Mississippi Clarion Ledger
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders wants to be treated like Alabama coach and six-time national champion Nick Saban.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and second-year coach demanded that reporters shouldn t call him by his first name before walking out of a SWAC Media Day event at the Sheraton-Birmingham on Tuesday. You don t call Nick Saban, Nick. Don t call me Deion, Sanders told Nick Suss from the Clarion-Ledger. If you call Nick (Saban), Nick, you ll get cussed out on the spot, so don t do that to me, Sanders later added. Treat me like Nick.
Coach Deion Sanders Demands Saban-Like Respect, Walks Out of SWAC Media Day
On 7/20/21 at 11:25 PM EDT
Former college and NFL star Deion Sanders has coached just seven games in his college coaching career, but he let media know Tuesday that he should be respected like somebody who has won seven national championships.
Sanders, who s the head football coach at Jackson State University, walked out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Days after he was addressed as Deion for a second time rather than Coach or Coach Sanders or anything other than his first name.
Head Coach Deion Sanders talk with his quarterback Jalon Jones #4 of the Jackson State Tigers during a time out during the game against the Alabama State Hornets at New ASU Stadium on March 20, 2021 in Montgomery, Alabama. Alabama State Hornets defeated the Jackson State Tigers, 35-28.
Alabama News
Updated:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) released the 2021 Preseason All-Conference teams at Media Days Tuesday morning, and Alabama State is well-represented with eight slots on the two teams.
Ezra Gray was named First Team running back after he led the team, and conference, in rushing this season with 436 yards on 84 carries in five games. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns, and he rushed for a career-high 195 yards against Jackson State and added another 100-yard game against Alabama A&M. The senior finished 15th nationally in all-purpose yards and 35th in the nation in rushing yards, while he also finished 19th in rushing yards per game on the season. He also earned the nod for return specialist on the Second Team after he returned 10 kicks and averaged 18.50 yards per return. He finished 48th in the nation in combined kick returns and also 48th in kickoff returns.
Second-year head coach of Jackson State football, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, abruptly ended his Southwestern Athletic Conference press conference when a reporter, Nick Suss, called him by his first name.
Sanders told Suss and the reporters as he left the room You don t call Nick Saban, Nick. Don t call me Deion. If you call Nick (Saban), Nick, you ll get cussed out on the spot, so don t do that to me, Sanders later added. Treat me like Nick.
Suss, who is primarily an Ole Miss beat reporter for Clarion Ledger in Mississippi, says he always calls his interview subjects by their first name, regardless of status.
Jackson State blocks USA TODAY Network reporter from covering Deion Sanders program at SWAC media day Chris Thomas, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
How Deion Sanders expects to handle coaching duties at Jackson State
Replay Video UP NEXT
A Clarion Ledger reporter was barred from covering the Jackson State football team at Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day on Tuesday, one day after his story was published on a domestic violence charge against the highest-ranked high school recruit in program history.
Rashad Milligan was blocked by two JSU officials from covering coach Deion Sanders’ program in Birmingham, Alabama.
Sanders did not want Milligan interviewing JSU players and coaches, JSU director of internal football operations LaToya Williams told Milligan.