Deion Sanders doesn’t need help motivating his team. And yet coaches keep willingly offering it.

Earlier this week, Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell said on his program’s weekly coaches show that he was raised to “take my hat and sunglasses off” when he talks to “grown-ups.” That was, clear as day, a shot at Sanders, who has frequently worn sunglasses and hats to his media availabilities.

(Sanders, by the way, also has a habit of asking each reporter how they’re doing before they dive into their question.)

So, Sanders had a little gift for his Colorado football team ahead of Saturday’s game: a pair of sunglasses for everyone on the team.

“They messed around and made it personal,” Sanders said.

This isn’t the first time Sanders has addressed the comments either.

He mentioned it to the team in practice this week as well.

“I’m minding my own business, watching some film, trying to get ready, trying to get out here and be the best coach I can be, and I look up and read some bull junk today about,” he said. “Once again, why would you want to talk about us? We don’t talk about nobody. All we do is go out here, work our butts off and do our job on Saturday.”

Sanders’ son, CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders, put things succinctly during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Friday: “You gotta be a fool to do that.”

Sanders and Colorado have leaned on “us against them” themes early on this season to jump out to a 2-0 start. Against TCU, CU was out to answer an offseason worth of people questioning them over the way Sanders went about building the team. Against Nebraska, Sanders and Co. used comments from NU coach Matt Rhule as motivation.

CU is favored by 24 against Colorado State. One week from now, CU goes on the road to play Oregon in the start of Pac-12 play. But Norvell went and made sure the Buffs kept their attention squarely on the team in front of them.

Random shade.