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Deion Sanders on Lack of Resources at HBCUs: ‘It’s Not a Level Playing Field. It’s Unacceptable’

Back in September, Jackson State University had announced that Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Deion Sanders has been named the 21st head football coach in Jackson State history. With the realities of being a head coach at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Sanders has stated that, in comparison to bigger, wealthier college programs, “The playing field is horrible.”

According to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, during Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) media day last week, Sanders, speaking to the media in full head coaching mode, went on to detail the differences between coaching at an HBCU as opposed to having the same resources at an NCAA football program that isn’t focused on Black education.

“The playing field is horrible,” Sanders said. “It’s not a level playing field. It’s unacceptable. Thank God that God called me to change the game, to open their eyes, to open the door. Not just for Jackson State, but for everybody.”

“Some of the things that I’ve seen thus far early in my tenure are truly unacceptable,” Sanders said. “It causes a kid not to dream. It causes a kid to not have that passion because he don’t see no end result that’s promising for him.”

Back in November, Sanders had announced that he had recruited his son, Shedeur, a quarterback, to play for Jackson State. Sanders is a three-star quarterback who plays out of Trinity Christian School in Texas.