Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders took to the podium following CU's miraculous victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Thursday. Amid fielding questions about a variety of players, Sanders spoke a number of conversations he had with his quarterback, Julian Lewis.Sanders revealed that he called him out in front of the entire team at one point, lighting a fire under him that ultimately led to his final drive in the final two minutes.What Deion Sanders said:Opening StatementSep 3, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts in the first half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“We ran for 183 [yards]. They rushed for 51. I thought we were small. First of all, how's everyone doing? Great game, very entertaining game tonight. I'm pretty sure ESPN was happy to put the game in the way it played out. I never flinched, man. I told several people on the sideline, ‘We're going to make it very, very interesting, but we're going to win this game,’” Sanders said.“That's just the faith I have in these young men and the coaching staff, both coordinators as well as our new AD, Fernando [Lovo]. They got the game balls, so that's noted and notable. The young men played their butts off, made some mistakes on special teams, which can't- it's effort, effort plays. Like when they're blocking a field goal, then they run a kick up back for a touchdown. That's straight effort because you have the correct personnel,” Sanders said.“Could you go over it over and over and over and over? I do that myself, but they made it happen, so hats off to them. We beat a really, really good team and a really, really good coaching staff. But our guys were resilient. I'm proud of them. I'm truly happy for them. We didn't have many flights back home to victory or any flights back home [to victory],” Sanders said.“But this is going to be a wonderful flight, knowing that we don't- I think we get back at four or five in the morning, but we don't have anything to do tomorrow. So I'm really pleased. I'm thankful for our fan base. I'm thankful for the first [home opener] sellout they had [since 2006]...I think we had a little something to do with that. God is so good, man. These young men are so wonderful. Love them to life. So, coaching staff, we fought through to the end. It was awesome,” Sanders said.Deion Sanders calls out Julian Lewis in front of the teamSep 3, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis (10) during the first half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“Well, I talked to him at halftime in front of the whole team. I addressed him in front of the whole team. I don't do anything secretive and private. I tell the whole team, ‘Let's go. You that man. We believe in you. Let's go.’ And you know, I challenged him in front of the whole team, and he went and did his thing,” Sanders said. “Because the thing that's so good about football in life is that when we just talk about a moment, if you maximize and dominate that moment, all you guys will forget about what happened during the four quarters [beforehand], right? You ever forget about that? Then that's the thing about a moment, and he took advantage of the moment. He didn't shrink in it, and I'm thankful, especially with him being at the crib at home,” Sanders said.“I'm loving that, and we had a multitude of guys that are from this area that are on this roster, and I let them break it down in practice yesterday. You know, they said some the day before, and they're excited,” Sanders said.Facing adversity“We were resilient…I told them there was going to be adversity, tremendous adversity. But we wanted to implement the adversity, not be the recipients of the adversity. But we were resilient. We didn't give up, and just had it all play out in the end. I mean, a couple of special teams blunders, and then we came out strong on special teams to make it happen. So we don't wash it. We still are not satisfied with that. But I'm happy overall with the victory. Truly,” Sanders said.Julian Lewis’ maturitySep 3, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis (10) walks off the field after defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“The kid's still young, man. He's still growing. That's why I don't get up here and clap with my feet and my hands because I want you guys to give him time, man. Like, let it happen. I tell you what, the things that Brennan [Marion] says when he's getting the play in and the situational type of football that we practice and getting him prepared for that moment. It was real, and we knew,” Sanders said.“I told him before, I said, 'Look, we get ready to use every one of these timeouts. You're probably gonna have a minute or something left to go to work because we're not gonna have a timeout. So they're not going to be up because they don't want to get beat deep. They don't want to do that. So we're going to have a chance to catch and get out of bounds. And he dialed it up. He dialed a correct play, and JuJu made the throw, man. I'm proud of him,” Sanders said.Chauncey Gooden playing both sides of the ballApr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden (51) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“Chauncey is an unbelievable athlete. Like, Chauncey is a dog at that man. When you see some of his cut-ups from the game and what he did offensively to them, you'll understand why I allow him to play defense, and that was ideal. You're not going to play defense unless you're whooping the guy in front of you on offense, and he was. And when he got in there on defense, he did his job. So all the guys did a great job today in there,” Sanders said.“Come on, man, 30 carries and 51 yards. I think they did a great job up front. I'm proud of them. Every last one of them, and we rotated several D-tackles, and we had a couple sacks today. Three sacks. That that's that's awesome, man. That's awesome,” Sanders said.Chris Marve’s impactFSU linebackers coach Chris Marve at the FSU National Signing Day Party on Feb. 5, 2020.