Deion Sanders spoke generally about the negative criticism he faces as Colorado’s head coach over the weekend, while not directly addressing the ban on a columnist with the Denver Post from asking questions at press conferences.

The ban on the Denver Post’s Sean Keeler from asking questions comes after the school said that he had written a “series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime,” according to USA Today.

Sanders, known as Coach Prime, told reporters on Saturday though that he never let any of the outside noise get to him and that it was never anything that made him feel the need to “go harder.” 

“You don’t care really because it don’t influence you,” Sanders said. “I’ve never read an article or a comment and said, ‘Oh, that’s gonna make me go harder.’ I’m gonna go hard regardless, but that comment just allowed me to know where you stand. So that’s the only differential of the thing. It doesn’t propel me. Where I came from propelled me.

“How I grew up propelled me. Like you know, being an African American, one of few that’s a head coach in college football, that kind of stuff propels me. It’s not what you say. That lets me know where you stand.”

The Buffaloes are coming off a season in which they finished 4-8 during Sanders’ first year at the helm and begin the 2024 season on Thursday against North Dakota State.

The former NFL star said the is used to being under the spotlight and being criticized. 

His focus, Sanders said, is to understand where it’s coming from and “why” rather than getting offended by it. 

“This is a way of life for me. You guys act like this is the first time I’ve been shot at. I’ve been lied on, cheated, talked about, mistreated. That’s a gospel song…This is not the first time for this, but as I mature, instead of shooting back or lashing or just dismissing you, I want to know why. Like, let’s help each other. Let’s figure out the why, because if understand the why in people, that helps you tremendously,” he said. 

Colorado confirmed in a statement on Friday that they had barred Keeler from asking questions, but he is able to still cover games and other members of the paper’s staff are still able to ask questions.