[audience cheering]
[Coach Prime] It's a certain intensity that we don't have
that y'all gotta figure out how we gonna get it.
Y'all are going through the motion. You having no pride in what you're doing.
There's gotta be a certain intensity and we gotta stop making excuses!
You're tripping right now. Make it work! Make it work!
You wanna make sure your team isn't complacent.
Aye, aye, aye! Aye, tighten it down!
Challenge them! Challenge them!
You wanna challenge them on the things that we didn't achieve.
Catch the ball! Catch the ball and let's get outta here!
Because it's a mental thing.
[coach] Hey, you gonna look open every fucking play!
[player] Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
[Coach Prime] So they gotta come on out here and do this.
This is their opportunity.
Let's go! They can't mess with y'all. Just go! But y'all gotta get nastier, man!
We're gonna get it together one way or another.
We go over this stuff a million times!
Why y'all act like y'all don't know what we doing?
We better than this.
[player] Ayo, they talk all that talk. We gonna walk that walk! Let's get it!
- Offense, you ready? - [team] Hell, yeah!
- [player] Defense, you ready? - [team] Hell yeah!
- [player] Offense, you fucking ready? - [team] Hell yeah!
- [player] Defense, is you fucking ready? - [team] Hell yeah!
[player] Jumping jacks, let's get it!
[team]J-S-U Tigers!
- [clapping] - [team cheering]
[bright piano music]
[Hart] If you're not obsessed, you will not make it.
If you have a plan B, you will not make it.
I need the dreamer.
[coach] Can this fucking group right here get beat?
If we all play together with speed, with power, with execution!
[Hart] It's not about the physical stuff.
We recruit that, so we know y'all the same.
It's the mental.
What drives you? What is your why?
Why do you do it? And what are you willing to sacrifice?
[coach] Right there! Set him! Set him! Finish him! Go again!
[Coach Prime] We gonna work hard. We gonna win!
We gonna dominate! But we gonna work.
Hurry the fuck up!
When you're here, your feet should still be moving. You gotta keep moving.
[Hart] You gotta think about it. You got 32 NFL teams.
You have, I don't know how many college teams.
All those guys got dreams of going to NFL.
[coach] Hey, I want you to play the NFL,
but I'm trying to tell you, what they're gonna to tell you.
[grunting]
[Hart] If you're not willing to push your body,
your mind to the point of exhaustion, and then after that…
[Coach Prime] If you don't wanna be in here, leave!
[Hart] You will not make it.
[grunting]
[player] It's real shit. It's bigger than the game…
You're trying to feed your families and provide off this.
[Hart] The worst thing you can ever think about, man…
is when it's all said and done, "Could I have done more?"
And we want to get these guys to the point
that they know they can answer that question
without a hundred percent doubt, "I did everything I could."
But the only way to do that is to push 'em to their breaking point and then over it.
Motherfuckers!
[shouting]
Motherfuckers!
[Hart] That's the only way. And they don't like us for it. And that's okay.
- [player] 1, 2, 3… - [team] Domination!
[Hart] That's fine.
They'll appreciate it though, later.
[chanting]
[Coach Prime] Just getting through a normal season is truly a challenge.
But this water crisis? Wow!
That's a whole new set of problems.
Considering our first home game ain't but a week away.
[reporter] So you're pretty happy with what your team did, then?
[Coach Prime] Yes. I mean I'm elated, but we still…
The guys still weren't satisfied. If you could believe it or not.
They, they were not satisfied.
When we landed on the plane, several guys came to me like,
"Coach, I'm gonna make that up."
"I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do that."
And I love that because they know there's another level that we can attain.
Coach Sanders, how has the last week been? And especially the last two days…
getting through this water crisis, and have you guys moved back onto campus?
Are you guys still… ?
[Coach Prime] Well, we're not through a water crisis because, um,
there are people still devastated about the water.
[reporter] Is it kind of a blessing disguise to be on the road
these first couple weeks with everything going on?
No! It ain't a blessing to be on the road. I wish we could play right here.
That's what I… that's what our fans want, man.
They wanna know it's gonna be all right.
And it seems like when we are playing and when we're rolling
and doing what we are blessed and capable to do,
it just instills hope in everyone.
Back seat, you can go that way, sir.
[Coach Prime] Later today, some of the players and I
will personally be delivering water to the people
who have reached out to us that certainly need it.
Like nursing homes and neighborhoods throughout Jackson.
All right, God bless you.
[Shedeur] It's a real bad situation.
It is very unfortunate for the city to go through this.
And I just want the city to be comfortable, like
We got our city's back, just like how they got our back.
[Coach Prime] We're not doing the act to be seen.
[man] Yeah.
We doing what we do, you just happen to have cameras on.
[woman] I am a proud alumni of Jackson State University…
Two times. [laughs]
So it feels amazing to know that not only does our school
try to take care of our school matters, our football team,
but we're letting people know that we're here for the community.
Strength in numbers!
[Nelson] This is about young men, taking a step out into the community, being seen,
showing positive role models for other young men.
So this is much bigger than football.
[yelling and grunting]
[Shedeur] It's important for everybody. Everybody's a part of the program.
We are Jackson State University and the city needs us and we need the city also.
[woman] Hi, welcome to Stamp!
[Coach Prime] This crazy water situation
has really brought us together as a community.
Is that it?
[Coach Prime] That's why this first home game is so important.
Not just for us but for everyone.
[man] Jackson State is walking tall.
