Shannon Sharpe is a good example of a student who thrived at a historically black college or university. He enrolled at Savannah State University and used his education there to launch a prosperous NFL career.
Sharpe went on to become a three-time Super Bowl champion and is widely regarded as a top-five all-time tight end. The announcement that former NFL and NCAA great Deion Sanders would be leaving Jackson State University has been a controversial convo among the HBCU community.
In Colorado, Coach Prime will take charge of a much larger program, with a much larger paycheck. However, folks feel duped because they thought Sanders would remain at JSU for the foreseeable future. It was rumored last week that Sanders had been offered the position in Colorado.
A fresh ESPN story from last Friday revealed that he has been actively recruiting players to join him on his upcoming new team.
Deion Sanders is preparing to take the head coaching job at Colorado, having spent the past week recruiting staff and players to the school, sources tell @PeteThamel.
— ESPN (@espn) December 3, 2022
He is expected to leave Jackson State following the SWAC title game. https://t.co/uX2Gx61OgF
The idea of Sanders as a coach was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind, and serving as a coach at an HBCU was even less conceivable. The NFL legend not only coached the football team at JSU, but he also made them a serious contender in the Southeastern Conference.
Additionally, Coach Prime’s unconventional strategies as a coach contributed to the team’s rise to prominence. Currently, in his third year with Jackson State, Sanders has led the Tigers to a 16-5 record and an 11-0 record thus far in 2022.
What Sanders did was effective for him, his team, and the public generally. Many people are therefore dismayed to learn about his plans to work at a school that is not an HBCU.
His departure from JSU has prompted some to defend him while others chose to criticize him. Sharpe was among those who had his back. However, the manner in which he did so was extremely off-putting.
He decided to take to Twitter to say that he would have avoided attending a historically black college or university if given the opportunity.
I went to an HBCU, but only because I was prop 48. It worked out gr8 for me. Had I had the grades coming out of hs. I wouldn’t haven’t chosen an HBCU,” he tweeted.
I went to an HBCU, but only because I was prop 48. It worked out gr8 for me. Had I had the grades coming out of hs. I wouldn’t haven’t chosen an HBCU. https://t.co/dC2sFXB4iT
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) December 4, 2022
This news came as a huge letdown to a lot of people. Many felt it was a trifling statement. Fans believed that Sharpe was unfairly disparaging historically Black colleges and universities, as you can see from many of the tweets below.
Others also thought it was strange to criticize a university that aided in your NFL career.
This tweet was painful. Damn. I've done lectures/events at a dozen HBCUs. I got my first teacher certification at an HBCU. Always the most inquisitive, interesting students. Some of the best profs. I know Shannon wants to defend Deion but… This. Aint. It.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) December 5, 2022
“I was simply too dumb to go anywhere else” is a wild take and so disrespectful to the legacy of HBCUs lol https://t.co/w4p9ebkGzk
— T (@tinnkky) December 5, 2022
Bro said "If I could do it all again I'd turn my back on the only school that gave me a chance and changed my life. In a heartbeat. Wouldn't think twice about it" https://t.co/ckW2i6tfmp
— 🦦✨America Is Musty✨🦦 (@DragonflyJonez) December 5, 2022
After sacking former head coach Karl Dorrell after just five games, Colorado concluded the 2022 season with a dismal 1-11 record. In the interim, Mike Sanford Jr. had taken over as coach. Upon switching from the Big 12 to the Pac 12 before the 2011 season, it has been challenging for them to play in a competitive manner.
Since then, current FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre has led the Panthers to two bowl games, and one winning season (2016, when they finished with over 5 wins.
It will be interesting to see how effective Coach Prime’s disciplinary measures prove to be in the Rocky Mountain state.
HBCU is trending on Twitter alongside the name of Deion Sanders as word of his new position with the University of Colorado continues to circulate.
All things considered, this is a topic that will generate a wide range of responses.
Comment below with your thoughts on anything from defending Sanders’ decision to become Colorado’s head coach to Sharpe’s recent, disheartening comments about historically black colleges and universities.
