It’s been just 11 days since the infamous Will Smith face smack of comedian Chris Rock after he told a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith at the Oscars. Since then there have been varying opinions about whether it right or wrong.
Well, we’re not here to discuss that, but it seems Jackson State head football coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and his defensive coaching staff have made quality use of the situation. Coach Prime and linebackers coach Andre Hart are installing what is being dubbed the “Will Smith Technique” into their defensive pass rush repertoire.
In an Instagram post Coach Prime showed the move being done as Hart yelled out instructions.
“Technique Will Smith. He hit them with the palm of his hand, not the fingers. He hit him with that palm right there.”
While what happened is no laughing matter, it seems that Coach Prime and staff have found a unique way to use the regrettable actions of that fateful night at the Oscars to their advantage.
Hart is a known swearer, so Coach Prime had to apologize for his heavy use of profanity.
His Instagram caption read the following:
“We truly apologize for the profanity from Coach ahart49 used but God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. That’s what my Bible says. Again, I apologize But Lord this is some good Coaching! ! Me and my brother have been together for over 20 years coaching Youth, High School, and now @gojsutigers!”
Coach Prime Talked About The Incident After It Happened: Couldn’t Believe What He Was Watching
Sanders, who was glued to the Oscars, couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed when Smith walked on the stage and smacked Rock midsentence. Many thought the scene was staged, but Smith’s reaction once back in his chair let you know it wasn’t fake at all.
Sanders then tweeted the following:
Did I just see what I just saw! @willsmith punched @chrisrock live on stage !!! Somebody tell me this was a joke. Please. Chris took it like a STANDUP GUY LITERALLY!!! WOW WOW WOW! Lord help us please help us Love each other especially in front of company. #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) March 28, 2022
Coach Prime wasn’t done.
Can we get the @BET awards after party host to the #OSCARS immediately for post #OSCARS live interviews about the @willsmith @chrisrock exchange! Was it real or fake and @chrisrock has the strongest jaw I’ve seen in awhile if this was real. I need interviews forget the #Oscars
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) March 28, 2022
Since that night, the noise surrounding the incident hasn’t been as loud, but it’s definitely still simmering. It’s a moment that will live forever in American entertainment lore.
Hart And Sanders Go Back 20 Years: Hart’s Linebackers Have Been Dominant Especially “The Problem”
Prior to becoming the HBCU king at Jackson State, Sanders embarked on a prep school coaching career in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Hart has always been with him. Hart was the head coach at Trinity Christian, where Deion was the offensive coordinator and son Shedeur was the quarterback for three seasons prior to their arrival at Jackson State.
They won three straight Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) titles and a TCAL National Championship. Hart then followed Sanders to JSU in 2020, and has been his linebackers coach since Day One.
His unit has been dominant in two seasons down in Jackson State led by NFL draft prospect James “The Problem” Houston. Sanders dubbed him the “Sack Master” and likened his skill set to reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys.
In 2021, under Hart’s direction, Houston tallied 16.5 sacks, 70 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, ten QB hits, seven forced fumbles, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two returned touchdowns for the Tigers.
He would’ve ranked No. 3 in sacks in FBS behind Alabama edge rusher and 2023 projected top-three pick Will Anderson, who had 17.5.
“Everything Must Come To An End, Despite Life’s Highs & Lows. This Is Not The Regret Of An Ending, But The Dawn Of A New Beginning.”👑
~James Houston IV pic.twitter.com/8x7h8rC4Tu— JTH⁴✨🐐 (@Jthouston_4) December 29, 2021
In a pass-happy league, Hart’s star pupil is set to make a splash that could be on par with the aforementioned Parsons. Or his career could mirror that of someone like Jevon Kearse, who came out of Florida in 1999 and unexpectedly terrorized the league. NFL teams say tape means everything, if that’s the case not many have better tape than Houston.