I grew up going to Jackson State games, man.
I love Jackson State, man. Near and dear to my heart, for sure.
Hi! You picking up or placing?
[Stamps] I think this home game would definitely be a relief for,
you know, the city of Jackson, right? Considering all of the things
that we've been going through.
[Lewis] It's been a long month getting to this point.
So it's gonna be electric on Saturday.
It's going to be very emotional.
This university is interwoven with the city and vice versa.
As Jackson State University goes, Jackson, Mississippi goes.
[fan] I know people been come here every day. Coming on one of they lunch break
and stay two or three hours still. Then get to come right back.
I need to hit four tickets. Two adults and two children.
It is kind of bad. Everybody got to boil water.
You know, everybody's coming together and football helps. [chuckling]
[teller] All right, thank you.
[McDonald] I was in high school when I started coming here.
And I look around and everybody's standing around,
and 60,000 in there, hey… This school mean Jackson.
Nobody's for public Jackson but Jackson State.
Prime Time bringing it back. I hope he'll be here for about 20 more years.
[laughing]
- [McDonald] Let's make it 30. - Yeah, 30! [laughing]
[Coach Prime] We play for the city.
That's what we do.
But the priority is getting our kids to the next level however we can.
[dramatic hip hop music throughout]
Hey, y'all gotta get it together, defense. Get it together, defense!
Hey let's compete! Let's compete!
And we know this game.
And we know what the next level is looking for.
And that's the objective: to raise men and get these young men
to the next level of the NFL or professionalism.
NFL ain't looking for competitors.
They ain't looking for you to go out there and compete.
They looking for you to go out there and dominate.
[Coach Prime] Ain't no walking! Ain't no walking!
[hip hop music]
[blowing whistle]
Let's go! Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go!
Come on man, I shouldn't have to tell you to, "Let's go."
We used to call it "Money on the Hill." It's money over there. Go get it.
Y'all stunt in front of these broads, you stunting for the Gram.
You better stunt for the darn coaches!
They're here to watch y'all, man! That can change your life. Let's go get it.
[upbeat EDM music]
[shouting]
[coach] Ah, come on, KJ!
[blowing whistle]
[Coach Prime] You guys come behind the huddle with me if you want to.
Gonna get fun right here.
- [shouting] - [blowing whistle]
[coach] Attack! Attack! Attack!
[shouting]
[whistle blowing]
In our DB room right now, we have probably like, four guys that run a 4.3.
Yeah, everybody in the country can't say that.
Azel. He one of those 4.3 guys I'm talking about.
[scout] You're playing 23 in the slot, right?
[Coach Prime] We play 23 in the slot. We play him outside, we put him in free.
Bolden has no idea of the potential that he has.
- He looks like a pro corner. - [scout] Mm-hmm.
- [Coach Prime] He could play… - [scout] And he can turn.
[Coach Prime] Oh, he's phenomenal. Now, he loves to do that.
You don't have to encourage him to do that.
That's what he loves to do. He loves the ball in his hand.
I say, "Well, pick it off." So- [chuckles]
[scout] If he can get it, mentally.
- He's got fix it up. - [Coach Prime] Yep.
He just gonna want it on a day-to-day basis.
But he has to because he's not gonna play if he don't.
[scout] Mm-hmm.
[Coach Prime] 'Cause it's… we got so many DBs.
[scout] How's number four right here?
[Coach Prime] Four is a freak of an athlete that just has to be consistent.
He's good. Nugget could play. He good.
He wants it, it just has to be taught more and more.
Nugget is a different story 'cause, you know,
Nugget started playing football around like his 11th, 12th grade year.
Then he went to JUCO and became the number one JUCO cornerback.
Just off pure talent. He didn't really know too much about football.
He was, potential for him…
it's through the roof and he's another 4.3 guy.
Good job today! All right, break it down on 97.
Better down three, better down me.
One, two, three… [chanting]
[scout] We're excited to watch you play this this year…
Make some plays. Stay healthy, work hard.
[Isaiah] Yessir.
Shoot. I seen more scouts come through preseason than I seen some PWIs on P5.
Coach Prime, he gonna recruit guys that can make it to the NFL.
That's the main thing. So he brought 'em here.
It is our job to show 'em what we can do.
They got you moving around too, right?
[Isaiah] Yeah, it's nickel, corner.
That's only gonna help. That's only gonna help you though.
- [scout] Yeah? - [Isaiah] Gotcha.
It's major. And not only that, you gotta show out when they're not even there.
You know, they'll call a coach to see, "Oh, can I see this practice?"
Or they'll send one of their other scouts to a game.
So I just gotta make my best impression on all 32 teams.
But it's gotta be that one team
who I gotta impress the most for them to draft me.
And you got the kickoff return stuff?
Oh yeah, that's, that's your bread and butter, right?
Yeah. Bread and butter, right there.
You know, I'm trying to be the best to ever do it, but nah, so…
Awesome. You got a good one to learn from.
- Yes sir, yes sir. - [chuckling]
He be on my tail all the time. He walk me through and everything. Yes sir.
That's good. Good, man. Well good luck, man. Appreciate you coming over.
- Nice to meet you. - Great meeting you as well.
Family on me, family on three. One, two, three.
[team] Family.
Today? Yeah, I have more reps than I've probably gotten all week.
Got a little bit of rotation with the ones.
I've just been trying to get better every day.
Make sure you jam me.
