If there is one thing Deion Sanders is going to do, he is going to demand his respect and that his players adhere to his rules.
Prior to Sanders’ arrival, Jackson State had not won more than five games since 2013. Since Sanders’ arrival, the Tigers recorded a winning season in his COVID-shortened first year and then recorded the program’s best record in history last fall.
Jackson State’s 2022 season-opener could not have gone any better as the team destroyed Florida A&M, 59-3.
Everything wasn’t all good as Sanders went off on the team for several players checking their phones during halftime.
Sanders set some ground rules in a speech posted to his Instagram before the start of the season.
“School, we got school today, right? So I want you to listen to me clearly and succinctly. No slides. No slides. No slides. No armpits exposed. No wifebeaters,” Sanders said.
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“Sit in the front of the classroom and be the perfect gentleman because when it comes down to it, and you need help, that professor is going to recall your character and who you’ve been consistently in that class. No slides, no sleeveless shirts, no armpits, none of that.”
He also preached good hygiene.
“Now, make sure you shower before you go to class. I don’t want to get a report that you was in some bull-junk in our apparel, representing us. Kids in the back of class making noise, he’s freestyling to the whole class while I was trying to teach it with a Jackson State football shirt on. Not going to happen. When it gets back to me, it’s going to get back to your (position) coaches first, and then it’s going to get back to me. When it gets back to me, it’s going to be a problem.”
Sanders is quickly changing the culture for the Tigers.
