The Jackson State Tigers were without their head coach Deion Sanders for the third straight week. Coach Prime’s been ordered by doctors to stay off his feet as he recovers from foot/toe surgery.
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders is out for the third week in a row. Tigers are hosting Texas Southern today. https://t.co/dJEDQhK5TD
— Khari A Thompson (@_KhariThompson) November 6, 2021
Sanders was recently in the hospital for an unspecified situation that’s been linked to his healing from the surgery. But his team hasn’t missed a beat, going 3-0 and outscoring their three opponents 111-52.
Word coming out of Mississippi is that Sanders is recovering. Interim coach Gary “Flea” Harrell said last week that Sanders is getting better each day.
“Coach Prime is still getting better and better, every time I talk to him,” Harrell said. “I talked to him last night: I talked to him this morning to update some things he wanted to make sure we keep incorporated and pretty much showing how proud he was, how proud he is of the staff and the players and how w’ere doing.”
In a week where Sanders’ name has come up as a candidate for the head coach job at TCU, his Tigers came out, executed his game plan, stayed within the culture and dismissed any rumors about Coach Prime not being committed to JSU for the long haul.
For Sanders, this is a mission, and until he completes the total overhaul of HBCU football culture, don’t expect him to be on the move.
Gary “The Flea” Harrell Continues To Be An Extension Of Coach Prime
Sanders has placed his trust in his running backs coach Harrell to run the team in his absence. Flea hasn’t disappointed, leading the Tigers to a (3-0) record. Sanders showed his gratitude for the team and the coaching staff from his hospital bed after last week’s 28-19 win over the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils.
Sanders tweeted the following message:
“We have truly been tested these past couple of weeks regarding our strength, mentally, physically, as individuals and as a team. I am so darn proud of each and every one of these young men an women that are a part and connected to this team.”
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Saturday’s 41-21 win against a confident and gritty Texas Southern team is another validation of Coach Prime’s leadership. The way his team persevered to get the win without Prime’s presence is proof that he has instituted a winning culture more than anything.
TOUCHDOWN, TOUCHDOWN JACKSON STATE!
Peytton Pickett finds the end zone on a 54-yard touchdown run. Extra point is good!
Drive: 5 plays, 92 yards 2:10
Q1 12:50 | JSU 7, TXSO 0#IBelieve x #BleedTheeBlue x #TheeILove x #ProtectTheeBlock pic.twitter.com/P3wHUfSRx3
— Jackson State Football (@gojsutigersfb) November 6, 2021
The Tigers exploded for 20 unanswered points to win going away in a game that was tied 21-21 heading into the fourth quarter. JSU moves one step closer to wrapping up the Eastern Division of the SWAC and punching their ticket to the title game. A win over the Southern Jaguars next week will do the trick.
Shedeur Sanders Continues To Show Why He Was A Highly Recruited Signal Caller
While his dad chilled out for another week, Shedeur turned up again and stole the offensive show. The Jerry Rice award nominee also won the anticipated battle against the talented Texas Southern freshman quarterback Andrew Body.
TOUCHDOWN, TOUCHDOWN JACKSON STATE!!
The freshman duo is at it once again! @ShedeurSanders finds @mightymal13 in the endzone on a 8-yard touchdown pass.
Drive: 6 plays, 43 yards 2:50
Q4 4:34 | JSU 34, TXSO 21#IBelieve x #TheeILove x #BleedTheeBlue x #ProtectTheeBlock pic.twitter.com/FY9DCmIY2q
— Jackson State Football (@gojsutigersfb) November 6, 2021
Sanders went 25 of 41 for 303 yards, three touchdowns and zero picks. It was his play in the fourth quarter that jump-started the comeback and further cemented him as the best freshman in the FCS.
This season Sanders has passed for 2,109 yards, 20 touchdowns and just three picks, with a near 69 percent completion percentage. He’s also rushed for three touchdowns.
Deion Sanders Effect
The Coach Prime effect continues to linger even with Deion not there to pace the sidelines. The biggest attraction in HBCU football has elevated his team to must-see action. Jackson State’s homecoming a few weeks ago is still the highest attended HBCU game this season, with 55,000 people.
Attendance will continue to rise as long as Coach Prime is at the helm because people want to Jackson State play and because when the Tigers are balling the Deion Sanders energy is still evident.
We hope to see Coach Prime back on the sidelines soon.
