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<\/p>\nNever one to miss a business opportunity, Deion Sanders handed out pairs of Blenders brand sunglasses to the hosts of ESPN\u2019s First Take and the Pat McAfee Show on Friday morning.<\/p>\n
And, of course, the head coach of the 18th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes handed out glasses to each player on the football team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to see how you look in them. You look good,\u201d said Sanders, who endorses Blenders.<\/p>\n
The gifts were, of course, in response to a comment made by Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell earlier this week, when he took a shot at Sanders, who often wears sunglasses and hats in public appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I talk to grownups, I take my hat and my glasses off. That\u2019s what my mother taught me,\u201d Norvell said on his radio show Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Sanders said he and the Buffs have taken Norvell\u2019s comments and run with them this week in preparation for Saturday\u2019s Rocky Mountain Showdown at Folsom Field.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey don\u2019t realize not only are we gonna kick their butts because it\u2019s personal, but it\u2019s gonna be business; but it\u2019s also pleasure,\u201d Sanders told his team in a video posted by Well Off Media. \u201cThey don\u2019t realize they just helped me with business. But it\u2019s also gonna be personal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sanders admitted earlier this week he doesn\u2019t know too much about CSU or the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The current Buffs, most of whom have never been a part of the rivalry, aren\u2019t too familiar with the history, either.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t matter, though, because the Buffs are ready to write their own chapter in this long-time rivalry, which dates back to 1893 \u2013 long before modern sunglasses were invented.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could tell by the air around here and the way people are lining up for tickets, trying to get in, definitely it\u2019s a rivalry game,\u201d defensive end Jordan Domineck said. \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a big game and I feel like I\u2019m just learning more and more as I go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Buffs certainly didn\u2019t need Norvell\u2019s comments for motivation, but it didn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n
Fueled by outside criticism all offseason, the Buffs are off to a surprisingly hot start, one that has led to ESPN essentially taking over CU\u2019s Business Field for live shows on Friday. The Buffs are at the center of the college football world and aiming to prove people wrong every time they step on the field \u2013 rivalry game or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like for us, we just prepare the same whether it\u2019s a rivalry game, whether it\u2019s a regular game,\u201d Domineck said. \u201cAll of them are not regular games. It\u2019s basically our championship from week to week. We\u2019re always trying to go 1-0, so the preparation never changes. We always prepare the same way, whether it\u2019s going in for extra film, focusing on what we need to focus on throughout the week. The preparation is always going to stay the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
So is the spotlight, which has shined on CU every week this season and will continue to do so. The players have not only embraced it, but thrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always got to come out with that type of edge on our shoulder,\u201d receiver Xavier Weaver said. \u201cEverybody\u2019s coming out looking at us, regardless if we coming out for warm-ups, we coming out for the game. Everybody wants to see something. We got cameras on us 24\/7, so we got to come out with that type of energy or else we\u2019re gonna play flat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given the energy and hype around the program, and the extra motivation provided by Norvell, it\u2019s not likely the Buffs will come out flat against the Rams. Their goals go well beyond the 2-0 start and well beyond this matchup against their in-state rivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still grinding,\u201d defensive ends coach Nick Williams said. \u201cStill got so much to prove.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked on First Take what fans can expect Saturday night, CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders smiled and said, \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be legendary. Let\u2019s just say that.\u201d<\/p>\n