HBCU football wants more attention. Yesterday’s postgame handshake between Jackson St.’s Deion Sanders and Alabama St.’s Eddie Robinson Jr., provided it.
As law enforcement escorted both coaches onto the field at the end of the game, many considered it business as usual.
But as Sanders attempted to embrace his defeated opponent, Robinson Jr. shockingly gave him “the Heisman”. Sanders shoved him in response as Robinson turned with a “save it” type look and stormed off.
That got everyone buzzing and in their feelings.
Fans from both schools went in on each other while media outlets replayed the surprising scene over and over.
In the grand scheme of things, it really meant nothing. It didn’t affect the outcome of the game, nor will it result in any punishment.
But what it did was give HBCU football another boost in its revival in the national college football landscape.
And ironically Sanders, the man leading HBCU football’s revival, was in the middle of it.
So why was coach Robinson so heated?
Turns out he was seething all week after comments Deion made prior to their game.
“Well, to be up front, I thought it was a lot of disrespect the whole week,” a still heated Robinson said in his postgame presser. “So, you’re not gonna be disrespectful the whole week in the media.”
He was referring to comments Sanders made about Alabama St. scheduling Jackson St. as their homecoming opponent.
“I love the fact that we’re going to play Alabama State for their homecoming,” Sanders said two weeks ago. “I love it. Quote me on it. I love it.”
Sanders described the game as a “money game” for the Hornets as they would be playing the attention-grabbing program Deion is rapidly constructing in Jackson.
“Jackson State travels deep, with all of the fanfare and love,” Sanders said at the time “… We are like [Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey] circus but the black version of it.
“You’re [Alabama State] going to make some money but what comes along with money,” Sanders joked.
Apparently, Robinson was not happy with any of that.
Using Sanders’ comments as fodder to inspire his team, Robinson’s Hornets squad came out strong and led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
But from that point on, Jackson St. controlled the game and spoiled Alabama St.’s homecoming for the almost 30,000 in attendance with a 26-12 victory.
Robinson’s fire was about standing up for his program and what he’s building. No one, including Deion Sanders, was going to step on that.
“We didn’t talk in the pregame; I was out there on the 50-yard line the whole time,” said Robinson. “He walked through our whole offensive, our huddle in the end zone. He came the long way around to get to his side of the field in pregame. I thought that wasn’t classy at all.”
His feelings carried all the way to the end of the game.
“In the post-game, I’m not about to give you the Obama bro-hug. I’m going to shake your hand and go on. I’m going to always be respectful and respect the game, you got the great guys, W.C. Gorden, Eddie G. Robinsons, those guys. I’m living on the shoulders of the SWAC. He ain’t SWAC. I’m SWAC. He ain’t SWAC.”
Deion had a different spin on the situation.
“My exact words was, ‘Hey man, you had them ready to play. Good game,’” Sanders said, per The Tuscaloosa News. “Shook hands and tried to embrace, and he pushed off. That was it.”
“I think he thought he was going to get a win,” said Sanders. “I don’t know why he would’ve ever thought that. … Secondly, he said that I didn’t come to greet him in the center of the field. I don’t know if you understand but we got here very late. So that expedited our whole process of preparation. So, then we were in like, ‘let’s go get it (mode).”
To be fair, Alabama St.’s first-year head coach was respectful and complimentary towards Jackson St.’s players and performance.
“(Coach Sanders) is in the conference doing a great job, can’t knock that, got a great team, his son should be up for the Heisman,” Robinson said. “I love Shedeur. I love what he’s doing for the conference. Probably one of the best we’ve had since Steve McNair. I love all that.”
But the former NFL player wasn’t taking anything from anyone, especially as it relates to his Alma mater.
“You’re not going to come in here and disrespect me and my team and my school and then want a bro-hug. Shake my hand and get the hell on. Period. Got the W, great job.”
“I hope he comes back next year; I pray he don’t get a power-5 job,” Robinson said. “We play them next year in Jackson.”
But why so much animosity?
“You can’t do all that stuff all week, then come in and put your backup quarterback in the game and run a hitch-and-go to try to put more points on the board,” Robinson said. “S— was disrespectful. Game was out of line. It was 26-12. 40 seconds left. We had no timeouts. Take a damn knee. Wanted to try to run a hitch-and-go, so we started blitzing. We’re gonna knock them out of the game too. That’s how we gotta play it. It ain’t no quarters given.”
Now HBCU football has a big game to look forward to in 2023, so expect Mississippi to be packed and eager for next year’s matchup. Even better, the media will be swarming around the game, which will fan the flames even more so.
“Don’t come and try to bro hug me like we’re friends. We ain’t friends. You didn’t shake my hand before the game. Why do you wanna shake my hand after the game? Period. That’s it.”
Look for that statement in ESPN’s graphics package next year.
