We got a rapport where you can take a shot at me--I don't get shook easily. I got respect for you and your posts.
tl:dr section below.
I can get with what you are saying and I'll put a little more weight on the consideration for his comments made to the Jackson community. You have valid points and I agree that those statements he made probably should have been kept to himself at the least--or family or a faith leader. He may have done some reputational damage on the way out the door. I am not without empathy for the folks connected to JSU and other HBCUs that feel Sanders' departure is akin to betrayal. I would be disappointed that my team lost probably the most successful coach they have had in 15 years, too.
So I'm trying to put myself in his shoes--comments and behavior aside. If someone placed an offer of a multimillion-dollar salary increase in front of me, I could only think of only two things I refuse that offer for--if I was asked to abandon my faith in Christ or asked to abandon my family. I don't care about anything else I'm taking that offer and my family is about to eat. None of us will likely never experience the gravity of making such a life-changing decision so I will never know what that is like. Perhaps he was right when he said was called on by God to JSU and what he had accomplished there in three years was all that was asked of him--we will never know why things happened the way they do--just me playing the advocate.
After considering your post, to me this entire saga is a story about various groups experiencing the "victim of success" situation with a few self-inflicted wounds.
- Sanders success as a coach at JSU caused programs in need to throw big cash his way. Had Sanders gone 5-27 instead of 27-5 over 3 years I think a lot of people might be ready to move on quicker and he would have never been consider for Colorado. Thus he would have kept either kept the job or at the very least his departure would not be held with the same level of betrayal met today.
- JSUs success as a team gave them a huge stage to showcase themselves as a school. The bigger the rise, the bigger the fall. The success on the field mean victim of losing coaches off it. It was an eventuality that other programs with bottomless amounts of booster money and endowments and a vacancy were going lure talented coaching away with "Can't-say-no" incentives. Had JSU gone 5-27, I think Deion starts prepping for his 4th year.
- Because of JSU recent successes and clout, there fans likely have felt a little more emboldened lately in close to a generation. I find in life that the higher the experience of success, the harder it hurts when you know that success is coming unglued. We've experienced that here at Miami. National titles to barely .500 seasons. It hurts when you've won before. Some teams today that aren't in the running for a chip that we typically see are dour right now.
I think another important point to make is that as long as a next level upgrade exists, there will always be a probability and threat that talent might move up to the next level. As an HBCU, until there is near perfect parity between those schools and FCS/FBS, they will always be at a disadvantage to talent retention--regardless of any personal feelings someone has regarding their reasoning for being there--be it faith, a calling, whichever. Someone somewhere will always be ready to throw fat cash stacks at the next JSU coach that goes ham in the SWAC. That threat will always be there and it will take someone extremely principled, dedicated, content and accepting of the lack of resources provided to them to resist those temptations. I know I wouldn't have it in me to do that and 99% of people wouldn't--hence the "someone special" part. As for the relationship between external incentivization and talent retention with respect to current condition exists--my guess without hard data to look at is that this relationship is negative.
The quote section below goes down the rabbit hole.
tl:dr.
I think both sides of argument have valid positions. It was a tough decision to make, further the HBCU branding crusade or get paid. If we were in the exact same position as coach Sanders with all of the baggage concerning comments he made, we probably would have also chosen Colorado too. Learning lesson for Coach, be mindful of making statements; particularly with how sensitive the community would be to religious or faith-related statements of his presence being divinely inspired. He brought success to the program that has been lacking for a decade, brought national attention through recruiting flips to college gamedays, and inspired a sect within a generation of young men to at least give those HBCU's a look; while enriching his coaching reputation and worth. Success should be rewarded, but he should try and keep from damaging his reputation while he hustles. I feel for the fans that have to see their coach go and follow the money that their school doesn't have the resources to provide to retain. Rellyrell is alright.
