HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result

Home Football

‘We’ve got players, too’: Dawson Odums not here to praise Deion Sanders-led Jackson State

Kendrick Marshall by Kendrick Marshall
January 14, 2021
4
Dawson Odums, Southern University

Photo: Raymond Holley

6.1k
VIEWS

You might also like

Alabama State hands Southern second straight SWAC loss

Aubrey Miller, Isaiah Land shine in Reese’s Senior Bowl

SWAC football stars Land, Miller are HBCU players to watch at Senior Bowl

The Jackson State-Southern rivalry has always been a contentious one between fans, athletes, and coaches in its storied history.

The 2021 edition of the matchup will not lack fire and passion on either side, particularly after Jackson State made a significant splash in the offseason by bringing Deion Sanders on board as head coach.

For what it’s worth, the hire immediately elevated the profile of Jackson State and historically Black college football programs nationally.

While the buzz around the Tigers is unmistakable and fervent because of Sanders, veteran Southern head coach Dawson Odums — at least during SWAC Media Days on Thursday — didn’t seem all that interested in acquiescing to that school north of Baton Rouge.

“We’re getting Southern University ready to play this year,” said Odums when asked about Sanders’ potential impact on the league and other Black institutions. “I think that’s what it’s supposed to be about. And when you look at it (Southern football) from top to bottom, I think we have some very good players.

“They’ve got to understand what we’re trying to do. They understand who we are. We can have some very good players on offense, defense, and (media) probably need to come and check us out. I think we’ve got a really good football team.”

The Jackson State questions, however, did not stop. During the end of the 20-minute question and answer session with local, national, and digital press, Odums was asked whether he took exception to prognosticators in some circles already declaring the Tigers the team to beat this spring due in large part to the impressive recruiting class Sanders assembled.

Also read: Alcorn State, Southern predicted to win SWAC divisions titles

“I think those expectations are created,” he said. “I’m a humble guy. I believe what somebody else is doing in their program that’s solely on them. We don’t talk about other programs. We talk about Southern University. At Southern University, we understand what we need to do to be successful.”

In the midst of his lengthy response, Odums — in a not-so-subtle way — made reference to Sanders’ gregarious social media presence where he often boasts about himself, assistant coaches and everything else related to the football team.

“We feel like we have players, too,” said Odums, whose Jaguars were picked to win the SWAC West. “We just don’t broadcast our players so people don’t really know what we got. So that’s just me as a person. I don’t believe you should know everything that’s going on inside somebody’s house because the quickest way for your house to be divided is to let outsiders be a part of it.”

Jackson State hosts Southern on April 3 in Jackson.



Tags: Jackson StateSouthernSWAC
Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall is an award-winning journalist and a graduate of Jackson State University.

Next Post
Hampton Women's Basketball

Hampton's 14 three-pointer performance leads Lady Pirates over USC Upstate

Comments 4

  1. Dwight Love says:
    2 years ago

    This is going to create competition in this great league.

    Reply
  2. Calvin E Durden Sr says:
    2 years ago

    This should be good season in the SWAC Coach Prime is bringing recognition with players to the League What a privilege to coach in the same League that the greatest college coach ever coached in Eddie Robinson

    Reply
  3. Maurice Campbell says:
    2 years ago

    I believe Southern University Coach missed what Deion Sanders is bringing to all HBCUS and to the black community in General. This is bigger than football and Deion Sanders has started the process of Business regarding HBCUS the black community across the country and especially in HBCUS cities and towns. No one else has achieved this and didn’t know anything about economics, Community Reinvestment Act and community, Initiative’s and community benefit Agreements. It’s a New Day.

    Reply
  4. Robbie Pace says:
    2 years ago

    This is definitely going to bring much needed attention to this league and it’s players. It’s a shame these HBCUs are playing in High school type stadiums. The only time these players get to play in ACC and other big conference type stadiums is when they get lucky enough to play in a bowl game. We ain’t even going to talk about the equipment. What high profile coaches like Prime bring to these schools goes beyond saying.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

  • Fisk gymnastics team member leaves squad amid allegations of bullying and hazing
  • Jackson State releases first schedule of new-look T.C. Taylor era
  • Jackson State beats out SEC, Big Ten schools for 3-star recruit on National Signing Day
  • Aubrey Miller, Isaiah Land shine in Reese’s Senior Bowl
  • SWAC football stars Land, Miller are HBCU players to watch at Senior Bowl
  • HBCU Sports exclusive: Terry Sims says he’s disheartened by turmoil at Bethune-Cookman
  • Bethune-Cookman targeting Raymond Woodie as head football coach
  • Prayer answered: Alabama State to be Jackson State 2023 homecoming opponent
  • HBCU Sports National Signing Day blog: See how your favorite football team fared
  • Report: Morehouse to hire Gerard Wilcher as head football coach

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • The most prosperous cities in America and worst- Huntsville, AL raked in top five
  • WTF is going on at Southern?
  • JSU Football, the TC TAYLOR era!
  • HBCU Basketball Thread: Feb 2023
  • NFL Legend Deion Sanders Targeted by Atheists: The Attack is on
  • Anybody Remember the Second Time they Got Some Puddin
  • Former Su Athletic Director Floyd Kerr Passed Away
  • Shannon Sharpe
  • Lighten the Mood 10th Edition
  • JSU aims to be Alcorn 2.0?
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2022 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE

© 2022 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

X