Colorado defeated Iowa State 24-17, securing a ‘vital’ win for coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes.
Fans stormed the field after the victory, triggering an expected fine from the Big 12 Conference.
The victory came after Sanders returned to the team following surgery to clear blood clots in his leg.
BOULDER, CO – Hours before his team faced Iowa State here Saturday afternoon, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders went to one of his favorite spots on campus to pray.
It’s a bench that faces a small lake surrounded by trees.
“I’ve claimed that as my prayer spot,” Sanders said after his team beat the 21st-ranked Cyclones 24-17. “I went there this morning to pray and be good with decision-making and understanding all the different nuances of the game so I could be on my game and sharp. So I kind of felt in my spirit that the outcome would be what it was. I thought it would be greater, that we would win by 14 actually.”
Colorado instead barely held on to win at the end, but what a win it still was for Sanders and the Buffaloes. Sanders called it “vital.” Instead of blowing a lead, like they did in their previous two games, the Buffs made big plays at the end to beat only the second ranked team in Sanders’ three seasons in Boulder.
One player called it a “relief” as Colorado improved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 Conference play. Colorado fans at Folsom Field even stormed the field afterward, triggering an upcoming fine from the Big 12.
Deion Sanders talks about that Big 12 fine for storming field
Sanders wasn’t aware of the Big 12 policy against storming the field when he was asked about the fans afterward.
“I love it,” Sanders said. ‘I want to see the kids rush the field. I absolutely love it.”
A reporter then asked if he was concerned about Colorado being fined for it.
“Is it a fine for rushing the field?” Sanders said.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Fifty,” a staff member replied.
“Fifty what?” Sanders asked.
The answer he heard was $50,000.
“For rushing the field?” Sanders said, triggering laughter. “How is it $50,000 for rushing the field? Who made that a rule?”
When told it was the Big 12, Sanders said, “C’mon man. That ain’t right. I mean, these kids, well, we have 50,000 (fans at the game), right? We can chip in. Let’s chip in. That’s how it was when I grew up. You know, we going somewhere, everybody, before you get in the car with some gas, you gotta chip in.’
Sanders still couldn’t believe it.
“I’m sorry. Wow,” he said. “Fifty grand.”
A Big 12 spokesperson would not confirm a fine amount Saturday night, but Arizona State was fined $25,000 last season for fans rushing the field.
This win was ‘very important’ for Colorado
Other facts and figures besides the fine made Sanders much happier. Quarterback Kaidon Salter completed 16-of-25 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. His offensive line allowed no sacks. His team made key stops at the end, including an interception from safety Tawfiq Byard at his team’s own goal line in the fourth quarter to preserve a 21-17 lead. Iowa State converted only 2-of-12 third downs in front of an announced crowd of 52,698.
“It was very important,” Sanders said of the win. “It’s kind of vital. I mean, your season could go this way or that way, and the most frustrating part about it is that we’re good. And I know this sounds crazy, especially when you say the record aloud, but we’re good. We haven’t really gotten our butts kicked.”
A loss could have sent the Buffaloes into a tailspin heading into an off weekend next week after losing three of their previous four games. They return to play Oct. 25 at Utah.
This win instead could be a turning point with five games left in the regular season.
“It could be,” Colorado offensive lineman Zy Crisler said. “It will be.”
Byard called it something else. “It’s like a relief,” he said.
Deion Sanders acted like it was a relief for him too
Sanders returned from surgery Tuesday to clear blood clots in his left leg. His team was off to its worst six-game start in his three-season tenure in Boulder. He said he hoped the win was “the genesis of us getting things going the right direction.” He looked forward to a simple pleasure afterward.
“I’m actually gonna go somewhere and eat right now because we won,” Sanders said. “And I get to hear the other side of it: ‘Hey, good game, Coach Prime, good game.’”
He laughed but wasn’t joking.
“I’m dead serious, too,” he said. “Dead serious.”
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com