It was a wild day of speculation surrounding Jackson State possibly moving forward with naming Deion Sanders its next and most high-profile head football coach.
On Thursday, HBCU Sports exclusively reported, through sources, that Sanders would be the Tigers’ next football coach. An official announcement, sources indicated, would be made on Monday at a press conference.
Soon after HBCU Sports reported Sanders to JSU, school officials promptly outright denied or did not confirm the story.
It was later that Sports Illustrated, through its own sources, also reported that Sanders — despite concerns over the school’s Nike sponsorship — was finalizing an agreement.
In the midst of all the rapidly unfolding events, a tweet surfaced Thursday afternoon that showed Jackson State’s plans for its “head coach welcome itinerary” accompanying an embedded image of Sanders.
JSU athletics denies the Deion Sanders story, says Interim Offensive Coordinator TC Taylor is leading candidate. Other sources say Deion is coming. Here’s (a leaked) Monday’s itinerary: pic.twitter.com/kK1cykjIQe
— Mike Evans (@crabblers) September 17, 2020
The Clarion-Ledger, a daily newspaper in Jackson, Miss., said it received the same image.
What is known currently now is that the school hasn’t confirmed the Sanders hire. Also known is that the school hasn’t necessarily said that Sanders is no longer a candidate, either.
What is unknown is who will be standing alongside Athletic Director Ashley Robinson and President Thomas Hudson when that official announcement is revealed.
The next Jackson State coach might be known in the coming days.
Maybe.
