A dream debut with Deion Sanders as a college football coach quickly turned into a nightmare when he returned to the locker room after the game.
“Right now I’m upset,” Sanders told reporters after leading Jackson State to a 53-0 win over Edward Waters on Sunday. “While the game was going on, someone came in and stole everything I had [the coach’s office]”.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer (and former Yankee player) listed what was missing: cell phone, wallet, credit cards and watches.
“How?” the 53-year-old shouted in disbelief.
Moments after the press conference, university officials told Sports Illustrated that Sanders’ items were “out of place” after they were moved to “store them safely” and had been returned.
Case closed? Not exactly.
“Whoever is lying that they didn’t steal my belongings is LYING,” Sanders tweeted. “My belongings were taken out of a zippered bag in my office and more items were also taken out of my office. We have recovered them since it was reported. My staff member witnessed the crime. #True “
He later tweeted: “A staff member entered the robbery, but was unable to fight a boy.”
After Sanders tweeted, a spokeswoman for the Jackson State Department of Athletics said she considered it “an isolated incident,” but that she would review safety protocols.
“However, we refuse to let this dampen the victory of our JSU Tigers,” said Ashley Robinson, vice president and athletic director.
Sanders, whose net worth is allegedly $ 40 million, was named coach of the historically black college in September.
A member of the Southwest Athletic Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Jackson State caused part of his season to be moved to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.