01x04 - The Perfect Season

[bunniefuu]

[Coach Prime]
Defense, overall, you played great.

Special teams, played your butt off...
and I need your help on this one.

Family member of mine, man, you know
how a lot of people come into town,

and family members,
friends and loved ones, and I say,

"Don't get caught up in the mess."

Well, I was messing around,
walked up on one of my family members.

And I overheard my family member
talking about the family.

And I didn't like it.

It's almost like they didn't want
to be a part of the family.

So I don't know if I need to dismiss
this family member,

or give him a second chance,
or a third chance.

Because I don't want that poison
to affect the rest of the family.

So I need y'all help...
What should I do?

[ambient music]

What should I do, fellas?

- [Jeff] Give it time, coach.
- Huh?

- Take a little time with it.
- I have.

This is like the second or third time.
Yes?

- [player] Do not dismiss the family.
- Do not dismiss the family.

When there's a cancer,
we should get rid of the cancer.

[Coach Prime] Amen. I like that.
Yes, sir?

In my personal opinion,
I just don't think that's right.

Because at the end of the day,
it's your family.

Okay, okay, what if the family
is poisoning the rest of the family?

Make him realize what it feels like to be
without family for a little while.

- Alright.
- I feel like we should help him.

[Coach Prime] So we're at odds.
Some say let him go, some say help him.

- Anybody else?
- [player] Just one more?

- One more what?
- [player] One more chance.

Okay, who agree with one more chance?
Stand up.

[Coach Prime] Okay, who agrees with
getting rid of him? Stand up.

[chatter and chuckles]

All right. Sit down.

[chairs moving]

Let's go. You out.

They voted. You out.

You out. They voted.

That's the family member.

[ambient music]

[low chatter]

It's really about the infection.

You either affect us or infect us.
You can't have poison in your life.

You gotta get it out.

- Hey, offense, are y'all ready?
- [team] Hell, yeah!

- Defense, are y'all ready?
- [team] Hell, yeah!

- Tigers, are y'all ready?
- [all] Hell, yeah!

- Begin!
- [all] J-S-U Tigers!

[whistles]
[claps and cheers]

[Coach Prime] In this day and date,
like we're doing some stuff,

we're swimming at the level
that folks ain't swam before,

in the SWAC as well as at Jackson State.

Defense, on the line!

[Coach Prime] And I don't think
they grasp what they're on the cusp of.

But when it's all said and done, they'll
look back over their shoulders and say,

"Dang... So our season was like that?"

[cheers]

[exciting music]

[Coach Prime] College GameDay coming to
Jackson, Mississippi, was groundbreaking.

Something that identifies that your
program, your institution, has arrived.

That was a moment
you would never forget, in a lifetime.

[commentator] We're pleased to be joined
by the great Deion Sanders.

[loud cheers]

[Coach Prime]
This is a moment, man.

- This is a darn moment, isn't it?
- [commentators laugh]

This is what we dreamt of.
This is how it's supposed to be.

- [commentator] Yeah.
- I love the equality.

- We got Southern, we got JSU.
- Yeah.

We got the Southern fans,
we got JSU, I love it.

- This is a big day. Thank you all!
- Yeah, man.

Thank you all for bringing it here, man,
this is all right.

[commentator] All around the facility, on
the buses, you see, "I believe."

What does that moniker mean
to you and your team?

So when I say, "I believe,"
it's not just about football.

It's about the single mothers out there.

When I say, "I believe,"
it's not just about the single mothers,

it's the fathers,
who's in the hospital on dialysis.

- When I say, "I believe..."
- [commentator] Yes, sir.

...I'm talking about everybody
who has the audacity

to believe when they're facing adversity.

Hell, yeah!

- [cheers]
- [commentator] Coach!

[commentator] What's gonna be
your message to your team

before they take the field today
against Southern?

[Coach Prime] If we do what we do, ain't
nobody could beat us doing what we do.

We just gotta continue to do what we do.

[commentator]
Hundred percent.

How will you handle any people
from other schools

coming in and saying,
"We want you to come?"

And how will you handle that,
given what you've built here?

[Coach Prime] I'd be a fool and a liar

to tell you that I'm not gonna entertain
those things.

Because I am...
But I have made no plans to move.

I have made no plans to go anywhere.
I have made plans to dominate today.

- Right?
- [loud cheers]

- [commentator] Hey, thank you so much.
- Thanks, thanks.

Hey, can I end with this?
Can I end with this?

[chanting] Who is SWAC, baby?

[all chanting] Who is SWAC, baby?
Who is SWAC, baby?

[announcer]
College GameDay in the house.

Fans from Southern and Jackson State,

they are hyped up for one of the greatest
rivalries in all of college football.

Do you, Grown!

[announcer]
Sanders calling out the protection,

as he sends Wilkerson in motion.

Now, he finds his running back
out of the back field...

Touchdown, Jackson State!

