Not only has Deion Sanders decided to scrub his past with Florida State, he couldn’t even say the words Tuesday during a news conference before his first game as head coach at Colorado.
A local television reporter questioned Sanders about two former Hurricanes — Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp — visiting him in Boulder. “You’re a ‘Nole my friend,” she said.
Sanders was quick to interrupt, and what could have been a friendly exchange turned serious.
“No, no, no, no, no,” he said. “Do know where I graduated from?”
Someone said Talladega.
“Yeah,” Sanders said. “She didn’t know that. They didn’t know that. Tell them again, where did I graduate? I graduated from an HBCU. So I’m a who?”
The reporter doubled down: “You’re still a ‘Nole.”
“I’m a who?” Sanders asked again. “I thought it was where you graduated from, isn’t it? Why do you keep calling me that, and she knows where I graduated from. I’m an HBCU grad.”
Sanders never said the words “‘Nole” or “Seminoles” or “Florida State.” Never acknowledged you can be proud of the institution whose name is on your diploma and one that helped you become a world-class athlete and build your brand. The one that had your back, treated you like royalty for four years.
Sanders has degree from Talladega College
Thirty-one years after leaving Florida State, Sanders earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Talladega College, the oldest private HBCU in Alabama. He completed his work online in the FASTtrack Program, designed for busy adults seeking to complete a degree. Sanders spoke at the ceremony.
For that, Sanders deserves a ton of credit. He is a role model for those who exercise their right to leave school early to start earning a living in professional sports and still believe in finishing what they started after high school.
But to distance himself from Florida State — the school that allowed Sanders to first express himself to a national audience, to self-promote, to enhance his “Prime Time” brand; the school that has invited him back to speak to its players; and, embarrassingly, allowed him to play in the Sugar Bowl after he flunked all of his fall courses — is disappointing.
Perhaps that degree would have been from Florida State University had Sanders bothered to attend class his senior year.
Wonder how Deion Sanders would react if FSU decided Deion Sanders didn’t exist … Removed him from the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. Unretired his No. 2 football jersey. Took down any memories from his All-American career.
After all, Deion practically said it himself: He’s not a ‘Nole.
Of course, FSU would not be so petty to act like one of the greatest athletes ever did not set foot in Tallahassee. Sanders spent four years at FSU. He was a two-time consensus All-American and won the Jim Thorpe Award for being the best defensive back in the country.
He was “Neon Deion,” the face of the football program. And all with the blessings of the program and coach Bobby Bowden.
Sanders became a huge success story, a cult hero-like figure post-FSU because of his personality, self-promotion, and, of course, extraordinary skills that allowed him to forge a Hall of Fame football (college and pro) career as well as play professional baseball.
Sanders simply is one of the greatest athletes who ever lived. And to diss the school that has done nothing but recognize that and gave him his first opportunity on a national stage is classless.
Florida State interviewed Deion for head football coaching position
FSU showed Sanders respect in 2019 when the school interviewed him for the head football coaching job when his only experience was as a high school coach. FSU was one of three Power Five schools to bring Sanders in for an interview before he landed his job as head coach at Jackson State.
More:From Mike Norvell’s dramatic rise to Mario Cristobal’s first-year flop, we rank Florida’s 7 FBS coaches
FSU came away impressed and said nothing but good things about Sanders following that interview. But his lack of experience certainly was a reason to look elsewhere.
Now, Deion Sanders might be the only person alive who believes FSU made the wrong choice in hiring Mike Norvell.
Maybe Sanders has a beef with FSU, for whatever reason. Perhaps it’s because he did not get that job. Or maybe something happened during the recruitment of Travis Hunter, a five-star prospect Sanders persuaded to back off his verbal commitment to FSU in 2022 to join him at Jackson State.
Or maybe this is just about Deion Sanders wanting another cycle in the headlines.
You don’t admonish a reporter for addressing you by your first name and not calling you “coach,” as Deion did while at Jackson State, without wanting it to be all about you.
Because, after all, it is always all about Deion Sanders.