Deion Sanders Sheds Tears as Perfect Season With Jackson State Comes to a Sour End

An emotional Deion Sanders

It was the occasion of the Celebration Bowl and the end of the Deion Sanders era at Jackson State. Things got emotional in the locker room before the game and Sanders did not hold himself back. Coach Prime gave an emotional pre-game address to his players for one last time before he goes to take up the job in Colorado.

“Not tomorrow. Now. Not the next day. Now. Not next hour. Now. We’ve done it together and stayed together,” a teary-eyed Sanders said.

Sanders put the Tigers on the sporting map with multiple honors since joining the program in 2020. And his final game with the team was one of the iconic moments of its history. But his era at Jackson State ended on a sour note after a perfect journey.

The sour ending 

Jackson State entered the 2022 Celebration Bowl with a perfect 12-0 overall record. And it looked like the MEAC dominance over the SWAC teams in postseason bowl games would finally come to an end. But nothing of that sort happened. Instead, the NCCU Eagles extended the MEAC streak in the title game to five years and 6-1 overall.

Read More: “Ain’t No JSU Player, Alumni or…”: Deion Sanders Doubles Down on His Rant on Critics Berating His Job Switch to Colorado

The NC Central QB Davius Richard led from the front with 175 passing yards in 15 completions. He complimented his pass game with 97 rushing yards. While the QB threw just one touchdown pass in the entire game, Deion Sanders and the Jackson State defense did not have any answer to his rush game. The Eagles QB rushed for two touchdowns himself while running backs Latrell Collier and J’Mari Taylor chipped in with one each.

The Jackson State QB Shedeur Sanders threw 349 yards and four touchdowns but could not match the Eagles. The game ended at 34 points-a-piece in regulation time. NCCU scored a touchdown in the OT to win the 2022 Celebration Bowl title.

Though his tenure might have ended in a defeat, Deion Sanders’ legacy with the Tigers football program is unparalleled. Can TC Taylor fill the void created by Sanders’ departure?

Watch this story: Deion Sanders gives a striking solution to the NFL’s chronic issue of lesser black coaches.