{"id":19981,"date":"2021-04-20T14:22:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T19:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19981"},"modified":"2021-04-20T14:23:31","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T19:23:31","slug":"deion-sanders-star-power-is-paying-off-in-big-way-for-jackson-state-deion-sanders-jackson-state-head-coach-land-liberty-rb-transfer-peytton-pickett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19981","title":{"rendered":"Deion Sanders’ star power is paying off in big way for Jackson State. Deion Sanders, Jackson State HEAD COACH, land Liberty RB transfer Peytton Pickett"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like pretty much any and every coach, Deion Sanders has a whiteboard in his office at Jackson State. Yet the board mounted above the coffee maker and microwave, a few feet from his desk, is hardly typical. There are no X\u2019s and O\u2019s scribbled on the board to diagram plays.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sanders\u2019 board contains a list of 20 items \u2014 either generic products or the names of specific stores. These are marketing targets.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Go get \u2018em,” Sanders said, alluding to the directive for a marketing firm, SMAC Entertainment, enlisted to pursue potential deals. “That\u2019s the way my mind thinks.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Few, if any, can sell it quite like Sanders, who has never been shy about pushing the envelope and won\u2019t stop now.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is what Jackson State knew it was getting in hiring the electric Pro Football Hall of Famer to become \u201cCoach Prime<\/a>.\u201d And his star power is already paying off in a big way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A university spokesman told USA TODAY Sports on Friday that the Tigers athletic department has generated the equivalency of $185 million in advertising and exposure\u00a0since Sanders was hired in September to revitalize the football program \u2014 and more \u2014 at the HBCU school. Surely, this is \u201cThe Deion Effect\u201d that athletic director Ashley Robinson stated during a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The way Sanders sees it, it is only the beginning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The whiteboard illustrates how much he recognizes the buzz about him can generate revenue for an underserved program seeking a wide range of upgrades.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first item on the board: Insoles. Makes sense. The Tigers, like all athletes, need their footwear support.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sanders\u2019 board also includes items for “credit repair” (Is this a play on “starving students?”), “coffee” (I\u2019m thinking there\u2019s a tie-in to all-nighters before mid-term exams), “pain” medication (football is a collision sport) and as the coach noted, “tractor supply” (which I\u2019m assuming might have been inspired by shoddy practice fields).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Surely, this is an interesting time on the college landscape for this. On Friday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed Mississippi Senate Bill 2313, which allows college athletes to receive compensation for use of their names, images and likeness (NIL). The law goes into effect on July 1, with Mississippi becoming at least the ninth state to pass this type of measure and the third \u2014 following Florida and\u00a0New Mexico\u00a0\u2014 with\u00a0that soon of an effective date. These actions are\u00a0occurring\u00a0against the backdrop of a sweeping reform movement to rebut the NCAA\u2019s traditional and draconian measures that have prevented athletes from being paid while coaches, administrators, schools and other institutions bring in billions of dollars.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During an interview with USA TODAY Sports earlier this month, Sanders didn\u2019t point to the items on the whiteboard as specific for individual player marketing opportunities \u2014 it was obvious that most, if not all of the items could potentially have overall team themes, while many could go either way \u2014 but he was undeniably fired up about the prospect of his players cashing in.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“If this happens, we\u2019re able to say, ‘Let\u2019s go,’ ” Sanders said. “At 12:01 (on July 1), we want to announce deals. But that\u2019s how (you) go out and prep ’em. The (marketing) team is already on that stuff.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sanders did not maintain that the school or athletic department would directly line up deals for the players. Surely, he knows NCAA rules.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During an interview with USA TODAY Sports earlier this month, Sanders didn\u2019t point to the items on the whiteboard as specific for individual player marketing opportunities \u2014 it was obvious that most, if not all of the items could potentially have overall team themes, while many could go either way \u2014 but he was undeniably fired up about the prospect of his players cashing in.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“If this happens, we\u2019re able to say, ‘Let\u2019s go,’ ” Sanders said. “At 12:01 (on July 1), we want to announce deals. But that\u2019s how (you) go out and prep ’em. The (marketing) team is already on that stuff.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sanders did not maintain that the school or athletic department would directly line up deals for the players. Surely, he knows NCAA rules.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The NCAA, however, is in the process of considering an extensive rules proposal that addresses NIL, quite necessary with so many measures in various states poised to become laws allowing NIL payments for college athletes in addition to the case being weighed by the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges whether the NCAA\u2019s restrictions on compensation for athletes violates antitrust laws. The NCAA\u2019s rules proposal was originally scheduled to be voted on in January, but the matter has been tabled.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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One part\u00a0of the proposal would allow an institution to provide information and education to student-athletes related to NIL activities, and clears schools to assist in evaluating professional service providers for such. This part, however, prevents an institution from identifying or selecting a professional service provider or arranging\u00a0for payments.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imagine how Sanders might have cashed in back in the 1980s, when he created his “Neon Deion” image at Florida State \u2014 backed up by his enormous talent. He was way ahead of his time. Which makes him uniquely qualified to relate to the athletes \u2014 at Jackson State and across the nation \u2014 as this NCAA reform evolves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But still: Item 5 on Sanders\u2019 whiteboard? Condoms.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Say what?<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The slogan is good,” Sanders said. “It says, ‘I\u2019ve got you covered.’ “<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s going to takes some explaining.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The reason that\u2019s on there is because, what am I coaching right now? A bunch of young men,” Sanders said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“When we came off the break (in March), I asked the team, ‘What happened on the break? Somebody tell me some good stories. Well, one of the kids said, ‘Coach, I met my son for the first time.’ His girlfriend gave birth and they had a boy.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sanders said the room was overwhelmed with emotion, given the revelation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sitting there thinking,” he said, ” ‘This is a child. Raising a child. We\u2019ve got to teach these kids how to practice safe sex.’ “<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is what Sanders must also mean when he says his job is about more than coaching. It\u2019s about developing young adults. And about selling the message, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Deion Sanders, Jackson State land Liberty RB transfer Peytton Pickett<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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