Dillingham and Sanders: Rival Coaches Show Mutual Respect Ahead of Big 12 Clash

BOULDER, CO – As Arizona State University prepares to face the University of Colorado in Big 12 play, coaches Kenny Dillingham and Deion Sanders are highlighting their mutual respect amid fierce competition.

The Sun Devils (7-3, 5-2) will take on the Buffaloes (3-7, 1-6) Saturday at 8 p.m. EST at Folsom Field. The teams last met in Tempe earlier this season, where Arizona State won 27-24 on a last-minute field goal.

Sanders praised Dillingham during a press briefing, saying, “Coach Dillingham, love him to life, one of my classmates. What he’s done for their program is unbelievable. I applaud him tremendously.” He noted Dillingham’s perseverance in leading his team through challenges, including injuries and previous NCAA sanctions.

Dillingham, appointed ASU coach in November 2022, has turned around a struggling program that went 3-9 under the previous regime. He was faced with massive player defections but has utilized the transfer portal effectively to rebuild his roster.

Both coaches took over programs in troubling times. Sanders, who became Colorado’s head coach a week after Dillingham, inherited a team that went 1-11 in the previous season. He has brought in 102 new players since his arrival, aiming to revitalize the Buffaloes.

<p“Life’s about relativity,” Dillingham said, referencing Sanders’ success. “He’s won 300% more games this year than the year before he took over. People are talking about Colorado. Recruits want to go there, and it shows the type of person he is.”

Sanders spoke positively about Dillingham’s program, stating that he would endorse ASU to recruits who did not choose Colorado. “I never talk negatively about any program,” Sanders said. “I always speak highly about his program to other kids who may not choose us.”

As both coaches prepare their teams for Saturday’s matchup, fans are eager to see how their respective strategies and leadership styles play out on the field.