Deion Sanders' Buffs were beat down badly by Kalani Sitake's Cougars on Saturday. Even though BYU got the best of Colorado at the Alamo Bowl in a one-sided 36-14 blowout, Coach Prime maintained his love for Sitake.
“They played a heck of a football game and I’m proud,” Sanders said, per Deseret News. “If I’m going to get my butt kicked, I’d rather get my butt kicked by (Kalani Sitake). I love him for life. He’s a good man.
“(It was a) wonderful job, wonderful job by BYU. They’re well-coached. They did a phenomenal job running the football. Their special teams kicked our butts. We couldn’t do (much) offensively at all."
Sanders said he was happy to play Sitake and Co. in the weeks leading up to the Alamo Bowl.
“You know, it is a little more relaxed until you get close to game day, and then I start getting ignorant as I am. But he’s a good guy, has a great team, and I adore him. I adore him,” Sanders said, according to Deseret News. “And I am happy to be playing against this wonderful university.”
Sanders knew BYU would be a tough opponent.
“Consistent team that can run the ball. They can throw the ball. They defend well. Discipline. I see a lot of discipline. A lot of young men that may not receive some of the accolades that they deserve. But they work their butts off and they do a wonderful job,” Sanders said.
“So trust me, ain’t nobody taking them lightly. They not sneaking up on us. We know when they coming.”
If Colorado put their best foot forward and lost like they did, it shows that Sitake and BYU were ready for the moment and Coach Prime's guys weren't. Perhaps the emotion of playing one final games with his two sons and Heisman winner overcame his staff.
That's the most logical explanation for the bowl game egg CU laid in San Antonio.