Not too hard. Cause you know…
I ain't gonna jam you too hard. We ain't got no pad.
[chuckling]
[Nugget] The improvement is getting there.
Is there, actually. Not getting there. The improvement is there.
[hip hop music]
- [Jalin] You gotta make sure you hit him. - [Nugget] Mm-hmm.
[Jalin] Alright. So you line up inside.
[Nugget] So I speeding or am I going there?
[Jalin] Speed.
He gotta come straight to you to get in there.
He either gotta come straight to you or go around you.
[Nugget] I just know when I do get back, I gotta keep myself there.
'Cause if not, I'm just wasting my own time, then.
Let me get one!
[player] Oh, I'm about to give you one right quick.
Let me get one.
Hold on, let me…
I got up out that little, that little dark place. You know what I'm saying?
No look, all right?
[Nugget] Even though, like, I ain't where I wanna be at.
I'm enjoying where I'm at until I get there, you know?
[player] Are you… Crossbar!
- [players] Oh! [shouting] - [Norman] Wildcat!
[players] [screeching] Oh my god!
- [Norman] Wildcat! - [players] I told you!
- I thought he overthrew it. - [Norman] Wildcat!
[laughing]
- Y'all got that right? - [cameraman] Yeah.
Y'all better put that on there. That, that, the hood guy. See that?
[hip hop music throughout]
[Norman] So it look like he reading this nickel right here.
That nickel comes down but he made the wrong read.
All right, so look, I'm just go ahead and say it.
You know, me and Nugget not blood brothers but like, from the first day that we met,
like, literally the first day that we met, we was blood.
- Hey, at least it's your brother! - [Nugget] All Imma say is…
[Norman] When you chosen you go through things.
And he know it's gonna be a test every step of the way.
So in order to get through that test, you just gotta keep pushing.
So that's how we get through it. We keep pushing.
We'll just have that tight end right there.
But that receiver do motion out. I take him,
then the next inside man will take that tight end.
Yeah, yeah. Like that probably, probably this boundary safety.
The free safety will probably come down and take him.
Depends on the play call.
[Norman] Sometimes you gotta force that happiness.
You gotta force your mind to, to think positive and think more on that,
on that greater aspect. Because if you sit in this tunnel,
we just gonna be blaming everyone else for our downfall.
When in reality, sometimes we self-sabotage ourself in ways
that we don't know because we so depressed, or so angry, or so upset.
Before y'all even start, have em timid, bro. It's time to get back.
They gonna feel me for sure.
It's for sure time to get back bro. It's money time.
[Norman] He gonna go to the NFL. He's gonna change his family life forever
just because of the hard work, his mind, and he's just a great overall person.
[hip hop music throughout]
[car doors closing]
[Sam] You're doing dinner tonight with Taisha?
[Coach Prime] I guess, I don't know.
Anyone you want me to add to the list?
I do so much stuff. I don't even know what my title is at this point.
I came in for one thing. Now I'm doing a whole, a whole plethora of things.
This is the same studio, I think you did the Gillette B on.
[Coach Prime] ♪ Sam is a good man ♪♪
[Sam] I gotta make that my ringtone. [laughs]
[Coach Prime] "Pick up, you good man, you!" "Pick up!"
You don't know Sam, you really don't know me.
Sam is like a business manager,
like a personal manager. Like, Sam's the dude man. And he knows me…
well.
We ready? Are we getting close?
- [man] Coach. - [Coach Prime] Let's go!
I'm waiting on you guys, let's go.
[Sam] There's no him adapting to you.
You gotta adapt to him and you gotta roll with it.
Let's not play it guys, let me just go.
- [goat bleats] - [man in video] I think this…
[Coach Prime]Okay guys, let's not play the, the video.
Let me just do it four, five times.
- [man] Hang on. - What I'm saying… Nevermind.
[Sam] Yeah, so he doesn't need the plan.
He's gonna give you like, four or five takes.
He'll give feedback and we'll keep going.
[man] That's fine. Okay.
[Sam] It's been awesome, honestly.
You never know what a day's gonna look like with him.
Hey, Sam. Sam!
Sam, is there a sporting goods store around?
[Sam] Yeah. What do you need?
He makes my job a little bit, actually no…
I was gonna say, he makes my job easier. He definitely makes my job way harder.
That man never sleeps.
Thank you, Sam.
[Sam] It's always on to the next thing.
This may be the worst smoothie I've ever tasted in my life.
Sam!
Cool. We good. You're good, man. I don't care what everybody just said.
[Sam] Appreciate it.
[Coach Prime] He's a young kid that grew into a man.
♪ He's a good man ♪♪
Expeditiously. I mean, right before my eyes.
- Sam, they better than you? - [Sam] Nope.
Is Willie's guy better than my guy?
- Is Willie's guy better than my guy? - No shot.
[Coach Prime] That's what I'm talking about.
[Sam] This came from me at a very pivotal point in my life.
You know, um, I had lost both my parents
probably like two and a half, three years beforehand.
And I was just in a direction where, like I had no clue what was going on.
So like, me being down here and kind of getting that sense of direction…
like, I'm super grateful for that. And that experience.
You know, it's tough not to kind of catch on
and he's preaching all this stuff to the kids and I started taking down notes
and started applying it to my life.
Aw man, Coach. Come on! I've been trying to hide that.
[laughing]
Sam!
[Sam] It's been nothing but love for me down here. Honestly, I…
it's, they treat me like family everywhere I go.
