“Everyone Bring A Bottle Of Water” | Deion Sanders Says JSU’s Home Opener Is Happening Against Grambling State Despite City’s Water Crisis

This weekend, Deion Sanders‘ Jackson State Tigers return home to face SWAC foe Grambling State, and despite an ongoing water crisis that has crippled the city, Coach Prime says this game is happening.

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, the outspoken Pro Football Hall of Famer maintained his theme of resilience, creativity overcomes adversity. 

“I don’t care if everybody has to bring a cup of water. We’re good. Everyone bring a bottle of water. We’re good. This city is resilient. They’re not. They’re not one to cry about yesterday. They’re the type of city that presses on and they’re saying, ‘OK, this is what it is — let’s roll with it. We got it. Let us just know what it is.’”

Sanders continued …

“And that’s the kind of city Jackson is, and I respect the heck out of them for that. So we’re just happy that we get to play in front of our home fans and give them some relief from the trials and tribulations of life. And we don’t want to disappoint them.”

The city of Jackson has been dealing with a major water crisis for weeks now. The JSU football team had to take shelter at area hotels prior to its season-opening slaughter of FAMU. Whatever the issue is, it has affected many far and wide in the community, and Sanders is hoping football can be an outlet for the people of Jackson.

“Da Vet” Has Become A Real Homefield Advantage

Sanders has been adamant about his Tigers playing at home more. The team has yet to lose at home under Sanders and led all of FCS with a 42,000 per game average attendance. That means getting rid of some of the longstanding classics that JSU usually plays every season.

Last week’s Southern Heritage Classic was the last of its kind, as the Tigers pulled out of future matchups, citing multiple factors for exiting. Sanders is OK playing FAMU each season at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, because as he stated it keeps the money in the SWAC. Sanders has made it clear that playing Connell Maynor and Alabama A&M in the new SWAC Gulf Coast Classic in 2022 and 2024 is the progress he wanted to see within the conference.

 

Saturday’s Matchup The First Between Sanders And Former NFL Head Coach Hue Jackson

Sanders’ hiring in 2020 has helped open doors for other prominent Black coaches to take a stab at leading an HBCU. Saturday’s opponent, Grambling State, is under the guidance of first-year coach Hue Jackson.

The aforementioned Jackson is a longtime NFL coach who’s had multiple stints as an offensive coordinator and head coach with the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns. So to see him match wits with Coach Prime and his staff on Saturday should be fun. Prime knows GSU will present some challenges, but his team will be ready.

Former NFL Head Coach Hue Jackson Takes Over At Grambling State | Coach Prime Effect Is Real

“First game. as you know, it wasn’t that pretty [Grambling’s 58-3 loss to Arkansas State on Sept. 3]. But the second game they came through with the W [a 47-21 victory over Northwestern State]. This team … they have Coach Jackson’s personality, and, man, they know what they’re doing. They’re not making a lot of mistakes, and they can get the ball up and down the field.”


Read More TSL Stories:

“It Drives Me Crazy” | Former Saints Coach Sean Payton Is Frustrated By Aaron Rodgers’ Lack Of Accountability, Treatment Of Young Receivers – The Shadow League

Deion Sanders Says HBCUs Should Demand More Money To Play Power Five Programs | “If We’re Gonna Get Our Butt Kicked Shouldn’t It Be Worth It?” – The Shadow League


 

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