Deion Sanders' college football coaching debut Sunday ended badly, and then weirdly.
The Jackson State coach told reporters following his team's game that his belongings had been taken from his stadium office. About an hour later, an unnamed university official told Jackson, Miss., TV station WAPT that the items were "misplaced" and then recovered.
Sanders, however, repeated that he had been robbed, going against Jackson State's account. He also added that the thief was caught in the act.
Naw it was stolen but they got it back. It was stolen out my personal bag in my office and My assistant caught the gentleman in the process of stealing it but she was alone. No Miscommunication my man at all https://t.co/foXTKwqsQC
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) February 22, 2021
Jackson State officials also told WAPT-TV that no police report would be filed.
A "pissed off" Sanders said in his postgame news conference that the intruder made off with "every darn thing I had," starting with his wallet and phone.
"Thank God I had on my necklaces," he said. "How?!"
A sad, bizarre and unfortunate situation. After his first win as Jackson State's head football coach Deion Sanders reveals that his personal items were stolen during the game. pic.twitter.com/S0CyJMN1VW
— Joe Cook (@JoeCookSports) February 21, 2021
Sanders did not say how his belongings were stored in his office, but insisted again that anyone saying they were merely misplaced was "lying."
Whomever putting out the lie that my belongings wasn’t stolen is LYING. My belongings were taken out of a zipped bag in my office and more items were taken as well from my office. We have retrieved them since being reported. My Staff member witnessed the crime. #Truth
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) February 22, 2021
MORE: 21 amazing facts about Sanders' two-way career
The game itself was a success: Jackson State blew out NAIA opponent Edward Waters College 53-0. Sanders told reporters that players awarded him the game ball, which was "one of the best moments I've ever had in my professional sports career emotionally." That was followed by Sanders finding out his office had been burglarized.
Sanders said the incident would be used to make further improvements to the Tigers' program.
"When I talk about quality and raising the standards, that goes for everyone, man," he said. "Not just the people on the field, not just the coaches, not just the teachers, not just the faculty, but everybody, security and everybody."
"Prime" also made another vow.
"We're going to find out who did it," he said.
