Deion Sanders Abruptly Ends Media Day After Being Called 'Deion'

Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders abruptly ended his press conference for SWAC Media Day Tuesday afternoon after he was addressed by his first name only.

Sanders, who landed the job in 2020, wasn't happy that Nick Suss of the Clarion Ledger called him “Deion.” The Hall of Fame cornerback and second-year coach said he doesn’t want reporters to call him by his first name.

“You don’t call Nick Saban, ‘Nick.’ Don’t call me 'Deion,'” Sanders told Suss, per the Clarion Ledger.

Sanders went on to say he wants to be treated like all the veteran college football coaches.

“If you call Nick , 'Nick', you’ll get cussed out on the spot, so don’t do that to me. Treat me like Nick," he said.

After another reporter referred to him by his first name, Sanders — who went 4-3 in his first year — walked out of the event.

The Ledger reports that Suss is the outlet's Ole Miss writer who has crossed over several beats but marked his second time covering Sanders at SWAC Media Day with the event.

“When I interview people, I call them by their first name,” Suss said, via Clarion Ledger. “Whether it’s someone I’ve been working with for years or someone I’m talking to for the first time. This is true of the coaches and players on the Ole Miss beat, the coaches and players at Mississippi State and Southern Miss when I help out covering their teams and, as recently as January, even Sanders, too.”