Shaquille O'Neal Has Interesting Coaching Comparison For Deion Sanders
BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 09: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders walks between his players during warmups prior to the home opener game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes have taken the sports world by storm. The team has exceeded expectations by starting the season 3-0, and Sanders has been every bit of the showman he's been before, causing conversation with his every word.
Ahead of Colorado's big 2023 Pac-12 debut on Saturday against a top-10 foe in Oregon, Shaquille O'Neal says that Sanders is reminding him of a legendary head coach.
“When they were down 15, there was a camera that panned to Deion’s face, and it reminded me of Phil Jackson," O'Neal said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
"And I’ve always said, if the general doesn’t panic, the troops don’t panic."
The troops stayed the course, as Colorado came from behind to win the game on Saturday night. The rivalry game against Colorado State was a tense, spirited affair that saw plenty of jawing and shoving after the whistle.
Colorado was able to keep their composure and pick up the victory in double overtime to move to 3-0 on the season.
“I know exactly what the kids are going through because when you are standing in front of someone that has an impressive resume, and you’re trying to get to the level he get to, everything you say is golden,” O'Neal said about Sanders and Colorado.
“I felt that way when Phil Jackson first came to the Lakers."
Phil Jackson went on to win multiple titles with the Lakers. If Sanders can do that at Colorado, he'll go down as one of the best coaches in the program's history.
