"You fought through adversity and everything" — Deion Sanders once consoled a sobbing Jackson State TE after missing an OT touchdown

After missing a crucial touchdown in overtime, a Jackson State Tigers player was in tears in the locker room. Deion Sanders, the team's coach, was there to comfort him. The Tigers had a chance to tie the game in overtime, but an incomplete pass sealed their 41-34 loss to North Carolina Central in the 2022 Celebration Bowl. North Carolina Central, the biggest underdog of the bowl season, had pulled off an upset despite being down 21-17 at halftime.

Tight end Hayden Hagler was devastated after the game, but Sanders offered words of encouragement.

“You're sorry for what?” Sanders asked Hagler. “You've done good stuff all year baby. You fought through adversity and everything. That ain't on you, that's on us, we lost together. Do you understand that?”

“Alright, man. I need you to fight through the adversity. This is gonna prepare you for life,” he continued. “Let's fight through this, you the man. You got to believe that... that moment is gonna make you be one. For the rest of your life.”

Despite the loss and the criticism he received, including hate mail and death threats, Hagler had his coach's unwavering support.

Coach Prime's final game at Jackson State ended in a loss.

The impact of Deion Sanders' arrival at Colorado

The Buffaloes surprised everyone with an opening win against TCU, last year's national runner-up. The excitement brought ESPN's "GameDay" and Fox's "Big Noon" telecasts to Boulder.

Sanders' team delivered, defeating their rival Nebraska and showing resilience in a tough game against Colorado State. Unfortunately, star cornerback Travis Hunter got injured later in the season, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders struggled with a weak offensive line. As a result, Colorado lost eight of their last nine games, including six in a row.

Despite these setbacks, Coach Prime is making headlines with his unique approach to building the team for the next season. He's committed to staying at Colorado long-term, but his success might hinge on recruiting a top quarterback like five-star prospect JuJu Lewis.