Like, you know, it is been truly amazing for me. It really has been.
Hey! I don't care what she just said about you, you all right with me.
I would not be where I am, without Sam.
Show them who we are, Sam. We still in the locker room, baby.
[clippers buzzing]
- [man] What's up, Coach? - [woman] Hello there, how's it going?
[Coach Prime] Good, good. Let's get started, guys. I'm pressed for time today.
[Greene] How much are you guys giving up for, you know,
this weekend's game home opener, seeing Grambling, all that?
We, we're excited to be able to play at home.
We traveled two straight weeks to two classics, which we don't understand how
you start off like that in a season. [chuckles]
So thank God, we're at home.
[Walker] Do you have anybody that's gonna play for you this week
that we haven't seen yet?
Yes.
Unless they do something stupid within this next day.
- [Walker chuckling] - We still got time.
[Walker] We gotta ask about Travis. So Travis is out for this week?
Travis is out for this week. Still healing, uh, that ankle.
And you gotta understand man, we…
This guy's gonna have a pro career? He has to get healthy.
So what you saw was probably a 60 percent Travis,
but he wasn't even able to play both ways. So the next time you see him,
I want him to be who you expect him to be.
It was just hard telling him, "No"
that first game because you know, he wanted it bad.
So that was tough and I, and I just placed myself in that position and I know…
knew if Coach Bowden would've brought me in up under the same circumstance,
that I would've pleaded with him to allow me to play. And most likely, he would've.
[Walker] How far out do you think he is?
I can't say. He's, he's doing well.
[Walker] All right, I appreciate your time, Coach.
[Coach Prime] Appreciate you.
[birds chirping]
- [Leanna] It ain't no fish in here. - [Travis chuckling]
[Leanna] When I say that, then fish pop out.
[chuckling]
[Coach Prime] Travis has been grinding his way through rehab all season.
Now that takes it toll on you.
Not just physical. But mental, as well as emotional.
[Travis] There's definitely something right here. It's grass.
I'm about to change to my cheating lure.
- [Leanna] No! - [Travis chuckling]
[Coach Prime] This is a young man, the best player in the country,
and he has an injury that occurred in high school
that he fought through but then, it got so painful
that he had to do something about it.
You like that better, don't you? [chuckles]
- [Leanna] Yeah. - [Travis] Just bounce it on the bottom.
Yeah, I was in the hospital for five days.
That was the longest five to six days of my life.
I was in there like, "Oh my God, can they please let me out!"
'Cause I'm always up and then running. I'm always wanting to do something.
I got football practice 90 percent of the week.
You know, when I'm not having football practice,
I'm fishing the other 10 percent.
If I have something else to do, other than football? It'd be fishing.
It's mind relieving.
I ain't catching nothing but trees and leaves!
[Leanna] But I'm convinced there's no fish.
Me too! I didn't even get a bite.
[Leanna] I fished before I met him, but like dating him, I fish a lot more.
But he could be out here for hours and after like, two hours, I'm done.
This is so just dark, I…
My girlfriend, she turned into a doctor.
She's seen everything I went through. Everything.
When I first started walking, she was happy.
Then I got sat back down again, had to start walking again.
She got back happy and I got sat back down again.
[Leanna] So maybe we're just in the wrong spot.
[Travis] It's definitely that.
[Leanna] Travis is my best friend, like literally my best friend.
Everyone sees like a hard body of him and…
but to me he's very soft and gentle, and he's like my peace.
I always say that. He's literally my peace.
- [Travis] Got one! - [Leanna] No way!
[Travis] I told you, boy! I'm always gonna catch me one, you hear me? [laughs]
[Leanna] Oh, whatever!
[Travis] That's why you gotta say, "Here fishy, fishy, fishy, fishy!"
Yeah anyways, it's one of them, like I said.
- Whatever. - [chuckling]
[Travis] I'm the man, champ. You wanna touch it?
- [Leanna] Good luck. - [chuckling]
[Coach Prime] When he comes back, I want you to see the offensive guy,
the defensive guy, and the play maker.
Normally, if he didn't play, you weren't gonna win
but we're winning, so that's tough on him.
But he has to understand, we're great with you.
We're not just good. We're great when you're out here.
[hip hop music]
[Travis] Every time I put this bait on, I get a fish.
[Leanna] Ah, whatever.
[Travis] It's okay buddy. You just suck, that's all.
[Leanna] You caught one baby, point two-pound fish.
[laughing]
- [Leanna] That was not no fish. - [Travis] Yeah, that was a fish.
- [Leanna] That was fish food. - [laughing]
[birds chirping]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] Y'all know game day is a different mode, now.
Who's got, you guys are all setting up the tent?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
[Askevold] Halftime, Jayla and Jamis…
That means they stay out there and get everything ready.
For most division one football programs,
you have three to five licensed certified athletic trainers.
No… turf tape.
- [woman] No turf tape. - [woman] No turf tape.
- We're playing on grass. - [man] On grass.
And then you have five to six GAs and then you have students…
they just donate their time.
Running low on supplies. [laughs] Um…
But if it's white socks, you know the tape has to match the socks? Yes. So, white.
Here, we don't have anything. So it's me responsible for 122 lives,
like on the, at one time… that is all playing football on the field.
Like, it's incredible when you think about it.
We know it game day, and you guys are calling us, it's probably about something.
Yes sir.
And all the coaches joke with me that I'm like the grim reaper around here.