A three-yard touchdown pass
to Sy'veon Wilkerson,

as he bangs his way into the end zone
for the first score of the ballgame.

[Coach Prime] Winning means
whatever the scoreboard entails,

but winning is... "Did this kid develop?
Did he get better?"

That's the whole thing.
We're trying to progress.

So when a scout comes,
they see that progression

from week one to week four,
week five to week six.

They could see it,
and that's what we're trying to do.

What in the heck?
We can't catch today!

Everything we said we weren't gonna do,
is what we're doing!

It don't make sense!

Let's get 'em, my boy!

I think he heard me on that one.

[announcer]
Travis Hunter, Isaiah Bolden...

[Juran]
Isaiah Bolden, we love you.

Keep doing your thing, son.
Second generation NFL-er.

Be mindful now.
Second generation NFL-er coming.

[announcer]
Wilkerson goes out wide to the right.

Sanders, pressure, he's gonna step up.

- He's got plenty of...
- [Trevor] We might score, we might score.

- [coach] He's gonna score.
- [assistant] Later...

[coach] Touchdown. Touchdown.
Yes, sir! Yes, sir!

[claps]
[cheers]

Coach Prime has asked us to coach them
like they're gonna be in the pros.

92-22, Jeff. Let's go 92-22, 92-22.

[Hart] So once we go, get back, be in the
middle.

I don't think I've been
at the level of obsessiveness as I am now.

Lot of people would think
that you're doing enough, but it's not.

All gas, no brakes.

Matter of fact, we cut the brake line
on our car. We're not stopping at all.

[Jeff]
We're changing the perception of HBCUs.

You can come here
and go to the National Football League.

There's the tug at the jersey,
Shilo Sanders with the interception.

De'Jahn Warren with the deflection.

[Coach Prime] Shilo! Good job!

[Jeff] And Prime talks about it
all the time.

We got guys, that hey, the standard's
here.

If you're not gonna reach that standard,
it's gonna be hard for you to play.

And our standard is just run, effort.

[cheers]

- [coach] Touchdown.
- Next one, yeah!

[announcer] Conversion is good!
Final score, Tigers 35, Southern zero.

[Coach Prime]
We're halfway home on the journey.

Do not be distracted with where we are.

This is the time where you prove
that you're dominant.

- First word?
- [all] Heart.

- Second word.
- [all] Discipline.

- Third word.
- [all] Strategy.

- Remember that. Y'all men, right?
- [all] Yes, sir.

- That's what I thought.
- [cheers and yells]

[Coach Prime] As coaches,
we can only take our players so far.

Ultimately, they'll need to rely
on the support system

that got them here in the first place.

How you feel, man?
This is your last hurrah.

[Isaiah] I know, I'm ready to go.

I'm just happy to see what you're doing
with it, man. When you graduate, though?

[Isaiah] December ninth.

So proud.

Big ups to you.
Him talking about education...

- Right on.
- [Yanna] ...means a lot.

I'm properly educated as well, but
I'm ready for him to get in that draft.

[laughs]

[Isaiah]
Out of my mom's kids,

I was the only one who...
Dad wasn't around like that, you know?

So, that was why my stepdad came in
and raised me.

So the process, man, you ready for that?

I'm ready to train.
Really, and whatever team get me,

- ready to do that.
- Ready for the real world?

- I think so.
- Yeah?

[Isaiah] Now I see my dad's trying
to be back in my life,

and I kept pushing him
to the side sometimes.

You know, just because I had
that resentment towards the fact...

You wasn't there when I was young,
when I felt he should have been.

I told your mom,
"I'm so proud of that big dude."

[Isaiah] But at the end of the day, that's
my father, and I'm gonna need him.

Especially right now,
when it comes to this NFL stuff.

You know, I know your mama... Listen, we
know you the mama's boy.

[Isaiah] He played in the NFL
for about eight years.

So he knows how it goes.

[Juran] You'll do Dallas?

- [Isaiah] Whoever even gonna call.
- [Juran] Whoever gonna call?

- [Isaiah] It don't matter where it's at.
- [Yanna] If you had your dream pick...

- [Juran] Yes. That's what we saying.
- [Isaiah] The Raiders.

- [Yanna] The Raiders? Really?
- [Juran] Who?

- [Isaiah] Raiders.
- [Yanna] You do like the West Coast.

- [Isaiah] It is Vegas.
- [Juran] Vegas.

- [Isaiah] I love Vegas.
- [Yanna] Yeah, yeah, you like that.

- [Juran] No, no. No, no.
- [Isaiah] He know, when I be talking to...

When I be talking to the Raiders...

[Juran] No, no, no. Give me my high-five
back. We're not doing Vegas. [laughs]

[Isaiah] Nah, I like...

My dad is very well-known and respected
around his peers for what he did.

It fuels me because I wanna be
a better man than him

and a better athlete than him.

I told him, growing up,
that I didn't want him to play ball.

- For real?
- No, no.

