Deion Sanders announced that he was leaving Jackson State University on December 3rd to take the Head Coaching job at the University of Colorado. I have mixed feelings about the move. Many people are focusing on the business side, which makes sense. Sanders was offered millions a year compared to the low six figures he received per year from JSU. His recruiting budget goes from $15,000 at JSU to $635,000 at Colorado. I have no doubt that he will be successful, and I will be rooting for them every game, except for when they play the Huskies.
It’s not that he left. It’s that he made it seem so much bigger than a job.
I understand people on the business side of things. The financial impact that Prime had on the City during his time at JSU doubled in a short amount of time, going from 16 million in 2019 to 30 million in 2021. The money was going to come. Things were changing. Sponsorships from major corporations for the SWAC and the school. We saw the water issues in Mississippi on national TV on multiple channels. The amount of change he initiated and helped fund himself was incredible. We could look to it as an example of investing in ourselves.
Prime made it seem more significant than just a job. Even convincing a big-time recruit that their decision to attend an HBCU was more important than football. He talked about building our community up. He spoke about having an atmosphere at an HBCU that can’t be duplicated in Predominantly White Universities. That’s why I am disappointed that he is leaving. He spoke so much power into HBCUs, and he had Black Culture leading the revolution that was taking place in college football.
I have no doubt that the lack of resources created enormous obstacles that he will not have to deal with during his time in Colorado, but Prime was more powerful at JSU than he will be at Colorado in the eyes of the NCAA. Sure, he will flip recruits, revive the Pac-10 and win, but his impact at JSU was much more critical to the Black community and College Football. While he was at Jackson State, he was on the verge of changing the landscape of college sports and, to a lesser degree, professional Football as well! How long, I don’t know. Not my place to say. In a lot of ways, I am being selfish. The impact of desegregation on all industries, including Education and Sports, is fully evident, as Black Players, who make up the large majority in Football and Basketball, would rather play in leagues owned almost exclusively by white men.
Appalachian State went from FCS to FBS. It’s reasonable to think that JSU would be on a similar path. I understand Deion Sanders is not the savior, but he made it seem like it. I hope that I learn more about his experience. Was he pushed out, as some have said? Was he fed up with the lack of ambition by some of his coaching peers and conference officials?
It’s not about being mad. It’s just disappointing. It reminds me of when Robert Johnson sold BET. It was remarkable that he was a billionaire. Still, a decade later, Black people complained about not having positive images or a network that valued our culture rather than exploiting it. Money is great for the individual, and I am thrilled he got what he wanted. We want a leader so bad, and I have been reminded to continue to do my work and lead the best I can. That is all any of us can do.
Thoughts Processed 