Deion Sanders expresses frustration over having injury reports for sports gambling
Beginning this season, the Big 12 joined the rest of the Power Four conference in releasing daily injury and availability reports in the days leading up to its conference football and men’s and women’s basketball games. While controversial, especially among cagey coaches that prefer to keep injury issues close to the vest, the reports are done in part to provide transparency for fans and media alike.
Of course, there are others that make use of the league availability reports for personal gain, including bettors that like to gamble on college football games. In fact, most of the conferences acknowledge at least part of the reason for releasing availability reports is an effort to curtail harrassment of its student-athletes by gamblers that often use such injury information when placing their bets.
It’s because of the gambling factor that Colorado head coach Deion Sanders takes issue with the practice, even if the Buffaloes’ availability reports are among the Big 12’s most expansive and revealing.
“You’ve got to fill it out, because it’s part of, I think, gambling in college football, which we’re being asked to fill it out. That’s what it’s all about,” Sanders said Thursday during his weekly coaches show. “… I hate that, that we have to fill it out so people can bet on our games. But you’ve got some guys being banged up, they’ll be back here or there, but you have to put them on the list. A lot of them are going to play, some of them are not going to play for certain. But you never compare, because you don’t know how important that guy is on their team, or how important this guy is on our team.”
Colorado’s most recent Week 6 injury report was quite extensive with 27 names listed ahead of Saturday night’s Big 12 game vs. TCU (3-1, 0-1 B12), including listing veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter as probable. Sanders suggested the extensive list was due to his program’s integrity. Kickoff between the Buffs (2-3, 0-2 B12) and Horned Frogs is 7:30 pm ET Saturday on FOX.
“We’re honest, because, with me, if it’s not right, they’re going to hang us and crucify us,” Sanders added. “… But we’re forthright with that. But it’s a testament to having the depth that I’ve always spoken about (at Colorado).”
Deion Sanders to Colorado players: ‘I want them to play like their life is on the line’
Deion Sanders wants his players to play like “their life is on the line.” More specifically, he wants his Colorado offense, led by QB Kaidon Salter, to do that.
In an upset bid, the Buffaloes fell short to a top 25 BYU team last weekend, losing 24-21 at home. Salter took an awful sack, losing over 20 yards on the play, in the fourth quarter and threw a game-ending interception as Colorado punted twice and turned it over in the final frame.
“Let’s just say the offense,” Sanders said. “Let’s not single anybody out right now. … Not at a loss for words, just figuring out how to frame it. I want them to play like their life is on the line, like their careers are on the line, like the payment for a car is on the line, the payment for a home is on the line, like have children depending on them; some do. I just want them to play with full intensity and passion.
“And when you walk off that field, I want you to look back and say, ‘I gave it my all.’ That is all any coach wants. That is all I desire. I don’t want you saying, ‘I wish I coulda, shoulda.’ I want you to be able to look back over your shoulder. I asked them this morning in the meeting… just a simple question. It is only one answer or the other. Are you underachieving or overachieving? That’s it.”
— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.
