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The Colorado Buffaloes travel to Fort Collins this Saturday for a matchup with instate rival Colorado State. Last year’s meeting caused a tidal wave of reaction for what transpired both on and off the field.
Rams head coach Jay Norvell is looking to avoid repeating mistakes after last year’s double overtime defeat.
Deion Sanders and Co. entered that Week 3 rivalry game riding high following wins over TCU and Nebraska. In both instances, the Buffs found motivation by making those matchups “personal.”
With the Horned Frogs, QB Shedeur Sanders recalled a recruiting interaction with the team’s offensive coordinator in which he says he was ignored during a high school camp.
The next week, Colorado clung to a perceived slight made by Nebraska’s Matt Rhule that was directed at Coach Prime.
In each case, the Buffs came out victorious. Soon after, Colorado State’s Jay Norvell provided his opponent with more fuel.
During the leadup to the rivalry game, the Rams head coach insulted Deion Sanders’ manners with a dig at his patented hat and sunglasses look.
“When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me.”
-Jay Norvell on Deion Sanders
The pregame headlines were later overshadowed by a cheap shot on Colorado star Travis Hunter, which sent the pass catcher to the hospital and sidelined him for three games.
When all was said and done, the Buffaloes escaped with a 43-35 victory. Norvell believes his team was the side that should’ve won!
Jay Norvell previewed the matchup vs. Colorado.
“We lost a double-overtime game where we had 18 penalties. We had four turnovers, two in the red zone. We had three touchdowns called back. You just can’t win games that way. It was still a double-overtime game and a game that we should’ve won.”
-Jay Norvell on last year’s loss to the Buffs
He knows the Rams made far too many mistakes to overcome in that road loss, but he noted that his team was still in it until the very end.
He also believes his squad can come out victorious this time around.
Norvell said that the Buffs look largely the same as last year.
“As far as CU is concerned, very similar to last year in their personality of their team and the strengths of their team. Everything starts with their offense and their quarterback. They’re very, very capable of being very explosive. They have a lot of speed at wide receiver with (Travis) Hunter and (Jimmy) Horn and (LaJohntay) Wester. They mostly attack through the air and everything goes through the quarterback, through (Shedeur) Sanders.”
-Jay Norvell on CU’s offense
CSU was able to stay within striking distance while containing the Buffs to just 14 points through three quarters. The wheels came off at the end as the Rams allowed Colorado to overcome a 28-17 deficit in the last eight minutes of regulation, but he feels confident in his ability to compete once again.
That said, mistakes will be key. He keyed in on those penalties and missed opportunities from the game in Boulder, but maybe his biggest adjustment has come in his press conference approach.
Jay Norvell refuses to make this year’s game “personal.” He wants the focus to be on the football field.
“This is an emotional game… There’s been a lot of bad blood… But rivalries are what makes college football great…
“We have a lot of respect for Colorado. We have a lot of respect for what they’re capable of doing as a team. They have a lot of talented players and experienced coaches.”
-Jay Norvell on the rivalry
We’ll see if respect leads to a different outcome this season. The Buffs and Rams face off 7:30 PM ET on CBS.