Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders is coaching one last game for Jackson State University this weekend in Atlanta at the Cricket Celebration Bowl. They'll be representing the SWAC (12-0) against the MEAC's best North Carolina Central (9-2) lead by Coach Trei Oliver.
LISTEN: John Grant talks about Deion "PrimeTime" Sanders leaving Jackson State for the University of Colorado
John Grant, who visualized the Black college national championship nearly a decade ago, is its Executive Director. He calls Sanders 'the epitome of excellence.' "He is an idea around what it takes to be excellent." Grant, former CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, adds "It reaffirms that we have to be the change that we're looking for." He laments that "God sends people to many places to do what he intends them to do, and then they move on and leave that place better than when you found it." That's what Grant thinks Sanders has done for Jackson State. "He certainly has been an inspiration to a lot of people." The Cricket Celebration Bowl, according to Grant, is looking forward to taking the moment that was created and the visibility around HBCUs and continue to build on that.
LISTEN: Full interview with John Grant talks on the Cricket Celebration Bowl events
LISTEN: John Grant talks about how important the Cricket Celebration Bowl should be to Atlanta?
Sanders is moving on from the HBCU that he propelled to conference dominance to coach at the University of Colorado. His contract with the
PAC-12 CU is for a reported $29.5 million for five years, compared to $300,000 annually at JSU.
A Jackson State win at the Cricket Celebration Bowl would mean its first undefeated season. The JU Tigers lost the championship game to the South Carolina State Bulldogs last year. This is the NCCU Eagles first time back in the Celebration Bowl since they lost to the Grambling State Tigers in 2016.
The game, a 50,000 seat sellout, starts at noon Saturday at Mercedes Benz Stadium and is being broadcast on ABC.
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