Bethune-Cookman Releases Statement On Football Program

Bethune-Cookman University has announced that it has decided not to proceed with contract negotiations with Ed Reed to become the next head football coach at B-CU.
 
After undergoing a detailed assessment and review of the state of our football program, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our university, athletics program, and football student-athletes to reopen the search and identify the next leader of Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Football.
 
While we appreciate the initial interest in our football program displayed by Mr. Reed during the course of recent weeks, we are also mindful of the qualities and attributes that must be exhibited by our institutional personnel during what have been uniquely challenging times for our campus as we recover from the impact of two hurricanes during this past fall semester.       
 
Bethune-Cookman University was founded with core guiding principles centered around integrity, accountability, and mutual respect for others. These guiding principles have and will continue to weigh heavily on all decisions made that impact our university.
 
We remain steadfast and committed to building a championship caliber football program that excels on the field, inside the classroom and within our local community.
 
Our university community has placed the upmost trust and faith in us to continue to advance our institution and we will continue to strive to live up to the high standards that have been set for all individuals affiliated with our illustrious university.    
 
A national search to fill the football head coach position at B-CU has resumed as the university seeks to identify a permanent replacement in the coming days.

NFL star Ed Reed to be next head football coach at Bethune Cookman University

Former University of Miami & NFL star Ed Reed will be next head football coach at Bethune-Cookman University.

The university athletics department made the announcement via Twitter.

Bethune-Cookman University Athletics has entered an agreement in principle with Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed to be its 16th head football coach.

More information will be forthcoming.#𝙇𝙚𝙩𝙨𝙂𝙤 | #𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 | #𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧

— Bethune-Cookman Athletics (@BCUAthletics) December 27, 2022

Reed was a two-time All-American at Miami, helping the Hurricanes win the National Championship in 2001. He was selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Ravens, spending 11 seasons with the team and winning the 2013 Super Bowl. He split the final year of his playing career with the Houston Texans and New York Jets.

In 2016, Reed worked as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. In 2020, he was hired by the University of Miami, his alma mater, to serve as their football team's chief of staff, an advisory role to head coach Manny Diaz.

Jackson State University statement on Deion Sanders leaving for University of Colorado

Jackson State University Athletic Director released the following statement thanking Coach Deion Sanders for his achievements and time spent at JSU.

Click picture to enlarge.

Watch the full Deion Sanders 60 Minutes Interview

Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, is altering the landscape of sports once again, this time as head football coach at Jackson State University, an HBCU looking to compete with Power Five programs. Watch his full 60 Minutes interview in which he discusses coaching at an HBCU, what he wants to do for HBCUs, and whether he would lead to take a Power 5 coaching job.

Jackson State University Tigers stays at #11 in FCS Coaches Poll

After stomping Mississippi Valley State (0-4) 49-7, Deion Sanders and the Jackson State University Tigers (4-0) stayed at #11 in the FCS coaches poll. JSU is the only HBCU in the FCS top 25.

To this point the Tigers have been dominant with an average margin of victory of 38 points while allowing opponents to score on 9.5 points per game.

JSU's next game is on the road against the (2-2) Alabama State University Hornets.

Full FCS Top 25 Poll

1	North Dakota State   (43)	3-1	1334	1
2	Montana   (6)	4-0	1267	3
2	South Dakota State   (5)	3-1	1267	2
4	Montana State	3-1	1108	4
4	Incarnate Word	3-1	1108	6
6	Missouri State	2-2	1091	5
7	Sacramento State	3-0	995	8
8	Delaware	4-0	963	9
9	Villanova	2-2	874	7
10	Chattanooga	3-1	831	10
11	Jackson State	4-0	818	11
12	Weber State	3-0	789	12
13	Holy Cross	4-0	742	13
14	William & Mary	3-1	610	15
15	Eastern Washington	1-2	559	14
16	Eastern Kentucky	2-2	449	19
17	Mercer	3-1	401	20
18	Tennessee-Martin	2-2	351	16
19	North Dakota	2-2	305	22
20	Rhode Island	2-2	232	17
21	Samford	3-1	212	24
22	Richmond	3-1	164	26
23	Stephen F. Austin	1-2	131	21
24	Southern Illinois	2-2	123	30
25	North Carolina Central	2-0	104	36

NBC SPORTS TO PRESENT THREE HBCU COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS SEASON

NBC SPORTS TO PRESENT THREE HBCU COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS SEASON

Inaugural Toyota HBCU New York Football Classic Featuring Howard vs. Morehouse Kicks Off on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock and CNBC from MetLife Stadium

Grambling and Southern Renew Storied Football Rivalry as 49^th Annual Bayou Classic Takes Place on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

All-Star HBCU Pigskin Showdown on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. ET on Peacock and CNBC from Marion Military Institute in Marion, Ala.

