Deion Sanders, an outspoken advocate for HBCU athletics, is speaking on how the Jackson State University (JSU) football team is grappling with the current situation in Mississippi’s capital city.

As Blavity previously reported, thousands of residents in the Magnolia State’s largest city have been left without access to clean water due to Jackson’s failing water system; on top of this, residents have also been impacted by a devastating flood, leading President Joe Biden to declare a state of emergency and authorize the coordination of federal disaster relief efforts.

As people continue to sound the alarm on the situation, which has been dubbed as an example of “environmental racism,” the one-and-only Coach Prime has entered the chat to speak on how the well-known and beloved JSU football team is dealing with the matter as they gear up for their season opener.

“We don’t have any water. Water means we don’t have air conditioning. We can’t use toilets. We don’t have water; therefore, we don’t have ice. That pretty much places a burden on the program,” Sanders noted in an Instagram video he uploaded on Tuesday. “Right now, we’re operating in crisis mode.”

“I gotta get these kids off campus, the ones that live on campus, and the ones that live in the city of Jackson into a hotel and accommodate them so they can shower properly and just take care of their needs. Make sure all our kids are fed. Make sure our kids have all the necessities of life for the next several days until this crisis resides,” he continued.

In spite of the crisis, Coach Prime assured viewers that the JSU football team is still hard at work to stay on top of its game.

“That’s what we’re operating at right now. So, we gon’ finding somewhere to practice, find somewhere that can accommodate every darn thing that we need and desire to be who we desire to be, and that’s dominant,” he powerfully said.

 

It’s also worth pointing out that Sanders captioned his upload, “The Devil is a Lie! This ain’t nothing but a moment of discomfort and we will be alright. Jackson we’ve overcome a lot more than this baby.”

 

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Later uploads show the athletes hard at work on the field, and Sanders also shared an update regarding how he got his team into a hotel, noting that they are “recalibrated” and continuing on their path to greatness.

 

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He also took a moment to thank his fans for their support.

This recuperation comes as the team is gearing up to take on Florida A&M University for JSU’s first game of the season. The teams will go head-to-head this upcoming Sunday.

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