Op-Ed: Don’t blame Deion Sanders for trying to save Jackson State
Deion Sanders has been in Colorado for over a year, but people in the Mississippi Delta are constantly talking about him. For all that Coach Prime has done to raise Jackson State’s profile and bring attention to the school, he continues to be criticized at every turn.
This time it was due to a massive lawsuit over JSU’s withdrawal from the Southern Heritage Classic against Tennessee State two years ago during his tenure.
Sanders was disappointed by the one-sided deal that required Jackson State to raise money to travel to west Tennessee to see the “Battle of the Bands” with a football game as the undercard. The Hall of Famer was pulling out of his pockets to make things right, sources said. But Coach Prime spoke out about what needed to change, and JSU ended its contract with Summit Management Corporation, which runs the event.
But not all traditions are good, and like it or not, the consensus was flawed in many ways. Sanders was right to repeal it and stood his ground. He doesn’t lie with numbers either. Jackson State reportedly earned a total of $6.3 million over 28 years at Heritage, which works out to $225,000 per game, according to Jean-Jacques Taylor of Andscape.
It’s no wonder why he wanted to give up the game for better circumstances. Each SEC school plays a lower division opponent later in the season and pays millions or more to host games. It goes without saying that this was a long-term choice, and it was better than going broke to preserve the event for fans in Memphis.
“7 buses for the band,” Sanders wrote on Instagram. We have 4 buses with everyone. Who else will go? management. Hotel accommodation. Food and all that. … “By the time we get back, we’re already broke.”
After a legal battle, Jackson State University reportedly agreed to an $800,000 settlement, and people started putting it all on Coach Prime. Three years later, the five-year contract between both schools and SMC expired. This even happened before Sanders signed his first major coaching contract with the Tigers.
The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff replaced JSU in the 2023 Southern Heritage Classic. Ultimately, Prime created an economic impact in one of the poorest regions of the country. He deserves credit for that, but he hasn’t solved all the problems or found answers to Jackson State’s lack of resources.
This is a multi-layered conversation that extends to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ office and those who make decisions directly at JSU. Sanders is an easy target because some believe he has abandoned his position at HBCUs. Even though he has moved on to better opportunities, let’s not forget how bad things were before he decided to take over.
Sanders arrived at Jackson State and was a huge hit, raking in $185 million in endorsements and publicity, athletic director Ashley Robinson told USA TODAY three years ago. This would require an additional year, an influx of external funds, and significant risk from national sources. Forget the $1 million P Diddy sent to the JSU football program after Sanders left.
University officials told BuffsBeat that they have reallocated funds intended for the general academic fund. Jackson State was on life support, and Sanders used his connections to give them much-needed support. Please do not criticize anyone who is working in the best interest of the school.
Everyone needs someone like Coach Prime to question the ethics of others at every level. That’s exactly what he did, and for that he should be applauded. However, people insult him with one-sided stories. It’s time for JSU to realize that they are playing in the big leagues and swimming in the “Prime Effect” in a money pit like Scrooge McDuck. This is because of the cost of doing business.
