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via Imago
Credits: Imago
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via Imago
Credits: Imago
Deion Sanders’ debut has been met with a string of dismal defeats. Coach Prime’s team has faced four losses out of their last five matches, securing only a single victory against Arizona State. Their horrendous fall at Stanford has been coupled with yet another loss this week against the UCLA Bruins. And to make matters worse, Sanders’ elsest son, and one of the primary players holding fort at the defensive line was flagged for allegedly ‘targeting.’
In the post-match interviews, Coach Prime opened up about the private conversation that transpired between the father-son duo on the sideline after the star safety was ejected. The Buffs went on to play the remainder of the Saturday night match without him and ultimately fell to the Bruins 16-28 before a sold-out Rose Bowl, in Pasadena.
“Keep it low”: Coach Prime has some strong advice for son and safety
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All sports have rules that punish deliberate offenders, and the punishment for deliberately intending to hurt another player is often treated with utmost severity. Targeting with respect to the NFL is no different. The NCAA guidelines define targeting as “forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder.” In Shilo’s case, the verdict was almost instant. The young athlete was met by coach and father Deion Sanders at the sidelines who had few wise words to say not only to his son which he later revealed during post-match interviews. His only word of advice for the young athlete was to “keep it low.”
The two-sport icon revealed that he was very proud of the safety’s performance in the game, “I am proud of him, he was having a heck of a game.” He was being very “dominant” from the defense side of the ball. The coach holds the belief that Shilo had bent his shoulders trying to avoid direct contact with his opponent, since, “he always does, he knows that.” He later declared that he was sorry that “this transpired” but he was proud of his son and safety, Shilo’s efforts.
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“Losing him was huge”: Shilo’s ejection affects Colorado’s D-line
During the second quarter, Shilo Sanders executed a tackle on Carsen Ryan making a 3-yard reception. Initially, the tackle appeared legitimate, and Shilo celebrated it. However, on closer inception, the referee subsequently flagged him. Shilo was ejected from the game, concluding his night. The loss of Shilo was a serious blow to the team’s defense and Coach Prime acknowledged the severity of the situation in his sideline interview with ESPN. “Shilo is one of the catalysts on the defense. Forget that he is my son. He’s one of our best players on defense,” said Coach Prime in his defense.
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“I can’t wait for the officials to review their targeting call because I think it was horrendous,” Sanders said, who wished for the decision to be reviewed. However, there were no further changes made during the match and Colorado fell to Bruins soon after. Following this loss, the Buffs have secured only one victory in the Pac-12 conference, while recording losses to Oregon, USC, and Stanford.
Watch This Story: One to walk-off Coach Prime’s assistant weighs in on the Caleb Williams vs Shedeur Sanders football showdown.