In his first media appearance since his collegiate college coaching debut, Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders wanted to look ahead.
Earlier this week, Sanders said everything is “fine” in regards to a wild sequence of events in which the first-year head coach reported personal belongings were taken from his office at some point during Jackson State’s 53-0 win over Edward Waters on Sunday.
Even though Sanders bristled and was visibly upset over the theft, and even contradicted earlier reports that several items had simply been misplaced instead of stolen, the coach says he harbors no animosity toward the university or Jackson itself.
“You can’t indict Jackson State or the city of Jackson over one or two fools,” Sanders told The Clarion-Ledger. “Everybody’s dealing with some of the same issues. You just heard about it in that manner. The city of Jackson has been good, Jackson State has been great. I love this town, I love this city, I love the connecting cities and I love the connecting spirits of everything.”
The incident overshadowed Sanders’s debut and the performance of his players that led many to suggest that Sanders should not have publicized immediately after the game.
But Sanders, according to the newspaper, was not in the mood to belabor the topic any further. His focus instead was centered on what lies ahead for the program.
“I cannot wait until this pandemic thing ceases a little bit so we can pack this stadium, man,” Sanders said. “That was a beautiful feeling. ‘The Sonic Boom,’ the multitude of fans that were there. That was a beautiful feeling. It took me back, it really did, and I’m thankful to win our first game. Our kids, the coaches did a phenomenal job, and our support staff as well.”
Weather, water shortage leads to Texas Southern-Arkansas Pine Bluff postponement
In the aftermath of last week’s winter storm that grappled much of the country, water pressure challenges it has created in Jefferson County, Arkansas the Arkansas Pine Bluff athletics department announced that Saturday’s home opener versus Texas Southern has been postponed and rescheduled for April 24.
MEAC football gets underway
Weeks after the MEAC canceled its spring football season leaving the league influx, the handful of schools that decided to compete — Howard, Delaware State, and South Carolina State — will play a form of a schedule.
This Saturday, the first MEAC football games of 2021 will begin with Howard playing against Delaware State.
South Carolina State, the only other MEAC actively playing in the spring, is scheduled to start its season on March 6 at Howard.
[…] Also read: HBCU football notebook: Deion Sanders moves past theft; SWAC West opener postponed […]