The Colorado coach’s brief postgame moment drew attention to his open Christian faith—and to differing beliefs about the spiritual gift described in the New Testament.
Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders opened his September 12 postgame press conference with a brief prayer and speaking in tongues.
Sanders then used the phrase “calm myself down,” paused and emphatically said, “Let’s go,” before beginning his comments about Colorado’s 52–21 victory over Weber State.
The sequence circulated widely through an edited social-media clip. The full press conference published by BuffsTV confirms where the moment occurred, although Sanders did not provide a theological explanation or formally interpret what he had uttered.
Descriptions of the moment as speaking in tongues therefore reflect the observable clip, its public presentation and Sanders’ established Christian witness—not a detailed doctrinal claim made by Sanders during that press conference.
Excitement After an Offensive Breakthrough
Colorado entered the game after a narrow 14–13 victory over Georgia Tech. Against Weber State, the Buffaloes produced 578 yards of offense and scored 42 points in the first half.
Quarterback Julian Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for 366 yards and helped Colorado set or tie several program marks. Micah Welch became the first 100-yard rusher of Sanders’ tenure at Colorado.
The victory moved the Buffaloes to 2–0 before a crowd of 49,363 at Folsom Field.
Sanders told reporters he was ecstatic about the win but said his expectations still exceeded the team’s performance. Much of the press conference focused on execution, statistics and what Colorado would need to improve before facing stronger competition.
The viral opening lasted only a few seconds, but it attracted attention because Sanders has spoken openly about prayer and his dependence on God throughout his playing and coaching careers.
What Christians Mean by Speaking in Tongues
The New Testament addresses tongues most directly in Acts and First Corinthians. Christian traditions differ over how the gift operates today, whether it ordinarily involves known human languages, prayer not understood by the speaker or both.
Some churches regard tongues as a continuing spiritual gift frequently practiced in personal prayer. Others believe certain miraculous gifts had a unique apostolic purpose or caution that public use requires interpretation.
Why This Matters
Prominent coaches and athletes routinely display anger, superstition and self-promotion without prompting serious cultural examination. A public expression associated with Christian prayer can generate a very different response—curiosity from some viewers and ridicule from others.
Sanders’ moment presents an opportunity for Christians to explain their beliefs carefully. It should not become a test of whether viewers are sufficiently spiritual, nor should an edited clip be used to reduce Christian worship to a spectacle.
The full context matters: Sanders briefly composed himself, then turned his attention to his players, their performance and the work ahead.
THRIVE! Perspective
First Corinthians 14:15 speaks of praying with both the spirit and the mind. The chapter also requires spiritual gifts to be exercised for edification and in an orderly manner.
Christians may disagree sincerely about tongues while agreeing that prayer is dependence on God, not entertainment. Believers should evaluate every spiritual practice according to Scripture and extend charity toward Christians whose traditions differ.
Sanders’ public faith shows that he sees prayer as relevant even in the pressure-filled world of major college football.
