If Coach Prime needed to get his team extra motivation heading into Friday night's season opener at home against Georgia Tech, he's got it now. He can thank Yellow Jackets starting safety Clayton Powell-Lee for it.
Powell-Lee was asked about handling the elevation and a raucous road environment. Both fair questions, as the elevation in Boulder is 100% a factor, particularly for players who aren't remotely accustomed to it. And since Deion Sanders' arrival at Colorado, Folsom Field has become an intimidating environment for road teams.
Powell-Lee could have taken the diplomatic approach and used the common vernacular in respecting his opponent, and how challenging playing on the road is in college football. But he didn't do that. He couldn't help himself and took a shot at everything that surrounds Coach Prime's program.
"Everybody says it's a different experience, but I've experienced some crazy stadiums since being here," Powell-Lee said. "Knowing that, just trying not to overhype it. It's another game. I know they bring out celebrities, they do all this crazy stuff, but we're playing football. None of them are playing. They can hype you up all they want to, but you on the field, not them."
Clayton Powell-Lee may quickly regret his words when he steps on the field
Really, there was just no reason for Powell-Lee to take those shots. I'm sure Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key wasn't happy to hear what he said. You never want to provide your opponent with extra motivation, and the Yellow Jacket safety did just that in what should have been an innocuous press conference otherwise.
For whatever reason, people just can't help taking shots at Deion Sanders and Colorado when they find even the slightest opening to do so. Folsom Field will be a challenging environment for a variety of reasons for Georgia Tech, none of which have anything to do with any celebrities that may or may not show up in Boulder.
Colorado went 5-1 in home games last season, with the one loss coming by three points against Kansas State. Any of the teams that walked into Boulder last season will tell you it's a challenging place to play.
It'll be even more challenging for Powell-Lee and his mates on Friday night now that he provided extra motivation for Colorado. Coach Prime will undoubtedly be playing that clip for his team the rest of the week in the lead-up to kickoff on Friday night.