No, seriously, I really did not want J...
I told him...

I didn't want J to play ball.

Dad hadn't been there 24-7,
that's my fault, my job's fault.

But he understands he has a father,
so that was the maturation of me as a man,

and also my son as a young man.

He had his adversities.

He's conquered some things,
and he still has a long way to go.

And I just wanna be
that support system for him.

- [Juran] Whatchu doing tonight, brother?
- [Isaiah] I have no idea.

[Juran] You gonna let me hang out with
you?

- No.
- [laughs]

[Coach Prime] It certainly takes
a village to raise a young man.

And that young man must understand
that what he puts into his own efforts,

determines what comes after.

[Ashley] Too quiet to be SWAC champs.

[applause and cheers]

You guys, today is a special day.
We wanna give you your rings today.

We wanna make sure
that we continue this legacy.

I think we got another one
coming up, coach.

But today is gonna be great day. I ain't
gonna take up too much of your time.

But on three, I wanna say, "SWAC champs."

- One, two, three.
- [all] SWAC champs!

And our first player is Christian Allen.

[applause]

[Coach Prime] They achieved a lot last
year,

but this year, offensively, we're better.
Defensively, we're better.

We're on track to do so much better.

Tyson Alexander.

Isaiah Bolden. [clears throat]
Excuse me, Isaiah Bolden.

Shedeur Sanders.

- De'Jahn Warren.
- [player laughs]

Malachi Wideman.

Ke'Vric Wiggins.

[Shedeur] You know I never got a ring in
my life.

[Ashley] Others, Cedric...

[player] You ain't get one in high school?

[Shedeur] I didn't care about that stuff.

[Isaiah] The ring symbolizes excellence.

All of the hard work we put in that year,
it made me more hungry.

'Cause now I got one ring, I want more.

Donovan Hunt.

[Nugget] It's a part of history.

This is Coach Prime's first time
being the head coach in college.

And we're at a HBCU.

And for him to talk to me about the things
he wanted to do before he got here,

then we finally did it?
That's what I wanted.

Exactly what I came here for.

Jadarius Martin.

[Coach Prime]
A ring, in football, is the goal.

As a team, it's about that moment
where you take the ring

out of the box,
and you put it on your finger.

[Rufus] This ring represents
me seeing it through last year,

just not giving up,
just kept pushing through.

'Cause last year got rough,
so I just kept going,

and it kind of paid off,
it's kind of cool.

It's nice, feels real good.
It felt like we just won again.

When we walked in today,
I didn't know that was going on.

So it was like... [grunts]
That's nice, had to hit a little G.

[Coach Prime] It's something that you're
proud of,

it's something
that they can't take away from you.

"You did that."
That's what that ring says. "I did that."

[Rufus] I mean, we got a gold chain with
it.

Coach set it up to where

you press these two side buttons
between the helmets,

and then you hook it up to your chain.

[laughing] Now, Prime Time, baby!

Everybody Prime Time.

This part of the season,
the most difficult part,

is keeping them reaching for more,

even though they think
they've done enough.

You look at some of the scores,
and how we won games,

and a lot of people would think
that you're doing enough.

But it's not.

Don't get selfish! Do your job,
and we're gonna be straight, all right?

[Hart] We have to keep your
foot on the throat,

you have to keep the pedal to the metal,

and you have to drive as fast as you can.

[grunts]

So it's a grind, but it's a grind
for something you love.

I love these guys,
but they've got multiple personalities.

[cheering throughout]

Good job, my man.

- Appreciate you, man.
- Appreciate the sell out, man.

Please, thank you, thank you.

He's locked in. Win this game,
then start right back up on Sundays,

and you get going, you're not looking at
what days of the week it is,

- you just... Practices, games.
- Hey!

[Jeff] Here, you get on a grind. You don't
have a lot of outside people around you.

Because you're rolling.

Let's go. Do your drills.

Your teammates and your coaches,
those are the only voices that matter.

- It's dominate! Every day!
- [team cheers]

[Bartolone] And the only thing that
matters today

is we gotta have a great practice.

[Hart] All right, let's keep building
on this thing, man.

You come out of this shell

like you don't know anything thats goin
on in the world.

It's like walking out in that gladiator
pit,

and the fans is just cheerin' but they
have no idea

how pissed off you are cause all the sh*t
you had to do

to show this other
m*therf*cker you ain't better than me.

[hip hop music throughout]

[commentator] Today Jackson State
University was 9 - 0 overall

will take on Alabama A&M in a key Eastern
division matchup.

This is a tremendous crowd and there have
been people

trying to get in here for hours,
literally.

[Coach Prime] The only way they can stay
in this game is we let 'em.

[commentator] Second down at about seven
and Hunter getting a big first down.

Here is the run and it is going to be a
touchdown

for Jackson State University on the run.

I wanna win. I wanna win. I wanna win. I
wanna win.

[commentator] Going deep...

