Oregon went outside the building to make sure it didn’t let Deion Sanders and Colorado leave Eugene with a win last Saturday — according to Keyshawn Johnson.
When discussing the game Monday on “Undisputed,” Johnson claimed he heard from a member of the “coaching fraternity,” who said Oregon received plenty of help game-planning for the Buffaloes, whom the Ducks trampled 42-6.
“I spoke to somebody in the coaching fraternity right after the game. And they know some people that coach at Oregon,” Johnson said.
“They said, ‘Man, I’ve never heard from another assistant coach of how much information was being given to that staff about – I’m being real with it – about game-planning against Colorado so they can beat them.
“Everybody was stacked … That’s the reality of it. I ain’t making this up. I ain’t just gonna expose no names, but you all know who I’m talking about if you watching.”
While this certainly has some sizzle since it involves the polarizing Sanders, it’s not uncommon for coaches to help one another out.
Perhaps a member of the TCU or Colorado State coaching staffs is friendly with a member of Oregon’s personnel.
Neither TCU or Colorado State face Oregon this year.
Colorado won one game last year but has been the center of the college football universe thanks to Sanders.
The flip side of Sanders’ swagger and popularity is rubbing other coaches the wrong way in his first season with Colorado and coaches want to halt his ascension.
Saturday’s game helped ground that hype since it showed that despite the Buffaloes’ improvements, there is still a sizable gap between Colorado and true national title contenders such as Oregon.
That talent gap, plus the absence of two-way star Travis Hunter, likely played more of a role in the outcome than any outside counseling.
The Buffaloes also didn’t help themselves with their pregame antics, which seemed to fuel the Ducks.
“This is (Sanders’) first year at the Power Five level. This is his first year. They’re 3-1,” Johnson said. “We can’t sit up here and act like it’s all doom, they’re over with, they’ll never win another game. That’s not true. They played against an Oregon team that is better, they’re a better football team.”