'Cause I gotta go in the offices and be like,
"Well, okay look, he's not ready to go this week."
Or "Hey, he's gonna be out for a couple games."
But it's those moments that you're like okay,
he's returning to sport, he's coming back out there. That is your reward.
That's why you do what you do.
Right there still, Coach?
[Coach Prime groaning]
[Askevold] What he went through last fall with the first surgery,
it was a blessing 'cause it ended up really saving his life.
I wish everyone handled injuries like him.
That was the most positive I've ever seen anybody go through anything.
Especially what he endured, like, was crazy.
[groaning]
[Coach Prime] I had three toe surgeries during my playing career,
but the pain wouldn't subside and they said,
"Well, your foot has been dislocated for like, 20 years now."
I'm like, "That's strange."
[Askevold] What was this surgery, Coach?
[Coach Prime] I have no idea.
So we had a surgery and shortly thereafter,
the pain still was there, and, uh, went to the hospital.
That's when I seen that look that you don't wanna see
on doctors' faces and knew something was severely wrong.
I said, "Just shoot it to me straight." "Let's go. What's up?"
"Well this, this, this is up."
"And you may lose your leg, you know from knee down,
because you have no blood going to your foot."
[Deion Jr.] No one really knew the severity of it
'cause he was coaching one day and the next day, he was in the hospital.
Then they said his leg might get amputated and stuff.
I'm just like, "Bro, what's going on right now?"
[Coach Prime] I said, "Cool, whatever you gotta do, do.
Long as I'm alive, I'm good. As long as I'm good, I'm good."
- [producer] You said, cool? - Yeah. I trust God with everything I got.
God got me. God got me.
So if I had to lose something, there's gonna be a tremendous gain.
Because there has not been anything under the sun
that has been accelerated or marvelous, or extraordinary
without there being a sacrifice.
I probably didn't eat for three weeks. I lost 35, 40 pounds.
I was very small, very frail.
[Hart] When I went to the hospital, it looked like his spirit,
like, everything was leaving him. You know what I mean?
Like the person that we knew was… wasn't gonna be that person anymore.
How do you come back from that?
[emotional music throughout]
Seeing him like that it wasn't a good, it wasn't a good feeling. Wasn't.
[Reilly] This is the greatest athlete that's ever lived, arguably.
And he's cut down, literally,
as he's trying to do all these things.
[sighs] You know, for… he doesn't need to do this shit.
So I just, the whole thing, man, is just awful.
[Coach Prime] Who in this thing that we call, living,
is not in pain? In some form or fashion. Whether it's the pain of yesterday,
the pain of your childhood, the pain of someone that has been lost,
the pain of addiction, it's gonna be some type of pain.
I'm no different. Not at all.
[Hart] He was very vulnerable with it
and showed us what it looks like to be that strong of a man
and go through something like that. And then get on the other side of it,
and be that same guy he was before the injury. That's fucking powerful, man.
[Askevold] Even in his darkest days, he was still
the most positive person I think I've ever been around.
There was days I was like, defeated. I was like, "Oh my gosh."
Like, "Are we gonna get through today?" Or, "Is this gonna get worse tomorrow?"
Or, "Is there gonna be something else that pops up?"
"Oh my gosh, how is he doing this?"
And he's picking us all up.
[Hart] And then he got into some weird shit
where he'd wanna show his foot off all the time.
Whip it out like a homeless man. Bang!
Like, just whipping his foot out and shit.
So that was kind of weird, but I knew he was back.
Like, "Mortimer, we're back!" [laughs]
[Harrell] And every day he still has to rehab
and find ways to eliminate that pain.
But he would never show it. He would never tell it.
[Coach Prime] Andy on the up! Andy on the up!
[Coach Prime] It wasn't good. But it was good.
Because I had a chance to sit back and reflect…
and never questioned God. I never doubted God.
I knew it was a purpose.
I knew it was a purpose and I'm living in it.
Let's go, let's get to it! Let's get to it! Let's get to it!
[dogs barking]
This time of year is beautiful.
[Tracey] I know you like being outside.
- Yep. I love it. - Mm-hmm.
[Coach Prime] I want somebody comfortable in their own skin.
And Tracy is exceptional.
She's intelligent, she's patient, she's keen.
I mean, she's as important as toothpaste.
That's a necessity.
[Tracey] So you can get the word?
[Coach Prime] This is where God contacts me…
[Tracey] Yep.
[Coach Prime] …and gives me instructions.
Sometimes family and peace don't coincide, but with my family,
they know me and they know how I operate.
And at this tender young age of 55, we know how to work together.
Well, how would you describe their personality? Let's start with Deandra.
Deandra. She's gonna get hers. And she's not gonna let anybody stop her.
She's a free spirit. She likes to travel and you know, live her best life.
[Coach Prime] Yeah, but her spirit ain't free!
- [Tracey] Yeah. - [all laughing]
[Coach Prime] Her spirit ain't free.
[Tracey] That's all right, I ain't mad at it.
- [Tracey] Yeah. - [Coach Prime] Okay, okay, Bucky.
[Tracey] Bucky's still trying to figure himself out.
[Deion Jr.] Everyone has know their role in like, specific things
you're, you're the head honcho. In specific things you,
you came to serve and not be served.
[Tracey] You know, he's your entrepreneur and he's still trying to,
you know, just trying to figure things out…
[Coach Prime] Entrepreneur rapper?
- [Tracey] Yeah, yes. Slash rapper. - [Coach Prime] Social media.