[hip hop music continues]

[commentator] It is caught! Touchdown
Jackson State!

[commentator] Sanders he'll take off with
the football across the twenty.

[man] Oh my god!

- Defense!
- Oh, sh*t!

[whistles blow]

[Coach Prime] Look at me man. Look at me,
look at me, look at me.

What's wrong? Look at me, look at me, look
look at me!

- [Shedeur] I'm good.
- [Coach Prime] Get him out.

[crowd chattering]

[Coach Prime] Shedeur was somewhat
concussed I believe.

I had to hit a switch like "I'm the dad
now," not just a coach.

It's not easy flipping that switch

[Coach Prime] When you was on the ground
what was there?

[Coach Prime] Were you out or what was it?

[crowd] Prime!

[Shedeur] I don't remember even goin in
the tent.

I don't remember anything, for real.

[Shedeur] Dude on the side of me hit me
straight in the sweet spot.

Right? Like everybody knows science. If
your brain shake a little bit...

...like you get knocked out. That was my
first time ever.

[commentator] Well I'll tell you what...
Jackson State University...

...if they can pull off this win they will
breathe a sign of relief.

[commentator] Little flicker uh, flea
flicker

and man the defense did not bite.

How do you like that play up your a*s,
how bout that?

[commentator] Langford looking, trying to
find someone open going down field

and it is... is it picked off by Isaiah
Bolden?

[commentator] What an amazing catch by
Bolden!

[commentator] Ooh. Look right there, you
saw

the bottom of that football hit the
ground.

[Coach Prime] Lets get physical
please. Let's get physical.

[commentator] Here's Eagiln 30, 25
getting down to the 20 yard line

He fumbles the football. It's still on the
ground...

...and Jackson State comes away with
it!

[commentator] And guess who that is...

...Isaiah Bolden!

[Coach Prime] Isaiah is a walking paycheck
man.

He's a NFL paycheck and he
don't even know

all he gotta do is go to the bank and
cash it.

[commentator] Every week is not gonna be a
blow out.

- Hold on.
- You're gonna have to grind some out.

Good job man, you got a great team.
Go win it all this time

- I'll be there pullin' for you.
- Thank you, I appreciate you.

[Coach Prime] I've learned early on in
life that everyone loves a winner.

[crowd chattering]

[Coach Prime] Now with only one game left
on the books...

[band music plays]

...we're on the verge of having
the first undefeated regular season

in our programs history.

It's what everybody dreams about. Everyone
dreams about winning every single game.

And I let our players know that every
week.

- Don't panic! C'mon Bolden!
- I mean we still in the regular season

We ain't got no championship so we just
gotta stay on 'em and stay hungry.

[Jeff] Nugget, you gotta be on top of the
guy.

[Hart] It's literally everything. There's
no other, there's no balance.

There's none of that.

[Hart] If you balanced, Imma beat you.
Cause I'm not. I'm all the way in.

So you go home see your family. I'm up
here kickin' your a*s.

[commentator] SWAC football is underway in
Lorman, Mississippi.

Jackson State trying to finish the year
out, undefeated in the regular season.

First and 15 now for Sanders and the
offense.

Sanders under pressure is caught and
dropped for a big loss!

[commentator] Okay, so now it's second and
a long ways. Sanders under pressure again.

- And he's dropped at about the three!
- Throw the ball away!

Can't take those sacks like that man!

[commentator] Third and four for the
Braves...

...Lawrence, he's looking to pass, he's
hit from behind, that could be a fumble.

The ball is loose, it's picked up...

...and it's gonna be recovered and dropped
at the one yard line.

So Jackson knocking on the door here,
the give to Wilkerson and he walks in.

[hip hop music throughout]

Keep being physical.

You gotta c'mon. Step up and do your job.

[commentator] And it's picked off by
Travis Hunter!

[hip hop music continues]

And it's a touchdown!

[crowd cheers]

Sanders looking into the end zone, deep
and he has Travis Hunter!

Did he get his foot down?
Oh! Yessir that's a touchdown,

look at him dragging the right foot.
A two-touchdown day.

One on offense, one on defense.

[commentator] And Coach Prime of course
you know, I mean he came in there and

didn't dominate the way he wants. There's
plenty I'm sure, he's gonna talk about

but again they get the win, they keep
their season perfect,

and now they'll just sit and wait and find
out who their opponent is.

[Coach Prime] Straight up, love ya, I
appreciate you dawg.

[coach] Alright, Coach.

[Norman] Yeah, this giant dude looks real,
bro, it's like I'm on the PS5.

Yeah bro, it's a little medieval game.
They got zombies and all that up in here.

[Nugget] See now you got me locked in,
bro.

[Norman] Uh-oh here it go, get 'em, get
'em.

[Nugget] This making me miss computer
games, bro.

[Norman] Is ya'll over there getting
slaughtered?

[Nugget] No I'm over here slaughtering
medieval pigeons.

So ya'll just gamin on the... on your
Chromebook?

