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Colorado's Deion Sanders says he didn't leave Jackson State early: 'I finished the task'

kevin skiver, usa today network
·4 min read
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Deion Sanders has been the eminent story of the 2023 college football season.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer's coaching career — while still a long way off from his popularity as an NFL superstar — is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating roads in college football. The Buffaloes coach appeared on "60 Minutes" for the second time in 12 months on Sunday, this time decked out in the black and gold of Colorado instead of the red and blue of Jackson State.

Interviewer L. Jon Wertheim asked Sanders about his decision to leave Jackson State to join the Pac-12 program, which went 1-11 last year. Sanders was evasive talking about the reasons he left Jackson, and explicit in saying he didn't leave the program too soon.

"I didn't leave quick," Sanders said. "I didn't leave quick I left when I was supposed to leave. We finished. Most coaches get a new job and they leave expeditiously. I finished the task."

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When Wertheim asked Sanders if he could have done more, Sanders walked back. "I think we did a tremendous job in Jackson. I think we laid down a tremendous blueprint."

Wertheim asked what he told Jackson State players as he left. Responded Sanders: "Opportunity called. Sooner or later in life, there will be opportunity that knocks at your door. And at this juncture in my life I feel like the opportunity for not only me, but for my kids as well, was tremendous. Not only did we take several kids from that team. Three trainers. Maybe 12-14 staffers. So we afforded to give people a tremendous opportunity here."

Deion Sanders' Jackson State accomplishments

Sanders' statements are, of course, intentionally vague. But that won't stop those who watched his interview from wondering: What was the task?

Sanders' cause at Jackson State was clear at many times: He wanted to prove HBCUs were viable destinations for players looking to take their careers to the next level. He did that when No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter committed in 2020 (and subsequently followed him to Colorado).

"A big-time recruit chooses to go to Jackson State? Oh, that changes the trajectory of so many kids," Sanders said on "60 Minutes" in October 2022. "Now they're saying, 'Hmm. If it's good enough for Travis to go there and play it may be good enough for me.' So that's a game-changing decision he made for so many."

If that was the goal, it's true Sanders laid a foundation: The concern, of course, is then plucking Hunter away as easily as he landed him once a bigger offer came around. Sanders took nine Jackson State players to Colorado, seven excluding sons Shedeur and Shilo. The full list includes:

Beyond the structural changes, Sanders led Jackson State to two SWAC championships and two Celebration Bowl berths (Jackson State lost both). So far this year, Jackson State is 2-2 and 0-1 in conference play.

REQUIRED READING: 24 Jackson State football players have entered transfer portal since Deion Sanders left

Why did Deion Sanders leave Jackson State?

There have been some inconsistencies from Sanders on why he left Jackson State, but resources were certainly part of the equation. During his "60 Minutes" interview last year, he talked about the lack of effective rehabbing resources.

Sanders has also talked about the stability coaching in a Power Five conference brings not just him, but his staff.

"And sooner or later you have to look in the mirror and say, are they going to get there?" Sanders said on The Pivot Podcast in March. "Do they even want to get there? And I had to ask those questions and really be honest with them, with me and myself as well as my staff. The Bible says, 'Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.' They can’t be comforted making $60,000 the rest of their lives, or $70,000. Not that that is bad. For everybody making $50,000-$60,000, I apologize. I don’t mean to demean you. But as a college football coach, that’s not good and we have to do better than that.”

Sanders and Colorado will face their toughest test of the season against Oregon on Saturday, followed by USC in Week 5. The Buffaloes will see the mettle tested without star Travis Hunter, who was knocked out of Saturday's game against Colorado State.

Clearly, Sanders is proud of what he accomplished in Jackson State. But there will continue to be those who believe he has unfinished business.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Deion Sanders on why he left Jackson State: 'I finished the task'