[Tracey laughing]
[Coach Prime] Okay, Shilo.
Um, Shilo's my underdog that I'm always rooting for.
Y'all wanna see me beat up Aubrey? Aubrey Miller.
[player] Chill out, chill out, chill out, chill out. Your Pop right there.
[Shilo] I don't care, you're getting in trouble!
I used to go to South Carolina and then my coach got fired there,
and my dad got hired here at JSU, so…
ended up being a good place. You know, we all got together, won a few games.
[Tracey] Athletic skills. He had rapping skills and producing skills too.
I felt like people picked on him a little bit.
- Yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. - [laughing]
[Tracey] Bossy is our beautiful princess and so she's…
- No, no! - [Shelomi] Don't do that!
- Don't even do that! - [Tracey] And she's…
- [Shedeur cawing] - [Tracey] And she's funny,
you know, and witty and can keep up with you, and goes toe to toe with you.
- [Coach Prime] No, no, no! - [Shelomi] Don't even do that.
- [Tracey] Yep. - Toe to toe, man.
[Shelomi] It's annoying because like, okay, I'm 18, right?
They gotta let me grow up at some point. Like I'm on lockdown.
I thought college was gonna be fun, you know?
It's not like that at all. It's not at all.
[Tracey] Bossy, you have somebody watching over you 24/7.
- Yes. I got home one night at like 10. - No, it was no 10.
- It was 10. - It wasn't 10.
Okay, it was like 11.
And I FaceTime, you didn't pick up. Now it's on.
No one has a braids appointment at 11 at night.
I didn't. I started at like five.
[Coach Prime] Well, she had one arm?
I scheduled her for earlier but we have practice, and it got pushed back.
You better be able to get a octopus to do it next time
with eight arms. Ain't be no 11 o'clock.
We don't play that. Not in Jackson.
[Shelomi] I appreciate and I get like, where they're coming from
but at the same time [sighs]
it's like I'm like 10 out here. Like bro, let me grow up.
[Coach Prime] So Shedeur.
[Tracey] Shedeur is just, he's just naturally gifted.
- He don't have to try that hard. - [Shedeur] I'm just a Prime, right?
[Tracey] It just, it just comes. It just comes to him.
Yeah, he's, he's your, you know, your offspring, your little clone.
There was a while, people didn't really know
if Shedeur was gonna come to Jackson State or not.
[Coach Prime] Yeah, we never talked about it.
Yeah, and you didn't want pressure him.
[Coach Prime] Yeah, I didn't want to pressure him.
Just talked to him one day like, we gonna get this out the way.
He walk around the house, just
knowing he wanted to say something to me. But you know, he didn't.
[Coach Prime] I didn't want him to say, "Well, you told me to do this."
"You told me… " No, no. This is gonna be your decision if you want ride.
Bossy is the same way.
And it's about really coaching staff and who I trust with my career.
I didn't just base it off of, you know, "Hey, Dad's there. Yeah."
- Nah. It was, "Let's talk business, man." - [laughing]
- Get down to the nitty gritty. - [laughing]
Ain't no nitty, ain't no gritty.
[Shedeur] A part of my dad's vision is big recruits come to Jackson.
So then, how would he get other recruits if his own son ain't even come?
So I was thinking, "Okay, do you wanna stand for something?"
When everything's said and done. And that was that. Hands down, I'll do it.
[water pouring]
[newscaster] Is now coming to an end. There is good news today.
Jackson City officials say, that all of Jackson
should now have water. And as of right now,
most residents should be experiencing normal water pressure.
[hip hop music throughout]
[Coach Prime] I know we have water.
I know I hear conflicting reports that it's not good. It is good.
I don't know what, what's what.
[newscaster] Governor Tate recently has announced that the boiled water notice
for the city of Jackson has been lifted.
[newswoman] For the first time since late July, people in Jackson, Mississippi
don't have to boil their tap water before drinking it.
Tell me, specifically, how that impacted your program these last few months.
Forget our program. It impacted the whole darn city.
I'm not into politics, but I am into people.
And I just feel as though our people should be taken care of a lot better.
What do you do about that?
You're here. That's what I do about that.
Now the things are back to normal. We can shift our focus from water pressure
to game day pressure.
And it's on, baby. We've got to deliver.
[shouting]
[hip hop music throughout]
[man] And good evening. Good football.
Hey, we on it, baby.
[man 2] Got a little chicken going on right now.
[man] Chicken right now. Definitely. Most definitely. This how we do it.
The first home game, yes. We been out here since 6:00 AM! We woke up like this.
[fan] Coach Prime bringing, you know, the positive atmosphere.
We believe. We believe. Yep.
[cheering]
[woman] We all tailgated together for probably about 20 years.
Same spot. E-19. This is the E-19 family.
So if you come back in 20 years,
we'll probably all be in wheelchairs and crutches.
- But we'll still be right here. - [laughing]
[meat sizzling]
[police sirens]
[fan] Let's go! Undefeated! Undefeated!
Yes sir! Nobody gonna beat us!
[fan] Let's go! We going undefeated. We finna take everything this year!
[cheering]
Prime, gonna take us to the promised land, baby!
Coach Prime gonna take us to the promised land!
Appreciate you Prime, for what you do, baby! Appreciate it!
So what we're expecting is a 50 piece,
- 50 to zero. - Right.
- Is a 50 piece. - That's right.
- We're gonna kill it! 60 points… - 60 points! [laughing]
60 trouncing.