[Nugget] Yessir. You can do all your
class work,

and see your nice little notifications as
well.

[Nugget] Finish him!

[Isaiah] Got 'em!

[Norman] Stop flyin.

Yeah, run it up.

[Coach Prime] I always articulate to the
team when you're dominant...

...in any factor of life...

...you gonna have options.

And we've been dominant.

And thank God I have several options.

[female reporter] Deion Sanders said
Monday that he was offered

the Colorado head coaching job, among
others.

[female reporter] Does he want to wait for
an offer in Texas or Florida?

I'm sure it's not going to be the only
offer that he gets.

[male reporter] There will be no place
that could offer

more potential entertainment than Boulder
next year.

[male reporter] How has the team handled
the last 48 to 72 hours

with the confirmation of you getting the
offer from Colorado?

[Coach Prime] My team don't give a damn
about that, y'all care about that.

You know darn well when you win, this
kind of stuff happen

everyone wants a piece of you, everyone's
callin' you this and callin' you that

It's part of life.

[Hart] Everybody wants a winner, he's
putting butts in the seats,

he's selling tickets, he's got the alumni
all up in a roar.

They can go sit and eat crumpets and tea

and everybody gonna say how they the man
because they got a winning program.

[Harrell] You know, but we gotta stay
focused.

We can't worry about what goes on outside
these walls

we still have something that we have
to stay focused on to finish this game.

The one follow up question that
I would have asked that I don't think was,

was would you like to return as the
Jackson State head coach?

or would you want to take another
opportunity?

[Coach Prime] See that's the tricky
question. I don't even wanna go there.

'Cause you know what that's going to
start.

[Coach Prime] I am... enthusiastically
happy with where I am.

Truly happy.

[Smith] He always wanted to be in this
position to help these kids

and he's doin' it and I give him a lot of
props for that and what he's done for

HBCUs, I just can't say enough.
It's just that somebody,

HBCUs is near and dear to me, what he's
done has been beyond profound.

[analyst] I've heard of people who think
he's gonna go win a national title,

and I've talked to people who think he's
gonna be an abject miserable failure.

[Rob] Well coach, you know my favorite
team is the Kansas City Chiefs right?

Yup.

Next week they play the Denver Broncos in
Colorado.

I'm goin with you, or we goin to ride
together?

[Coach Prime] What's that mean?

[Rob] No I'm just...coach. I don't try to
get in your business

I didn't ask you nothing about Colorado,
Tulane...

- South Florida.
- South Florida.

There's a few more out there now c'mon.
There's a few more keep goin.

Don't stop there!

You're the loudest reporter I've ever seen
in my life.

[Coach Prime] Everybody's focused on
what's next for me.

- What you in here cooking?
- Chicken alfredo.

[Coach Prime] But my focus is always on
the next game.

[Shilo] Chicken alfredo, boy you don't
know what to do with that.

[Coach Prime] And whether or not our
players are doing everything

they can do to be ready.

Might as well eat one of these
it's got the same protein man.

[Shilo] You need to start eating like me
bro...

...you gotta treat your body like a
Lamborghini.

[upbeat music throughout]

Spring football, probably like a week in,
I went up to go catch a pass

and I think I just jumped the wrong way,
I tore my ACL in my right knee.

Just been recovering since.

Everyone said I wasn't gonna play
this season

but... after five and a half months, I got
to get back midway through our season.

[Shedeur] How you feel about the upcoming
game?

You know we ready, you know what defense
do, number one defense in the country.

[Shilo] C'mon man, how many touchdowns are
you gonna score?

[Shedeur] Enough! So I ain't gotta play in
the fourth quarter.

[Shilo] Alright good. Dad probably thinks
you're gonna run too much.

He don't want you getting hurt or
nothing

[Coach Prime] He finally made it back and
we're proud,

but a little tentative at first.

I see what I see, I know when someone's
ready or not.

To his credit, he did rehab
profusely

and expedited the process of healing.
Nutrition is very, very important.

[Shilo] Let me see that.

The biggest key to recovering fast
is giving your body the right nutrients.

[Shilo] That's what you eat for protein,
bro?

Eating the right stuff, drinking enough
water,

getting enough protein in you...

[Shilo] How do you make your alfredo
sauce?

[Shedeur] C'mon bro. There's cameras
around you think I'm gonna tell them that?

[Shilo] I definitely feel like 100% now,
or even better than I was this spring...

...just getting stronger, getting my legs
stronger.

- Nah that's my favorite flavor though.
- I know it's mine too!

[Shilo] It's why you be eating all mine.

[Shilo] Bro you been acting different
since you got this beard bro,

you been acting different.

[Coach Prime] We've always taught our
players to take care of themselves.

[phone rings]

[Nugget] I'm about to be right there.
I'll be there in 0.2 seconds.

[Shannon] Okay.

[Coach Prime] But more importantly to take
care of those who have taken care of you.

