Deion Sanders Responds To Nick Saban’s Claim That HBCU Jackson State Paid A Player $1 Million
Deion Sanders is responding to Nick Saban’s comments about Travis Hunter, a 5-star recruit he claims chose to play for Jackson State in order to receive a $1 million payout.
In an interview with Andscape, Sanders says he’s not interested in a private conversation.
“I haven’t talked to Coach Saban,” he said. “I’m sure he’s tried to call. We need to talk publicly — not privately. What you said was public. That doesn’t require a conversation. Let’s talk publicly and let everybody hear the conversation.
“You can’t do that publicly and call privately. No, no, no. I still love him. I admire him. I respect him. He’s the magna cum laude of college football and that’s what it’s going to be because he’s earned that,” Sanders added. “But he took a left when he should’ve stayed right. I’m sure he’ll get back on course. I ain’t tripping.”
On Wednesday (May 18), Saban remarked: “Jackson State paid a guy a million dollars last year that was a really good Division I player to come to school. It was in the paper. They bragged about it! Nobody did anything about it.”
Sanders, who has turned JSU football into an HBCU powerhouse since taking the reins as head coach, also noted how he understands how the system works.
“I don’t even wear a watch and I know what time it is. They forget I know who’s been bringing the bag and dropping it off,” Sanders said. “I know this stuff. I’m not the one you want to play with when it comes to all of this stuff.”
Regarding Hunter’s specific situation, Sanders denied the idea that Hunter earns anywhere close to $1 million.
“I don’t make a million. Travis ain’t built like that. Travis ain’t chasing a dollar. Travis is chasing greatness. Travis and his family don’t get down like that,” Sanders said. “They never came to us in search of the bag. They’re not built like that. This kid wants to be great. He wants my hands on him. He wants me to mold him. He wants me to be his navigational system through life. He wants to be that dude.”
Travis Hunter shocked the college football world after the former top prospect chose Jackson State over traditional powers like Florida State. He became the first ever top 5 prospect to choose a non-Division 1A college program.
