The Jackson State Tigers are one of the most historic programs in Division I FCS. From being a school that has had a diverse background, to three Black National Championships and 17 conference titles, the Tigers are now looking to add one more win to the resume. That will be during this week’s Celebration Bowls traditional MEAC vs SWAC appearance against the South Carolina State Bulldogs.
Many are asking, How did Jackson State go from a combined record of 9-20 from 2016 -19, to now a possibility of winning the Celebration Bowl? The answer, Pro Football Hall of Fame’s very own, Deion Sanders or as some like to call him “Prime Time.”
Background
Before Sanders arrival at Jackson State, the football program has had their share of positive and negatives in the 2000’s. The era has had the Tigers go through seven different head coaches, Sanders being the seventh. Their two best outcomes of coaches were Robert “Judge” Hughes who had an 32 and 13 overall record as well as Rick Comegy with a 55 and 35 record, leading them to a SWAC championship in 2007. However, the program has seen their downs in the James Bell, Harold Jackson, Tony Hughes and John Hendrick era. All of those just mentioned combined for record of 29 and 63.
The Turn Around
On September 21st 2020, it was announced that the 21st head coach of the Jackson State Tigers was Deion Sanders. Many felt confused and that Sanders wouldn’t work as a coach in the FCS program. Especially since Jackson State last hire of some former professional players didn’t go well. What more of a difference would Sanders make? This was not going to be an easy task, especially with the season moved to the spring in-light of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
First thing was that when high school kids hear the name Deion Sanders, that’s immediately a green light to go play at Jackson Sate. While most FCS Schools can get four stars, most are from players who transferred over while in recruiting, some schools will only attract one to three stars which at one point was Jackson State.
Back in January, Sanders added heavily favorite recruits who ended up committing. That in Vanguard wide receiver Trevonte Rucker, who was ranked 189th nationally which at the time was rated as the highest-rated prospect to commit to Tigers football. Sanders also signed his son Shedeur, making another great father son duo in the FCS. Shedeur came out of high school as a four star quarterback, 229th overall in recruiting class and threw for 8,796 yards, 123 touchdowns and rushed for 11 touchdowns with 226 yards from 2017 to 2019.
Coaching Hires
Sanders did not stop there. This time, it was a coach he signed in January, just a month before the Spring season. That was in former Atlanta Falcons coach and player Jason Phillips who played with Deion from 1991 to 1993. Bringing six years of NFL experience is another big step into turning the program around.
Another coach that Sanders hired was Dennis Thurman who played for the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals. Thurman coached for the Phoenix Cardinals, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football League.
The 2021 Spring Season
Jackson State’s Spring football campaign did not go as hoped for coach “Prime Time” and the Tigers. Jackson State was on prime time ESPN2 and opened their season with a 53-0 victory against Edward Waters and would win their next two against Grambling State 33-28 and Mississippi Valley State 43-7. However, the Tigers finished their season with three straight losses to Alabama State 35-28, Southern 34-14 and Alabama A&M 52-43.
In that Spring season, the Tigers had three quarterbacks play with the leader being Jalon Jones who had over 1,000 yards passing in only a seven game season with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, Quincy Casey with five touchdowns and no interceptions and Brandon Mallory.
Sanders knew right away that the fall season was right around the corner and went back to the recruiting board, and ready to get his players stronger, smarter and faster in the weight room, film room and in conditioning. Which brings us to the fall.
2021 Fall Season
The Fall season was tough for nearly every coach and team because of only two to three month break. By July and August, both teams were back reporting for duty for the OTAs and Fall Practice. For Prime Time, the goal was with a full season, take it one game at a time and end the streak of not making it to a SWAC championship or Bowl.
Shedeur Sanders took over the starting role in which was the first time in a. while for a Division One program where we’ve seen a father son duo. Their first game would be against Florida A&M and it would be relied on the defensive side. Sanders got his first touchdown of his Tigers career from a yard out making it seven to three and would hang on to win seven to six.
Jackson State won their game against Tennessee State in which was a game against two former NFL personalities, being in former Tennessee Titans and Ohio State running back Eddie George and former Oakland (Now Las Vegas) Raiders/Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson as the offensive coordinator.
After a 2-0 start, Jackson State fell against Louisiana-Monroe 12-7. That loss woke the team up as they started winning big, finishing out the regular season with a near record of fans in attendance in 53,578 against rival Alcorn State in the South Bowl with the final being 24 to 10, clinching a spot in the SWAC Championship for the first time since 2013. The most attendance was in 1984 when they played Mississippi Valley State, drawing over 63,808 fans.
The SWAC Championship
Not only did they make there appearance, but they took down Prairie View 27 to 10, their first championship win since 2007. This season also had Sanders miss some time because of toe surgery.
What gave the Tigers the momentum was Isaiah Bolden’s kick return making it 14-10 and then finishing off with the defense in which they got four sacks. Two of those key players on defense being in linebackers James Houston and Aubrey Miler Jr. With this big win, the program now looks to finish where they left off, with a Celebration Bowl victory against the South Carolina State Bulldogs of the MEAC as they look for their fourth Black Championship. Kickoff is set for noon December 18th on ABC/ESPN App.