[Nugget] Gotta pull up on mom in style,
you know it.

[Shannon] Oh my God, don't do that. Stop
lookin' crazy.

- Hi!
- Good to see you Mama.

- Awe, that's so sweet!
- Hello!

[Nugget] I'll tell you about my mom. I'd
say she's a very strong independent woman.

A lot of sacrifices she made for me early,
I didn't understand until I got older.

- [Shannon] Oh!
- [Nugget] Take it out, look at that.

[Shannon] Oh, that's nice.

[Nugget] It made me realize how strong she
was and how important it was

for her to provide a roof for her family.

- You wanna slide to the bookstore first?
- Yeah.

[Nugget] You see how fresh outta practice
I am, I still got on my practice socks.

I said "Yeah my Mommy, I'm comin straight
to her."

[upbeat music throughout]

[Nugget] What's good with ya?

[Shannon] Nice.

[Shannon] This is the jacket right here.

[Nugget] You just asked me about this
one. Okay, which one you rockin' with?

[Shannon] Me and my son is very close.

And I came here to see him play
because he said he wanted his mom here.

He's so excited that I'm here.

- Cash or card today?
- His card, where's your card?

In my room.

[Nugget] I got lunch, lunch on me.

You tryna go to McDonald's, that ain't
lunch.

- I'm seeing a lot of growth.
- [Nugget] Enjoying yourself so far?

[Shannon] A lot of change

[Nugget] Go ahead up in there, go ahead
and check that thing out.

[Shannon] I feel like he's becoming the
man that I always knew he could be.

[Nugget] Yeah, still gotta tell me?

[Shannon] Look decent.

[Shannon] He's the first to make it to
college out of the family...

...it's his last year, and yeah them four
years went by very quick.

You suppose to be giving your grandma one
of these pictures.

[Nugget] Nah, the pictures she want are
out there.

[Nugget] I ain't gonna say I made it, but
once I do get to the next level...

...you know, my mom ain't gotta be in the
hood no more.

[Nugget] She ain't gotta worry about
trying to make this type of money

she can just focus on herself.

I got me, I got us, this is my ticket.

- Do it fit?
- [Nugget] Oh, of course.

[Shannon] That things heavy.

[Nugget] That thing aight.

[Coach Prime] Look fellas,

This is going to be something to behold,

I already showed you how we already beat
them twice.

The way we gonna dominate tomorrow is
team and unity.

Then your individual performance will
shine, cause they always do.

I want you guys to truly celebrate one
another tomorrow.

Seniors, this on y'all. We doing this for
them.

This will be the last time they have an
opportunity to grace that field

and we wanna be totally dominant
for them.

The way we prepare, the way we get down is
different than no other.

[hype music plays]

You can't be normal, you can't be average,
you gotta be special

to be undefeated in this part of the year.

He ain't bring me here to go 11 and 0...
he ain't bring you here to go 11 and 0.

Nobody called you and recruited you
and said "Hey guys, we goin 11 and 0 man."

We said we comin' to be champions.

- [Harrell] Focus, finish, focus, finish.
- [team] Focus, finish, focus, finish.

I choose greatness.

[team] I choose greatness.

[Reilly] Empty the freaking tank tomorrow,
this is the championship game.

We own this f*cking team.

It's all on the line.

Now it's time to get paid.

And it's your time.

- You a hungry man?
- Man, f*ck no I ain't hungry!

I ain't hungry.

I ain't hungry.

I'm f*cking starving!

[team cheers]

[hype music continues]

[crowd cheers]

[commentator] It all comes down to this,
one game to win the SWAC championship

JSU and Southern meet in the conference
final.

[Coach Prime] Southern is well coached.
They execute well.

[Coach Prime] They are really challenging.

[Shedeur] They're the team that play
with the most passion, honestly.

A lot of grit.

Just gotta execute and score. Be prepared.

[Travis] Just 'cause we beat 'em already
don't mean they can't beat us.

It's a focus thing.

You think, "Oh, we just going to go in
there and beat them how we did last time."

They're still a football team.

They've still got players just
like we've got players.

[Nugget] Last time in the
Vet, our last home game.

It's the last ride.

I just got to finish strong.

Once I finish strong, then
they're going to know what's up.

Them right there. That's who I do it for.

Last game in the Vet, why not be my
greatest one?

Go out with a bang, man.

This is bittersweet.

Like, I tell everybody all the time.

This is the tightest group
I've ever had in college, period.

Last game in the Vet. It's my last game in
the Vet.

- [man] Yeah, right!
- I love each and every one of y'all.

- For reals.
- [man] Alright!

Hey, hey, hey, break it down on three.

"Tiger" on three, "Tiger" on three!

- One, two, three!
- [team] Tiger!

[cheering]

[Coach Prime] Every season,
we must keep it in the moment.

Because our future is
shaped by the present.

And this present moment
is pretty darn good.

