy. I come with love. If anybody in here has had encounters with me, I don’t come with the bulljunk. I come with peace and joy.
“If you show me where you stand, I might have to change that. I’m not gonna match your ignorance. I’m not gonna match that. That’s your prerogative. I don’t have to come where you are because my life is complete. What you say or do is not going to change my life.”
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(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
