Deion Sanders’ Locker Room Message to Kaidon Salter Backfires Amid Time-out Criticism: “I’m Challenging Y’all”

The clock was ticking down at Folsom Field, and Deion Sanders, Colorado’s head coach, faced a storm of scrutiny after a gut-wrenching 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech on August 29, 2025. With 1:07 left and two timeouts in hand, Sanders opted not to stop the clock during a critical final drive. Starting at their own 25, quarterback Kaidon Salter threw a short pass to Micah Welch for a 2-yard loss, eating 16 seconds. No timeout. Then, an 11-yard pass to Hykeem Williams left Colorado a yard shy of a first down, burning another 11 seconds. Still, no timeout. By the time Salter scrambled for five yards to gain a first down at the 39, only 18 seconds remained.

A final incomplete pass to Dre’lon Miller sealed the Buffaloes’ fate with three seconds left. Sanders defended his strategy, saying, “I think we got out of bounds a couple of times. We didn’t have to take them. … It don’t make sense to really use your timeout in that sense.” But the decision to preserve timeouts left fans and analysts baffled. Why not maximize every second? On top of that, Sanders’ halftime pep talk had no effect.

At halftime, with Georgia Tech leading 13-10, Sanders lit into his squad. “We keep saying that we started out great, but they move the ball since coaches as well as players,” he said. “We got to do better than this. Three turnovers, and that’s all we got to show. Linebacker is stepping up. I’m challenging y’all.”

The start of the game couldn’t have gone any better for the Buffs. Georgia Tech offense turned the ball over three times, but Colorado failed to capitalize on the mistakes of their opponents. Coach Prime continued, “We gonna be more creative. We gonna get the ball outside, we gonna get the ball inside, and we gonna go down the field and score. We got that? And guys, when you make a mistake, quit having and throwing a pity party. Flush it and let it go.”

His fiery call to Kaidon Salter and the team aimed to spark urgency, but the second half saw defensive lapses and offensive stagnation. Ultimately, Sanders’ challenge to “dominate” fell flat as Georgia Tech’s physicality overwhelmed Colorado.

The failure to stop the run was a constant theme in their 2024 woes. That didn’t improve in this Week 1 clash. The Buffs allowed 320 rushing yards. Haynes King, Georgia Tech’s quarterback, alone accounted for 156 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The timeouts controversy only amplified the sting of a missed opportunity. Yet, amid all the yells and screams, Salter’s debut has been a silver lining.

Kaidon Salter’s debut lost in the shuffle

“There’s always room to improve on throughout the game, really my first P4 (Power Four) big-time game out here in Folsom Field,” Salter said after losing to Georgia Tech. For all the noise around Deion Sanders’ late-game time-out strategy, Colorado’s opener also doubled as Kaidon Salter’s introduction as the Buffs’ starting quarterback. The transfer put together a performance that was steady but left room for growth.

Salter finished 17-of-28 for 159 yards and one passing touchdown, a crisp 8-yard strike to DeKalon Taylor that capped off a turnover-fueled first half. He added another dimension with his legs, rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown, showing the dual-threat ability that drew Sanders to him in the offseason.

Those flashes of creativity kept Colorado’s offense afloat, but consistency proved elusive. After capitalizing early on Georgia Tech’s miscues, the Buffs sputtered through stretches where drives stalled and momentum slipped away. Salter’s numbers reflected that push and pull, efficient enough to keep them in striking distance, yet short of the explosive production needed to close out a Power 4 roadblock.

What made the night more symbolic was the context. Salter is stepping into the role once owned by Shedeur Sanders, and with that comes scrutiny beyond the box score. Even after putting both a passing and rushing touchdown on the board, every decision and every throw felt magnified against the backdrop of a one-score loss.