Deion Sanders Will Coach First Game With Jackson State This Weekend

The game won't be on in prime time, or even take place on Saturday. But new coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State are excited to open the season this weekend anyway.

The Tigers are just one of the SWAC and MEAC programs that are kicking off after suspending their seasons in the fall. Sanders, one of the most colorful personalities and biggest stars during his time in the NFL, hopes to bring some pizzazz to his program and put HBCU football back in the conversation.

Sanders' presence alone should do the trick, and he admitted as much.

“This is what we bring to the table,” Sanders said, via The Undefeated. “That’s something that’s always traveled with me. That’s something that has always been a part of me in every sport, in every aspect of my life. So, why not here? It’s going to be like that, and the kids understand."

Jackson State opens Sunday at 2 p.m. EST against visiting NAIA program Edward Waters (Fla.) College.

“Right now, the goal is to be smart, tough, fast and disciplined – each game, each practice, each day," Sanders said. "We try to achieve three out of those four. The ultimate goal is four out of four, but three out of the four is the thing that we’re trying to achieve on a daily basis.”

You can find the complete SWAC spring schedule here and the full MEAC schedule here.