Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes Drama: Resurfaces Dan Lanning's Viral 'Clicks' Speech

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders are throwing shade on Twitter. Remembers Oregon football coach Dan Lanning's viral "Clicks" speech?
Sep 23, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (left) and Colorado Buffaloes
Sep 23, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (left) and Colorado Buffaloes / Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not new for Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, to make waves on social media. However, the latest from Colorado has captured the attention from many in college football.

Of course, Oregon coach Dan Lanning might have been the first one to call it out.

When the Ducks hosted Colorado in 2023, the Buffaloes were overconfident, undefeated and must-see TV. Lanning went viral for his pregame fiery locker room speech.

"Rooted in substance, not flash, rooted in substance," Lanning shouted. "Today, we talk with our pads … You talk with your helmet, alright? Every moment.”

"The Cinderella story is over, man,” Lanning continued. “They're fighting for clicks; we're fighting for wins. There's a difference, right? There's a difference, right? This game isn't going to be played in Hollywood, right? It's going to be played on grass, right?”

Oregon then crushed Colorado, 42-6. 

Sep 23, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (left) and Colorado Buffaloes
Sep 23, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (left) and Colorado Buffaloes / Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The clicks are are definitely coming in Colorado this week, as the Sanders family uses social media to defend a story that was published in the Athletic this week. 

In the story, former Colorado safety Xavier Smith said that Deion Sanders "never even tried to get to know me," and that he "was destroying guys' confidence and belief in themselves."

Deion Sanders is an NFL and MLB legend. ‘Coach Prime’ led Colorado to a 4-8 season last year after extensive use of the transfer portal, with 50 players transferring in. The Buffaloes went 1-11 in the season before Sanders took over, so the program did see a boost.

Sanders' tactics are heavily-judged but his legacy at Colorado is still growing. 

He also does not plan on taking his talents back to the NFL.

"I don't have any desire or ambition to coach in the NFL," Sanders told Ducks Digest's Bri Amaranthus in an exclusive interview in 2022. "...I have a problem with men getting their checks and not doing their jobs. I would be too tough as a coach in the NFL because I still have those old-school attributes."

Sanders and the Buffaloes enter the Big 12 conference this season, while Oregon heads to the Big Ten Conference. The only way the two teams will meet in 2024 is a matchup in the College Football Playoff. 


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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.