One of the hardest coaching jobs in any sport is to come behind a legend. What Deion Sanders did in a little over two years in HBCU football is legendary. He took a Jackson State football program that had struggled for relevance and delivered two SWAC Championships and two Celebration Bowl appearances. The light shone so brightly on Jackson during his time as his star power was on full display.
Stars from across the country gravitated to the Jackson State sidelines. Corporations poured money into improving facilities. In essence, life was better in Jackson, MS for many people as Deion Sanders even reached out to the community to offer a helping hand in issues that had nothing to do with football.
Major network shows made their way to Jackson. From Good Morning America to ESPN College Gameday, folks packed up production trucks and made their first-ever visits to Jackson, MS to experience HBCU football.
Sanders’ departure opened the way for Taylor
Upon Sanders’ departure to Colorado, he was selected internally to sustain the program. TC Taylor was on staff and Sanders said he was a crucial part of the success the program had during that period, plus Taylor is a JSU alum; he was the right man to lead the program forward.
Taylor came in and immediately began his process of building a team that was not Deion Sanders’ Jackson State. He had to focus on sustainability, stability, and compliance. He was coming in behind someone whose light shined so bright on the sidelines. It was an adjustment before he could settle in and call the team his own.
He got off to a great start in 2023. In a way, he avenged Sanders’ loss in the Celebration Bowl to the South Carolina State Bulldogs when he defeated Buddy Pough and his squad 37-7 to open the season in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge.
He would then face the FAMU Rattlers in the Orange Blossom Classic. The Rattlers would prevail 28-10 and that’s when the skeptics ripped into Taylor. It’s not unexpected. JSU has a proud history of HBCU football success and coming right behind the monumental success of Sanders, many were not ready to let go of the top spot.
Taylor would stabilize the team through injuries to a 7-4 season. He would have the Tigers playing their best ball by the end of the season. He endured the short-term criticism and turned it into what Jackson State might see as their long-term solution for success in football.
Through the rough parts of 2023, he remained focused on the vision
All the while, he never got caught up in the chatter that was going on. That’s what happens when you bring in an alum. The love for the school will supersede any disdain for public criticism. He maintained his dignity which today comes off as strength as he is leading a powerful JSU squad and has taken over the play-calling duties.
Behind his offensive coordinating, Jackson is the top FCS offense in HBCU football. They put up big points this year. They are putting up 35.5 points per game. The offense has gained 1,100 yards on the ground and 1,365 in the air. This is the balance most college coaches dream of.
This week, the Tigers were awarded with the No.25 slot on the AFCA Coaches FCS Poll. They enter right near where the Rattlers began the season and now sit as No.18. This weekend will be a game of two teams running a collision course. Grab your popcorn because there’s about to be fireworks at “The Vet.”