JACKSON, MISS. – Alabama State running back Ezra Gray had finished a six-yard run as the final seconds ticked off the jumbotron in the first half at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders—on his blue scooter—quickly ushered his players into the Tigers locker room.
All eyes were on "Thee I Love" as the Tigers and Hornets were tied 7–7 at halftime. JSU’s offense had only accumulated 101 yards of offense and quarterback Shedeur Sanders had been sacked twice. JSU needed some motivation.
After all, it was JSU’s homecoming, a time where fans, students and alumni pack the stadium to see their “dear old college home” football team win on the gridiron and groove to the tunes of the Sonic Boom of the South.