It’s finally fall, and Saturdays are once again reserved for tailgating bands marching and stepping out in your favorite fit—complete with your team’s colors, of course. It’s college football season, and in the South, we take this time of year as seriously as we do our sweet tea. It’s very much a religious experience.
While powerhouse programs from the SEC or Big Ten often steal the spotlight, many rich traditions have begun and thrive at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Recent years have particularly highlighted this dynamic, especially with Deion Sanders—affectionately known as “Coach Prime”—taking the helm at Jackson State University (JSU) in 2020. His arrival brought his exceptional football acumen and unprecedented national attention to HBCUs. Through groundbreaking initiatives like Amazon’s Coach Prime documentary and partnerships with top brands, Sanders successfully wove elements of HBCU life into the fabric of popular culture…