‘He ain’t SWAC; I’m SWAC’: Inside the Eddie Robinson/Deion Sanders beef

Alabama State head coach Eddie Robinson, Jr. pushed Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders away after the Hornets’ 26-12 loss to the Tigers on Saturday.

It was homecoming in Montgomery, Alabama and the Alabama State Hornets hosted the #8 Jackson State Tigers at The ASU Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Tigers came away with a sloppy 26-12 win. The real fireworks came after the game. As Coach Prime attempted to give Coach Robinson a “bro hug,” Robinson put his hand on Prime’s chest, which Prime shooed away.

This beef was a year in the making. The Hornets upset Jackson State during the 2021 spring season and proceeded to put up a picture of Coach Prime circa de 1989 with a full Jheri Curl. Though Robinson was not the coach, coach Sanders did not forget the gesture.

When Alabama State announced that Jackson State would be its opponent for homecoming, coach Prime got to work during the weekly press conference.

In a nutshell, Coach Prime said that the Hornets wanted to play Jackson State to sell out the game. It turns out he was right. The ASU Stadium’s capacity is 26,500; the game’s attendance was 28,332. What seemed to be good old-fashioned football trash talk offended coach Robinson.

What happened during the game?

Jackson State did not play its best game but managed to win behind arguably the best defense in FCS. The Tigers controlled the flow and tempo of the game, allowing just 138 yards of total offense and dominating the time of possession. The Hornets’ offense scored on its first possession and was ineffective the rest of the game.

Tigers’ quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns but got off to a slow start. Jackson State did not run the football well because the offensive line did not play great. They needed Sanders to play as well as he did to win this game.

After the game was the exchange between Sanders and Robinson, the Alabama State head coach explained his actions in the post-game presser.

During Robinson’s press conference, coach Robinson said, “he ain’t SWAC; I’m SWAC.” During his presser, coach Prime asked the appropriate question, “What does that mean?” Is coach Robinson SWAC because he’s coaching at his alma mater? Does one have to play for a SWAC school to coach one?

If that’s the case, several coaches currently in the SWAC ain’t SWAC. Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons played at Clemson and the Citadel. Grambling State head coach Hue Jackson is a Pacific University graduate. Bethune-Cookman head coach Terry Sims went to Knoxville College (an HBCU, but not SWAC). Prairie View A&M head coach Bubba McDowell went to Miami.

So, if Coach Prime “ain’t SWAC,” then neither are they. It can’t just hold for one and not the others. That statement is proof of a mentality that has stifled HBCU football for years. Fresh, outside perspectives and ideas can often lead to positive evolution.

If coach Robinson felt so disrespected by the comments during the week or Coach Prime’s process, his team should not have laid an egg against the Tigers.