Since his arrival at Jackson State in 2020, head football Deion Sanders has stressed bringing exposure and visibility to HBCUs. Sanders has called out the separatism of the NCAA and how the governing body pushes for Power Five programs to have all the bells and whistles while acting as if HBCU’s don’t exist. But that seems to be changing a bit with Sanders leading Jackson State and pushing for change.
Coach Prime Helps HBCU Reach Prime Time
At one point, there were no HBCU games on ESPN. Now there will be over 125 games aired throughout the 2022 season. Jackson State even had its annual spring game broadcast by the Entertainment Sports Network. Now JSU will have “College Gameday” broadcast from Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium ahead of its huge matchup with SWAC foe Southern.
JACKSON STATE, WE’RE COMING TO YOUR CITY‼️
The epic HBCU rivalry matchup between @GeauxJags and @GoJSUTigersFB is up next! pic.twitter.com/MuT86mfg6Q
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 23, 2022
This is historic, as the only other time the hit show went to an HBCU campus was in 2008 when FAMU hosted Hampton. And it also caps a remarkable two-week run for Sanders and the Tigers.
Good Morning America Broadcasted Friday For JSU’s Homecoming Weekend
On Friday, Sanders’ good friend and host of “Good Morning America” Michael Strahan came to the campus for the “JSU Takeover” during Jackson State’s homecoming weekend. Flanked by son Shedeur, plus the 2022 top recruit Travis Hunter, during the interview Strahan asked how Coach Prime’s arrival has impacted a once dormant program. Prime tied it in with the entire Jackson community.
“This city is resilient. The city are a group of individuals who collectively band together and say — you know what, we’ve been through worse than this. We’ve been through the ice storm, we’ve been through this type of crisis. … They just want to understand the resolution of it and solution of it.”
A Week To Remember!
Sunday CBS: 60 Minutes
Friday ABC: Good Morning America
Saturday FOX: Big Noon Kickoff
Saturday ESPN+: Homecoming Win vs. Campbell #AllEyezOnThee #TheeILove #IBelieve pic.twitter.com/87MbCxCAUZ— Jackson State Athletics (@GoJSUTigers) October 23, 2022
Sanders was referring to the water crisis that hit the city during the late summer and still hasn’t been fully resolved.
Strahan also chatted with Shedeur and Hunter. The Pro Football Hall of Famer asked the reigning Jerry Rice Award winner what it’s like playing for the man you call dad.
“It’s really fun. A couple months ago, I didn’t understand or get why he used to get on me, yell at me … and stuff like that. The more I grew up, matured more, I know he wants the best for me.”
As for Hunter, he expounded on why he chose JSU over tons of Power Five offers.
“It’s amazing, just looking up to him and playing with him, it’s amazing to me. I looked at all of his film before I got here to make sure I got everything it takes to be who I want to be in life.”
7-0 pic.twitter.com/8sVQfuXHM1
— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) October 23, 2022
GMA Comes After A “60 Minutes” Segment
For Sanders, the week began with a “60 Minutes” interview where he outlined what it’s like being the coach of the most popular HBCU football program in the country. Also, how he’ll continue to listen to Power Five job offers and analyze where JSU stands as a program in the next couple of years. Sanders has long preached about increasing exposure, marketability and visibility. That’s exactly what is happening at JSU, and HBCU football as a whole.
