The little engine that could didn’t leave the station until halftime against Utah. Deion Sanders wants it pulling out at kickoff this week in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) scored all 24 of their points after halftime in Saturday’s 27-24 loss to No. 11 Utah, their fourth straight setback after a 2-0 start. Asked Tuesday how much that can carry over to Oklahoma State, Sanders said “tremendous.” Once the sideline erupted after JaQuail Smith’s 68-yard touchdown, he said, the offense started believing: “I think I can. I think I can.”
Colorado still has a ways to go on both sides of the ball, Sanders said, but that second half was a good sign.
“When we can score, we can beat anybody in the country,” Sanders said.
The first half is the problem. Colorado was flagged eight times in the first half against Utah, and Sanders said the second-quarter penalties “disarmed us.” The Buffaloes changed their routine at halftime and will do it again, he said.
“We must have a repeat of last week’s second half,” Sanders said. “We’re not good enough to overcome those adversities.”
Asked how he handles a team that keeps playing close games without the record to show for it, Sanders called the Utah game “a tremendous advancement.” He said he hates to call a loss progress, but he believes Colorado got better. The Buffaloes came out of the locker room at halftime believing they would make a run, he said, “and we did.”
“These young men are not to be counted out. This staff is not to be counted out, and I really hope you don’t count me out because I’m going to fight, regardless of what’s ever in front of me,” Sanders said.
They’ll try to carry it to Stillwater without one of their running backs at full strength.
Micah Welch is “hurting” and didn’t practice Tuesday, Sanders said. He didn’t know the severity of the injury. Welch has 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season. Defensive end Lamont Lester Jr. dressed against Utah but played only a handful of snaps, and Sanders said he would rather Lester get healthy than play at less than full strength.
“If you’re going to dress out, you’ve got to play or just don’t dress,” Sanders said. “You don’t want half of him, you want the whole.”
Lester practiced some Tuesday. Receiver Kam Perry is “still hurt or suffering,” Sanders said. Asked about receiver Danny Scudero, who was on crutches and in a boot last week, Sanders said Colorado wants “what’s best for Danny” and won’t rush him back.
“We care about the whole person, not just the person for this season,” Sanders said. Asked whether Isaac Wilson did a better job of being himself against his former team, Sanders split the quarterback’s two interceptions.
On the first, he said, Wilson “threw a heck of a ball” that was taken away from the receiver. The second was a different story.
“He knows better than to throw a ball like that in that situation,” Sanders said. “But he played good enough for us to win, and he didn’t get down on himself.”
The bigger fix, Sanders said, belongs to the entire offense. More points would mean more time with the ball, and Utah held it for 14 minutes longer than Colorado.
“We’ve got to score,” Sanders said. “We’ve got to score.”
Oklahoma State (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) will test Colorado’s defense with quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who has thrown for 1,940 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sanders said Mestemaker “can flat-out spin it” and is extremely accurate once his feet are set, even on bootlegs.
“What we want to do is get him uncomfortable, get him off the spot,” Sanders said.
Sanders praised first-year Cowboys head coach Eric Morris, who replaced Mike Gundy, and offered Gundy a standing invitation.
“Anytime you want to fish, let me know.”
Asked why a team with one side of the ball outplaying the other hasn’t splintered, he said: “I got rid of that.” When Wilson scrambled and found Smith for a 68-yard touchdown Saturday, he said, the sideline went crazy.
“These guys are united and they are together.”
Sanders also offered support for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has been diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and is expected to miss the rest of the NFL season, according to ESPN.
“I know what he’s going through, and I’m praying for him.” Sanders said.
Colorado plays at Oklahoma State at 5:00 p.m. MT Saturday on FS1.