[cheering, music]

[commentator 1] That's a real dude on
this defense for Jackson State.

- [commentator 2] Third and seven.
- [commentator 1] Look out.

[commentator 2] And it's picked off. Talk
about one of the dudes,

how about Herman Smith, say call my name
right now. Nearly into the end zone.

It's a confidence thing. I feel like when
we're rolling,

I feel like we can't be messed with.
You know? And it's fun.

[commentator 2] Touchdown! Jackson State!

Harold Blood at quarterback ... ball's
loose! On top of it, Jackson State.

- From the 14, going to the outside,
- [commentator 1] Absolutely nice.

[commentator 2] Oh, my!

[Coach Prime] As long as
we are who we are,

ain't nobody could get
within 10, 14 points of us.

[commentator 2] McCray wrapped up, the
fumble, and it goes back to Jackson State.

[Coach Prime] We got the ball again, guys.

We need to make this game a statement,
going into the Celebration Bowl.

[commentator 2] Sanders
to Shane "Hollywood" Hooks,

who escapes tackles,
and into the end zone!

And the rout is on in the first quarter.

Glendon McDaniel, now
the new quarterback in...

[commentator 1] I think Coach Dooley is
just throwing spaghetti at the wall

- to see what will stick.
- [man] Hut!

[commentator 2] McDaniel
with the pitch over,

That's Karl Ligon, and Ligon
finding a little cut and run!

He keeps going across midfield.

Guys, don't lose your aggressiveness.
That's losing your aggressiveness.

Do not lose your aggressiveness.

[commentator 2] McDaniels stepping up,

see some real estate on that
left side and runs it 20 yards.

Do your job! Do your job! Darn it!

[commentator 2] 42 yards
on the ground, third and three.

They're continuing to sneak
through into the end zone!

[Coach Prime] You're better than
that! You're better than that!

[chatter]

We haven't lost a game. But we're not
undefeated yet, until the season ends, so...

To get to the Celebration Bowl,
we've got to win.

If we win the Celebration Bowl,
now we're undefeated.

[commentator 2] Sanders
going deep on the outside.

We gotta hit that Grown!
Darn it, we gotta hit that!

[commentator 2] And
the pass is incomplete.

[Coach Prime] Clock, clock, clock!

[Harrell] We're just still
waiting for that game

when it comes together all around,
offense, defense, and special teams.

[commentator 2] Dooley saying,
"Look, just spike the football."

Instead they snap it, going on the
outside, and what a move! And catch made.

[Coach Prime] Hey guys, come on, guys...

We gotta focus.

Keep the main thing the main thing,

and finish the journey that we started in
the fall.

[crowd cheering]

[commentator 2] 39 yard attempt
is up. And a little curvature and in!

[Travis] I mean, we're getting wins,

but we're not dominating how
we need to dominate right now.

[Coach Prime] Lollygagging around!

This stuff is real, fellas.

They marched right down
a third of the field at the end.

Like we wasn't even out there.
Because we making mistakes.

Self-inflicted mistakes.

We never deviated from the plan.

It's always been to win, and
it's always been to dominate.

So to be able to do
that takes a team effort.

And it has to be that, all the way around,
or you're not going to accomplish it.

We go down there and
had a drive going, offensively.

And we stalled! Couldn't
even get a darn first down!

Two drops on the third series! And
y'all are playing around! Like it's okay!

We're trying to be dominant, man!

We're trying to make history!

And ya'll think it's a game. It ain't no
darn game to me. This is real.

Don't play another darn note.

They didn't earn it.

[Hart] If it's rocky, two by two,

Okay? We're going 53.

Alright.

[Hart] Very simple, right?

[Isaiah] He's just talking too much.

The back-up quarterback
he's talking crazy out there.

[Ke'Vric] What'd he say?

He talking, I'm like, damn bro,
you're a back up. Like, know your role.

Looking sloppy. So I ain't just too happy.

Defense is holding.

Should be 40 to zero, 41-zero at least.

Gotta pick it up, man. Defense,
we're allowed too much sh*t.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Shane, you playing today or are you
gonna...? Then let's go!

[crowd cheering]

[cheering intensifies]

[man] Oh!

Offense, go get yourself together!

[commentator 2] Sam Johnson
has that one blocked!

[Coach Prime] That's what
happens when we casual.

Let's go, lads! We're too
darn casual, man! Let's go!

[commentator 2] Chandler Whitfield
helps Southern pick up the first down.

- Now, oh, what a throw and a catch!
- [commentator 2] Oh!

[commentator 2] And Southern
is on the board again!

[Coach Prime] Every time
somebody drives on us,

it starts with us losing contain...

- Yeah.
- It starts with that.

So we've got to keep contained.

Going the wrong way, Willie!

[commentator 2] So much time for Shedeur
Sanders, staying clean in the pocket

That one batted away.

[commentator 1] Makes it look as not
as fun as the ones in the first half.

[Coach Prime] You're taking
shots, you've got to hit it.