All Three Games Stream Live on Peacock

NBCU Academy – a Journalism Training and Development Program – to Offer HBCU Students Professional Development Opportunities and Hands-on Media Experience

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 31, 2022 – As the college football season kicks into gear, NBC Sports will present three college football games highlighting HBCU universities this season: the Bayou Classic, the Toyota HBCU New York Football Classic, and the HBCU Pigskin Showdown.

Kicking off NBC Sports’ 2022 HBCU college football programming roster is the inaugural HBCU New York Football Classic on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock and CNBC. Howard University and Morehouse College, two of the country’s most prestigious HBCU’s, will faceoff in the momentous debut game from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

On Saturday, Nov. 26, NBC Sports will present the 49^th annual Bayou Classic as Southern and Grambling renew their storied football rivalry at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports and the Bayou Classic recently announced a three-year media rights extension, extending a historic partnership which began in 1991.

NBC Sports will present the HBCU Pigskin Showdown, a college football all-star game for student-athletes from HBCU institutions, on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. ET on Peacock and CNBC. Taking place at Marion Military Institute in Marion, Ala., located just southwest of Selma, Ala., the HBCU Pigskin Showdown provides a platform for student-athletes to showcase their talent to a national audience and perform in front of NFL scouts.

Through NBCU Academy – a journalism training and development program designed to prepare college students and young professionals for careers in the news and media technology industry — NBC Sports will present select students from HBCU institutions with professional development programming, including the opportunity to cover HBCU events for NBCSports.com.

NBC Sports will showcase the celebrated tradition and pageantry of the HBCU gameday experience at each event, including the Bayou Classic’s Battle of the Bands between the Southern and Grambling State marching bands as well as the spectacular drum line performances and the battle of the bands between Morehouse’s ‘House of Funk’ and Howard’s ‘Showtime’ marching bands at the HBCU New York Football Classic.

NBC Sports’ 2022 HBCU college football programming roster:

Game	Date	Time (ET)	Platform
HBCU New York Football Classic	Sun., Sept. 17	3 p.m.	Peacock, CNBC
Bayou Classic	Sat., Nov. 26	2 p.m.	NBC, Peacock
HBCU Pigskin Showdown	Sat., Dec. 17	1 p.m.	Peacock, CNBC

 

— NBC Sports —

Byron Allen’s HBCU Go streamer enters deal with CBS stations to air HBCU football games

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) free-streaming digital platform, HBCU GO -- the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – proudly announces nationwide clearance for their 2022-23 sports season as part of the new carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations. Key television markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh. HBCU GO will kick off the fall sports season on September 3rd with a star-studded pre-season show featuring the nation’s top Gridiron NFL and Black College Hall of Famers and HBCU alums.

With this new carriage deal, HBCU GO is currently in 60 percent of U.S. television households and 70 percent of African-American households. This news comes on the heels of HBCU GO’s recent announcement of the distribution partnership with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) -- that grants HBCU GO cable, linear, streaming, broadcast, VOD, and pay-per-view rights to premier NCAA Division 2 HBCU conference sporting events.

In addition to the newly announced CBS owned-and-operated duopoly station clearances, HBCU GO has secured distribution with group-owned television stations including Nexstar, Gray, Cox, Scripps, Tegna, Sinclair, Lockwood, Allen Media Broadcasting, Hearst, Circle City Broadcasting, McKinnon Broadcasting, Cowles, Graham, Block, Sun Broadcasting, Tougaloo College, Sagamore Hill, and Marquee. HBCU GO programming is available on HBCUGO.TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. Viewers can also access programming by downloading the HBCU GO App.

“Allen Media Group is thrilled that the CBS O&O stations have joined our excellent group of broadcast television station partners to increase the reach of HBCU GO’s high-quality sports programming,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “We are proud to amplify these amazing athletes and HBCUs, while at the same time helping to finance the education of these young adults. Now sports fans across the country will have access to best-in-class games from America’s HBCUs.”

