MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Frazier, Blount, Branning, Butler (38th), Caughman, DeBar, England, Horhn, McDaniel, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Sparks, Thomas
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY "TIGERS" FOOTBALL AWARD-WINNING COACH DEION "COACH PRIME" SANDERS FOR A REMARKABLE PROGRAM RECORD 11-WIN SEASON AND FOR BEING NAMED THE 2021 SWAC COACH OF THE YEAR.
WHEREAS, one of the biggest coaching hires in Football Championship Subdivision college football history has paid quick dividends. Just over a year after the school made the legendary cornerback a first-time head coach, the Tigers have set a program record with 11 wins and captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Title for the first time since 2007. The Tigers qualified for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Title Celebration Bowl for the first time; and
WHEREAS, Jackson State University certainly "believes" in the results Coach Deion "Prime" Sanders, who was named the 2021 recipient of the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the National Coach of the Year in the Division I Subdivision. One of 17 finalists for the award, which is named for legendary Grambling State Coach Eddie Robinson and celebrating its 35th anniversary season, Sanders will be honored at the FCS National Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas; and
WHEREAS, "This is a team effort, it's a valiant effort, it takes a lot, it does not just take me. I know it takes a visionary, but people have to really support the vision. And that's what we did," Sanders said. After Jackson State hired Sanders in September 2020, he quickly instituted an "I Believe" mantra to suggest positive days were ahead for a program that didn't have a winning season since 2013; and
WHEREAS, with Sanders' son Shedeur, a freshman quarterback, leading the offense as the 2021 Jerry Rice Award recipient, and the defense ranking as the SWAC's best, Jackson State has gone 11-1, including 9-0 against conference opponents. While it's unfolded, an average of 42,293 fans flocked to six home games - a single-season record for an FCS school; and
WHEREAS, after being named SWAC "Coach of the Year" and FCS "Coach of the Year," and after winning a conference championship with a chance to win the program's first HBCU national title in a quarter century, it's time to consider whether Coach Sanders' is transforming the power structure of college athletics. JSU overshadowed every college football heavyweight on the first day of the early signing period when five-star cornerback Travis Hunter, the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, launched a new era in the sport by switching his commitment from Florida State to the Tigers; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Rice, Doug Williams, and of course, the legend, JSU's own Walter Payton all came from historically black colleges and universities which have a rich history in football; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this award-winning Coach who has brought honor and national attention to Jackson State University and to the Capital City:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Jackson State University "Tigers" Football award-winning Coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders for a remarkable program record 11-win season and for winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Title for the first time since 2007, and extend to Coach Prime and his assistants, the team, parents, sponsors and support staff our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders for the JSU Tigers, JSU President, Thomas K. Hudson, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.