Jackson State University has found itself facing a hefty bill due to actions taken by former coach Deion Sanders.
Sanders, known as Coach Prime, made the decision to withdraw the Tigers from their annual Southern Heritage Classic game against Tennessee State in 2022, effectively ending a long-standing HBCU tradition. His rationale was logical, considering the financial strain of the game played at a neutral venue in Memphis.
“We have seven busses for the band. We have four buses with all our people. And who else goes? Administration. Hotel accommodations. Food, all that. … By the time we get back, we’re broke,” Sanders explained in a post on Instagram.
However, this decision led to a lawsuit from the Summit Management Corporation, the event’s organizer, after Jackson State terminated the contract prematurely. The company sought $1.8 million in damages, but Jackson State settled for $800,000, a significant sum that the university must still pay, despite Sanders having moved on.
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The Clarion Ledger obtained exclusive access to the settlement documents through a Freedom of Information Act public records request. These documents reveal that the lawsuit was resolved on or around October 31, 2022.
The agreement between the parties was reached around Halloween 2022, but the news has only recently come to light, nearly a year and a half later.
While Sanders’ decision to withdraw from the game may have been financially prudent, it has left Jackson State University dealing with the consequences, even though their current coach had no involvement in the matter.