[cheering]
[locker room chatter]
[Jackson] Every game on our schedule's a big game.
There was a time when the HBCUs was seen
by the National Football League as the best players in college football.
[knocking]
Come on in.
[chair dragging]
[Refs] How you doing Coach? It's good see you.
- [Jackson] Good to see you guys. - My name's Rogers.
[Jackson] All right. Okay.
[refs] Anything you see them doing that we need to take…
Yes, they're handsy.
We all know they hit the quarterback, they go after him.
I get it. And they gone hit him.
That's just part of it, but the better league
will have quarterbacks in the game playing.
But other than that, I think they play, they play good.
This is my first showdown and my first throw down with Dion.
At one time Grambling was the King Kong to all the HBCUs.
We need to get back to where we belong.
[band playing]
[Coach Prime] Second line! Second line, guys! Put him on the second line!
♪ Gotta put me on there with the greatest ♪♪
[Coach Prime] Last year, my dear friend, Young Dolph was taken away too soon.
He was close to the program and really tight with my son.
So when we run out this tunnel to play our home opener,
that's the way we gonna honor him.
And we gonna live life to the fullest, while we still can.
[Mia Jay] To dedicate something to him. And his honor,
I just feel like the love, the type of the character of the man
that he was in his lifetime,
it speaks to the seeds that he sowed when he was here.
♪ Bitch and you can keep the fame, yuh Fame, yuh ♪
♪ Fame, yuh Fame, yuh ♪♪
[Shedeur] My brother called me, "Dolph got shot."
I'm like, "Huh?"
It didn't seem real. I had just talked to him, week before,
going to the Memphis game.
So then calling, nobody picking up. Then like after that it was just,
it was just bad.
He was the first person that was doing his own thing that was very genuine.
When I need him, he always answer. He never too big for anything.
Was actually caring and stuff like that. Dolph. Man, I love him.
♪ Your life instantly changed You no longer the same ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪♪
[Hart] Heavenly father, thank you for this day.
And the many blessings you've given us.
Dear Lord, if you do nothing else, you've done enough. Thank you for our families.
Thank you for our coaches. Thank you for our players.
Thank you for all our friends that have came to this game.
The great game you've given us.
Lead us out here and keep us safe. In Jesus' name, we pray.
[all] Amen.
[Coach Prime] Guys, there's gonna be a nice crowd out there. Guess what?
They came to see us.
I know Grambling brought fans but they came to see us.
Everybody in this very stadium came to see us.
So therefore there's an expectation that we be who we supposed to be.
It's all on us.
We gonna beat them down because they came to see us.
- Who they came to see? - [players] Us!
- [Coach Prime] Who they came to see? - [players] Us!
[Coach Prime] Leaders lead!
[cheering]
[player] Let's go!
[commentator] Two of the blue bloods of HBCU football clash
this afternoon from the Vet in Jackson, Mississippi.
Great day to be at Tiger. Grambling State taking on Jackson State.
The home opener for the Jackson State Tigers.
[cheering]
We are underway, here, from the Vet.
Grambling State will start their first offensive possession
of this game, at the 15 yard line.
[male commentator] He's gonna be under tremendous pressure today
in a game like this. They like to get at the quarterback.
[commentator] Ryan, happens the…
[cheering]
Fumbles the football! And Aubrey Miller was there.
[Coach Prime] Good job! Good job! Good job! Good job, man!
[commentator] Shedeur Sanders has time… Tries to get to the end zone!
And stopped, just short.
[Coach Prime] Run the ball.
[commentator] Now, Tigers of Jackson State, looking to capitalize
in for the touch down!
[cheering]
Bro, do not take them kind of hits down there. You can't take them kind of hits.
I'm trying to get in the endzone.
I know you are, but you can't take them kind of hits, alright?
[commentator] Feeling the pressure and lofted up in the air!
[male commentator] Impressive. Jackson State defense.
[commentator] Looking, looking.
What a great catch made there by Shane "Hollywood Hooks"!
Wilkerson gashing him. Wilkerson runs it, powers ahead! And he's in!
[band playing]
[commentator] The sonic boom of the south has it rocking.
[chanting]
[Coach Prime] It's always coaching man.
It's sort of like you the navigational system.
Every now and then you could be quiet because you on that long stretch.
But it's a turn coming up and you better say, so.
[male commentator] They said Maurice Washington
was the best player for Grambling.
[commentator] And he's got plenty of space ahead of him.
[Coach Prime] No! Who was it? Who was it? Who gave it up?
Who didn't do what they supposed to do? Somebody say it! Who was it?
[commentator] What a run by Maurice Washington.
[male commentator] Fisher from Sundiata Anderson. Fumbling.
[commentator] The scoop and score!
[Coach Prime] Come on, man!
[male commentator] Grambling State not backing down from Jackson State.
[coach] We here now, motherfucker! What you gonna do?
Thought college was gonna be a cake walk?
You gotta take it! This is fucking college football! Go earn this shit!
It's gonna be there! You gottta take!
[Coach Prime] What are we doing, offense!
[commentator] Shedeur Sanders looking back to pass it, has time…
[Coach Prime] No! Come on, man!
[commentator] Like to pass again. 101 coverage at chest. Overthrown.
[male commentator] No one makes the throws that we see Sanders make.
[commentator] Kevin Coleman, muffs the punt! It's the ground! Fumbled!
[male commentator] Oh!