“We are honored to work with our partners at Allen Media Group to bring live broadcasts of HBCU football games to our audiences in 12 major markets,” said Wendy McMahon, President and Co-Head, CBS News and Stations. “As a Louisiana native and football fan, I am personally and professionally proud to play a role in having our stations shine a light on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the student athletes who are living out their dreams both on the field and in the classroom.”

Byron Allen Talks Buying Black News Channel, TheGrioTV, and HBCU Football

Entertainment Studio's Byron Allen talks to Reliable Sources anchor Brian Stelter about buying the Black News Channel assets for $11 Million months after the company went bankrupt, changing it to TheGrio.tv and even talked about his plans to showcase HBCU Football on the platform.

Art Briles resigns as Grambling State offensive coordinator

Four days after Art Briles controversial hire as Grambling State's new offensive coordinator, the embattled former football coach at Baylor resigned.

A Grambling State spokesperson confirmed that Briles had resigned but offered no details.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of your coaching staff at Grambling State University," Briles said in a statement. "Unfortunately, I feel that my continued presence will be a distraction to you and your team, which is the last thing that I want. I have the utmost respect the university, and the players."

Briles was confirmed as the offensive coordinator on Thursday by Grambling officials.

Although he had the support of Head Coach Hue Jackson, several prominent Grambling alumni such as Doug Williams did not want Briles at Grambling after he was fired from Baylor for his handling of sexual assault accusations against his players.

South Carolina State Wins Celebration Bowl To Become HBCU National Champion

Deion Sanders and his Jackson State Tigers were favored to win the Celebration Bowl. Unfortunately for JSU South Carolina State Coach Oliver "Buddy" Fields and his Bulldogs had other ideas.

South Carolina State QB, Cory Fields Jr. threw for four touchdowns, three to Shaquan Davis, and South Carolina State stunned Jackson State 31-10 on Saturday in a game for the national championship of historically Black colleges and universities.

Deion Sanders named SWAC Coach of the Year

In just his second year as a head coach Deion Sanders was named the South Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on Monday.

Sanders led the Jackson State University Tigers to a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in SWAC regular season play. Under Sanders' leadership the Tigers are currently ranked in the top 15 of the FCS Coaches Poll and are also ranked in the top 25 of the Stats FCS Poll. The Tigers claimed the SWAC East Division title for the first time since the 2013 season. For his efforts Sanders has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson award.

VP Kamala Harris Harris does the coin toss at Howard University football game

Vice President Kamala Harris made a special appearance at a football game between her alma mater, Howard University, and Hampton University to do the coin toss.

The match-up between the two historically Black universities, the Truth and Service Classic, was held at noon on Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Before the start of the game, Harris did a coin toss to determine which team would start off first.

Howard won the toss after the coin landed on heads, and the Howard Bison decided to defer to Hampton to start the game.

Unfortunately for VP Harris and Howard University, The Hampton University Pirates won the game 48 - 32.

.@VP starting her Saturday morning off right - flipping coin at the @HowardU and @_HamptonU football game!!

It was heads! pic.twitter.com/PboWSGvHBU

— SDS (@SymoneSanders46) September 18, 2021

Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces Establishment of the HBCU Legacy Bowl

The Black College Football Hall of Fame today announced the establishment of the HBCU Legacy Bowl. The HBCU Legacy Bowl is a postseason all-star game that will showcase the best NFL draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The game will take place on the Saturday after Super Bowl LVI (February 2022) at Yulman Stadium at Tulane University, and broadcast live on NFL Network.

“The HBCU Legacy Bowl means opportunity and exposure for HBCU players and coaches,” said Co-Founder and Inductee Doug Williams. “We’re excited to have this in New Orleans, especially during Black History Month.”

More than a football game, the week-long celebration of Black culture and history will provide invaluable exposure for HBCU football players and coaches. Approximately 100 of the top HBCU players will be invited to participate.

“HBCUs are a bridge to equality,” said Co-Founder and Inductee James “Shack” Harris. “We thank the NFL for their support and in sharing our commitment to lifting up others.”

HBCU Legacy Bowl founding partners include the National Football League, Pro Football Hall of Fame and Tulane University.

To learn more, visit www.HBCULegacyBowl.com and follow us

Deion Sanders Named Jackson State University Head Football Coach

Jackson State University is excited to announce Deion Sanders will become the 21st head football coach in school history.
 
