Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders was released from the hospital this morning following his stay for complications stemming from foot/toe surgery.
Sanders has missed the last three games as he’s tried to get back to health, per doctors orders. The Tigers haven’t missed a beat in his absence going 3-0 and putting themselves in position to clinch the Eastern Division of the SWAC and a berth in the SWAC Championship Game with a win over Southern this Saturday.
The hope is to have Coach Prime back on the sidelines this week, or at the latest next week as they face the Alcorn State Braves in the regular-season finale.
Sanders had this to say upon his release from the hospital.
Good morning and God bless! @GoJSUTigersFB @GoJSUTigers @SMAC @barstoolsports pic.twitter.com/ojrLjcFFtV
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) November 10, 2021
Sanders Interviewed For TCU Job And Is A Real Possibility
Its been reported that Sanders interviewed for the head coach position at Texas Christian University while in the hospital.
Following the interview it was reported, per sources “he’s in the mix. He was impressive.”
This doesn’t mean he’s leaving, so Jackson State fans should just relax a bit. Prime’s departure isn’t etched in stone, but such a move would be considered business standard in the world of high-level coaching.
There Are A Myriad Reasons Why Sanders Would Leave JSU For TCU
Not only is TCU a Power 5 job in the Big 12, it’s also in close proximity to where Sanders has called home (Dallas-Fort Worth) since 1995 when he joined the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.
It’s also a step up in competition. The abundance of talent in the state would allow Sanders to do what he does best, which is sell himself through the art of recruiting. He would surely land some top in-state talent.
TCU Wants Deion Sanders To Come To The Big 12| The King Isn’t Leaving A Half-Built Empire
Not that Sanders needs the money, having made over $35 million in his playing career and more via numerous endorsement deals, but a Power 5 job would pay a lot more than the $300K he’s currently receiving at Jackson State.
HBCU And Black College Football Community Needs Coach Prime To Stay At JSU
Sanders’ impact since he took over at Jackson State last September has reverberated throughout all of HBCU football.
His presence alone has raised the profile and visibility of HBCU programs.
ESPN has broadcast numerous HBCU football games since his arrival. His work has revamped the previous perceived notion of HBCU as it pertains to networks (ESPN now showing games weekly), sponsors, and NFL scouting.
The lack of scouting in particular, was something Sanders’ was appalled by when he took the job at JSU.
Sanders is now lobbying for all players names to be on the back of their jerseys, and he offered to give each $5 dollars to do so. With the NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) in effect, he wants all athletes to capitalize on the opportunity.
“Is it that expensive to put their name on the back of the jersey? Sanders said in a postgame press conference following his Tigers season-opening (7-6) win over FAMU. Don’t you think his mom and them, want to see the baby name on the back of the jerseys? Don’t you think his siblings, his friends, his family, his loved ones?”
“That’s the kind of stuff we take for granted. I don’t, I’m very detailed. That guy worked his butt off, did what we asked him to do, changed his whole composite of his thought process. We could at least put his name on the back of his jersey.”
With Deion Sanders it’s more than the increased revenue he brings Black college football, he gives it a face that’s well respected and well thought of in many different realms. It would be a huge blow to lose him after just two seasons.
