ESPN’s “College GameDay” ascended upon Jackson State University over the weekend for the Tigers big SWAC matchup with conference foe Southern.
While the matchup didn’t provide much excitement as the 8-0 defending SWAC champion Tigers rolled to a 35-0 win, all the hoopla and bells and whistles that come with an appearance by college football’s premier pregame show brought plenty of excitement.
It was a day to remember for all HBCUs, as “College GameDay” made its first appearance on an HBCU campus since 2008, and just it’s second ever. And let’s just say the JSU family didn’t miss. An excited and elated Deion Sanders had this to say about the monumental event.
“It was phenomenal. It really was. It took me back, once I rode through and got there in that seat to feel it.”
Of course, the “GameDay” crew asked the question that everyone wants the answer to. Is Coach Prime leaving JSU?
Here’s what Sanders said on the set.
“When we cross that hurdle, we gonna cross that hurdle. I’d be a fool and a liar to tell you that I’m not going to entertain those things — because I am. But I have made no plans to move, I have made no plans to go anywhere. I have made plans to dominate today.”
Coach Prime has Jackson State HYPE‼️@DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/sDC7LfQ7Gr
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 29, 2022
Those are the same exact sentiments Sanders has continually spewed when asked about his possibly leaving JSU for a Power Five gig. His name is in heavy rotation around the country, and he’s proved he knows how to build a program into a championship-level contender swiftly.
Rain Held Off And Jackson State Romped
On what was a historic day, Mother Nature was pretty cooperative. With storms in the forecast most of the day, the rain didn’t arrive until midway through the fourth quarter. The rain came at the right time so as not to interfere with the “Sonic Boom of the South” putting on early and often throughout the day.
For Sanders that was everything.
“I was praying and praying, and praying that God would not allow it to rain and storm so that we could show America that we could show up and show up. And we did.”
“I’m so darn proud of Jackson, Mississippi. You have no idea … just driving through the crowd on the way to the stage had me darn near in tears just thinking about where we started from today and where we are today. Then that was like the appetizer. The main course was going out there without any inclement weather early on in the game and allowed us to do what we do.”
Jackson State havin' too much fun out there 💪 pic.twitter.com/TLkwRiNphP
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 29, 2022
The Epic Event Brought Out Fans From Everywhere
The event in Jackson was so special it had folks from other HBCUs not named JSU or Southern, making the trip to the Delta. JSU is like a traveling rock band now, with a growing fanbase across the country. There was an NCAT alumnus named Reggie who was there to experience it in person. In fact, he even skipped his alma mater’s homecoming, the “G.H.O.E,” aka Greatest Homecoming On Earth, to be at JSU on Saturday.
“It was a game-changer for all HBCUs. It’s not just Jackson State and Southern. It’s all HBCUs,” he said.
.@stephenasmith shows love to @DeionSanders for everything he's done for HBCUs 🗣 pic.twitter.com/oypk53SW6t
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 29, 2022
That it was, and as Sanders stated in his postgame presser …
“And to turn around and see Southern cheerleaders right there. Jackson State’s right there. That’s what it’s all about.”
What a day of HBCU PRIDE. And another incredible milestone in what is the greatest job at building a powerhouse college program in history. Coach Prime is far from done.