[commentator] But Grambling State coming up with it.
[Coach Prime] I don't even know what to say.
[announcer] At the end of the first half in 2022 WFC tourney…
Coach Prime, all week long you worked on not giving up the big plays.
No turnovers. Cleaning up the penalties.
And that's exactly what's giving them a 21 to 17 score.
This is ridiculous. I mean this is, uh, I can't even describe the emotions
I have right now on the inside.
This is not indicative of who we are. We don't,
We don't wanna be great, we just wanna be good.
We don't want to dominate, We just wanna win. That, that… That don't work with me.
What's your message to the team at half time?
- I have no idea. - Go Tigers.
[Coach Prime] I don't do things just to do things.
There's always a feeling, there's always a notion.
There's always a need. I do what's needed to be done.
This is not who we are, fellas! This is not who we are!
Everything we've preached, we've proved against that!
Everything we say we're not gonna do, we've done!
We're playing down to a level, not up! They're supposed to be competing with us!
We're coming down, competing with them!
You don't wanna dominate! You just wanna win.
You don't go wanna go pro! You just wanna be good in college!
We got about a few people that want to dominate! And wanna be all they can be.
You need to to follow them!
Cause it ain't no leaders right now, it's a bunch of followers!
Somebody take it upon themselves and lead!
Not only in the locker room, on the darn field!
What we just did out there was pathetic! Pathetic!
I expect my team to be dominant. To be physically dominant, mentally dominant.
I want them to study so much that they're dominant just by the study process.
And it's the only way these kids are gonna go to the next level.
[Hart] Soon as you read run, you gotta shoot it just like you three technique
'cause you in there. You got me?
[coach] This second half. If I see anybody loafing,
your ass is coming out and you are not going back in
and you guys are letting them stay in the fucking game. Why?
Hey! Let's run this shit up and drop on nothing!
They say that we been here before! For real. We up in this bitch on fire.
Let's keep this bitch on fire! Hey! Now y'all ready to whoop they ass?
[all] Hell yeah!
Y'all ready to whoop they motherfucking ass?
[all] Hell yeah!
Let's get this shit then, bro! Let's get this shit! What we talking about!
Tigers. Let's go, Tigers.
[coach] Come on, Tigers. Let's go win!
[chanting]
[male commentator] Jackson State is not even taking the warmups.
Think their ears are probably sore from the lecture they got
from Coach Prime in the locker room.
[Coach Prime] They came at us hard and they hit us in the mouth,
before we woke up. But then, we had to say, "All right, man, this is us."
"Let's go. We Jack State, let's go!"
[hip hop music throughout]
[cheering]
[commentator] Kirsten Tan bringing some pressure. Sanders, able to get away!
And that's Dallas Daniels, who stays on his feet, spins in to the end zone!
[male commentator] Did we mention they've got athletes?
It looks like Jackson State got the message offensively.
And we'll see if the defense can keep up as well.
[Harrell] Everybody know their assignment. Everybody handle they fucking business!
Fucking hit the motherfucker!
[commentator] Cash Foley quickly came down thanks to Isaiah Bolden.
[Coach Prime] Give me a touchdown, gimme a touchdown or something! Let's go!
[commentator] Boy, what the… Saved by…
Wilkerson! Oh my goodness, has he put on a show here!
[cheering]
Jackson State as has come out of the locker room
and dominated the way Coach Prime has said his team should do all season long.
Sanders taking off with the speed! He's got an eye for the end zone!
And he sneaks through!
[cheering]
It was a close game at half.
And then, Jackson State has run off 24 unanswered points.
[Coach Prime] I always feel like we're gonna be dominant.
Back it up! Back it up and relax. Back it up a smidge!
Sooner later we… it's gonna kick in and we gonna be who we are.
[male commentator] So we say football balances out.
Same things that make you laugh, can make you cry.
But right now, Shedeur Sanders is saying, "Cry me a river! 'Cause I'm not done."
[hip hop music throughout]
Little double move.
[commentator] Oh yeah, hello! Lyndon Rash.
Touchdown. Grambling State.
[Coach Prime] Nobody should have no 24 points on us, right?
There's no reason.
And here, they scoring like crazy.
[commentator] They're still keeping it in the air.
They wanna get him in the end zone. And he makes it!
Touchdown. Malachi Wideman.
[cheering]
[fireworks]
[Coach Prime] This is the resiliency. Just the heart and the compassion
that the people exude is phenomenal.
[fan] We're at home and we do this.
It's another day, another win for Jackson State Football.
[hip hop music]
[Coach Prime] Hope don't know Jackson's address. But some type of way,
it found his way here.
[mumbling]
[Travis] You would have made the top, for sure.
Like you could've had a pick, if you got there early.
[Coach Prime] It's got to be mentally tough for Travis
when we are out there there being dominant and he's not a part of it.
This is a young man who begged me to play in the first game
and I wanted him to play the first game because I could see
me sitting over in that same seat. And I knew what I would've wanted.
So I allowed him to do so. But…
it hurt him pretty badly. So that's where we are now.
I'm living on the shoulders of the SWAC. Nah, he ain't SWAC.
[Coach Prime] Who is SWAC, if I ain't SWAC?
- [Askevold] Okay, you ready? - [Travis] Yeah.
[Askevold] Yeah, it seems like you are. Oh! Nice!
[announcer] Jackson State!
[fan] There's nothing like homecoming in the HBCU community.
Prime time!
[upbeat hip hop music throughout]