"I am truly blessed to be the 21st Head football coach of Jackson State University," said Sanders. "This amazing HBCU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically. It's my desire to continue this storied tradition and history of JSU and prayerfully bring more national recognition to the athletes, the university, the Sonic Boom of the South, and HBCUs in general. I am TRULY proud to be a part of the JSU Tiger family. 'I BELIEVE'"
 
JSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson is excited to introduce Sanders to the Tiger family.
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Deion Sanders to Jackson State University, the City of Jackson, and Mississippi," said Robinson. "Coach Sanders is student-athlete centered and cares about young men and their wellbeing beyond the football field. We expect to compete for and win championships at Jackson State, and Coach Sanders will help us achieve those goals."
 
JSU Acting President Thomas K. Hudson is pleased Sanders will lead the program into the next decade.
 
"Jackson State is excited to bring in Coach Sanders to lead our football program," said Hudson. "He understands the legacy and history of football at JSU. I am confident Coach Sanders will solidify the brand of JSU football."
 
An eight-time Pro Bowler, and two-time Super Bowl champion, Sanders played 14 NFL seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens. Sanders is the only player to have played in a Super Bowl and a World Series.
 
A two-time All-American at Florida State, Sanders was the first-round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons in 1989. In 2020, for the NFL 100th Season, Sanders was named to the NFL All-Time Team.
 
In 2011, Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also one of 14 players and two coaches to be named in the National Football Foundation's 2011 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision Class. Sanders, who holds the NFL record for career return touchdowns (19 by kickoff, punt, interception, and fumble), has recently joined the Barstool Sports team where he is making appearances on various programming including on the Pro Football Football Show, Pro Football Football After Show, and his very own podcast, 21st and Prime, which debuted last night.
 
Sanders originally began his broadcasting career with CBS, co-hosting the NFL Today pregame show from 2001-2003. He spent the next 14 years as an analyst for the NFL Network, headlining popular shows like GameDay Prime and Thursday Night Football.
 
While this is Sanders' coaching debut on the collegiate sidelines, he has been coaching for over a decade. Sanders is the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas, and has led the Tigers to three-straight Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) titles. Trinity Christian is 42-3 since Sanders has been the team's offensive coordinator.
 
In 2019, the Sanders-led offense totaled 6126 yards of total offense and averaged 437.6 yards per game. TCC Quarterback Shedeur Sanders blossomed and accounted for 3477 passing yards and 47 touchdowns and only four interceptions. On the ground, Emari Matthews rushed for 1169 yards and 15 touchdowns.
 
Sanders has been part of the coaching team for the annual Under Armour All-America Game for the past ten years. Most recently, Sanders and Team Pressure earned a 30-24 victory over Ed Reed and Team Savage in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game. The contest featured dozens of college football's top recruits and also included several much-anticipated commitments.
 
Success – both on the field and in the classroom—has always been at the forefront for Sanders. In 2007, upon retirement from the NFL, Sanders founded TRUTH, a youth organization serving over 1100 kids throughout Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee, utilizing sports and education as a platform for success and leadership. 
 
Sanders is taking over a program with a strong history and tradition.
 
The JSU football program sports a 462-302-15 overall record and a .603 winning percentage. The winning percentage ranks in the top 25 of all-time in NCAA Division I.
 
The Tigers have produced 99 NFL draft picks, and 150 players have played professionally in the NFL. Among the most notable JSU alums are four Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees: Walter Payton, Lem Barney, Jackie Slater, and Robert Brazile. The four inductees are the most among universities in Mississippi.
 
JSU has won 16 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships, seven division championships, and three HBCU National Championships.
 
Part of the JSU tradition is its supportive and loyal fan base. In 2018 and 2019 JSU led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in average attendance per game. In 2019, an average of 33,762 per game and over 100,000 people visited Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
 
Following through on a long-standing goal, in 2020, Sanders graduated from Talladega College with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Organizational Management.
 
He is the proud father of five children: Deion Sanders Jr., Deiondra Sanders, Shilo Sanders, Shedeur Sanders, and Shelomi Sanders.
 
Deion Sanders continues to be represented by Constance Schwartz-Morini at SMAC Entertainment and Tabetha Plummer of Plummer Law Group. Jordan Bazant of WME was instrumental in the development of this partnership.