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Robinson, who isn’t related to Grambling coach and Hall of Famer Eddie Robinson, then added of Sanders: “He ain’t SWAC. I’m SWAC, he ain’t SWAC. He’s in the conference, doing a great job, can’t knock that, got a great team, his son should be up for the Heisman Trophy, I love Shedeur, great player, I love what he’s doing for the conference. … But you’re not going to come here and disrespect me and my team and my school and then want a bro hug. Shake my hand and get the hell off.”
Sanders has led Jackson State to 12 consecutive SWAC wins and a league title in 2021, while bringing increased attention to the league and HBCU football. He defended his pregame routine, saying he always ran around the field before NFL games and arrived too late to greet Robinson at midfield before kickoff.
Last week, Sanders said Alabama State inviting Jackson State as its homecoming opponent was a “money game,” because of the large crowds and attention that follow him and his program.
“I heard him also spew out comments about what did I say leading up to the week,” Sanders said after Saturday’s game. “I was a darn good salesman leading up to the week. Did we sell the game out? Did we sell the game out, yes or no? Had they ever been sold out here? So I thought I did my job. I thought I should be applauded, really.”
Sanders took issue with Robinson’s comment that he didn’t reflect the SWAC.
“I’m not one to come back the next day and you going to pick up the phone and you going to apologize and we straight,” he said. “No, not whatsoever. You meant that mess. And one of the comments that kind of disturbed me out of all the comments, that I’m not SWAC. Who is? I got time today. Who is SWAC if I ain’t SWAC? Who is SWAC if I ain’t SWAC?”
Sanders added that he doesn’t need extra motivation but noted the “audacity” of Robinson to question his intentions as a coach.
Robinson isn’t likely to back down. He said he respects Sanders, noting that “Everybody wanted to be ‘Prime Time’ when they were a little kid.” Robinson also praised Sanders’ coaching ability, just not his actions.
“I hope he comes back next year, I pray he don’t get a Power 5 job, so we can play them next year in Jackson,” Robinson said. “And I pray they put us for their damn homecoming.”