[Shedeur] You may not score a drive, you
may not score two drives, three drives,

but we know we've got a
defense that's gonna carry us, too.

You've gotta change it up sometimes,
don't just give them the same thing.

You telling me the motor,
Coach, I'll know what to do.

No! You motor, you hard, you know,
give three different looks.

- Okay.
- Alright. Don't do one thing.

[player and coaches shouting]

[announcer] On the pass break up for the
Tigers...

[Coach Prime] Southern got back into the
game after they changed quarterbacks.

The kid completed some pretty good passes.

[commentator] This pass is complete.

[commentator 2] Jackson State had a chance
to run away with it,

and Southern found life.

[Coach Prime] And his ability to escape
pressure gave us some problems.

[commentator] And they had the right call,
but escaping,

nearly untouched, is Glendon McDaniel!

Touchdown, Southern!

[Coach Prime] All y'all need to get
together, and then come up with something,

cause this bullshit we doing ain't
working.

We had to make some changes,

and once we altered those, we got back in
control of the game.

[commentator] Looking his way, but instead
going to the outside.

And that's Rico Powers, and it's
a touchdown.

[crowd cheering]

[Shedeur] Staying motivated, week in and
week out is a hard thing to do.

Here you go undefeated.

The main thing important about football,
is winning.

[commentator] And Jackson State, back to
back SWAC champions!

- [Coach Prime] Hey great job, Coach.
- [coach] Good job. I appreciate you, boy.

[Coach Prime] Take care, you're the
cleanest brother

I've ever seen in my life.

- [coach] You're so very clean, man.
- [Coach Prime] Thank you.

[Isaiah] I feel like I helped Coach Prime
with his plan, to put HBCUs on the map.

This right here, bittersweet. I'm a
champion, ring me twice.

You know what I'm saying, SWAC champion,
what a way to go out.

What a way to go out, man.

- [player] Number two!
- Number two, man!

It's sad, but at the same time, it's time
to move on, so...

I'm declaring for the draft this upcoming
year.

[dramatic hip hop throughout]

[Nugget] It's deeper than just football.
He told parents,

once you send your child here, he
gonna be a better man when he leave.

And I feel like, I... I became a better man.
I've grown since I been here, so.

I just hope that everybody, just always
remember that Nugget was a good person,

and he gave it his all.

[Isaiah] Everyday, he's teaching me life
lessons, and football lessons.

I became a better leader, a better person.

Coach Prime help me become a young man
for real.

[Travis] I just respect everything that he
put in front of me,

and following his footsteps. Wherever he
go, I'm going.

If he decide to stay, I'm staying.

[announcer] Ladies and gentleman, now
please direct your attention to the field

for today's Championship Award.

[presenter] On behalf of the South Western
Athletic Conference,

we would like to congratulate the Jackson
State Tigers,

- Amen. Amen.
- [presenter] ...for an undefeated season.

The 2022 Cricket Wireless SWAC Football
Champions. Congratulations Jackson State.

[team and crowd cheering]

[reporter] Coach Prime, you put together a
perfect season, here in Jackson State.

And you talked about dominating, that's
been the word.

How do you see this team
exemplify that all season?

We put together a wonderful team. We
dominated. We...

...did it for all these wonderful people,

out here that come and support us,
rain, sleet, or shine.

These gentleman gave me a tremendous
opportunity to coach JSU,

and I am forever grateful.

We're not done yet. So we still have one
more to go, and we will finish.

[triumphant hip hop throughout]

Certainly proud of, not only our players,
but our staff.

They overcame all adversity throughout the
whole year.

They just really hung in there,
and kept the main thing, the main thing.

[announcer] The SWAC appreciates your
support of intercollegiate athletics.

God Bless, and good night.

[Coach Prime] After the game, everyone's
tugging at you, pulling on you.

Everybody and they mama's on the field.

My kids was the only thing on my mind.

Not a trophy presentation,
not a media request.

Really wasn't about getting out of there,
it was about getting to my team.

[somber music throughout]

[team chatter]

[player] Champions!

[Isaiah] Hey hold on, hold on. Hey get
this on camera!

[team chatter]

[player] Thank you, thank you.

[coach] Have them put this way. I don't
want that camera...

[dramatic music throughout]

[Coach Prime] I know y'all been hearing
the rumors,

and everything that's been transpiring.

And I'd like for y'all to hear it from me,
and not from anyone else.

In coaching, you get elevated, or you get
terminated.

They either gonna run you off, or you
gonna walk off.

I have chosen to accept the job
elsewhere, next year.

This is probably the toughest
moment for me,

ever, because it involves y'all.

When you deal with separation, there is
going to be a detachment,

and in any detachment in life there's
gonna be pain.

It's open house, fellas. We talk about it
like we do everything.

[player] 'Preciate you coach, for
everything you did.

You a real GOAT for real. And I love ya,
fasho.

I love you back, my brother.

[player] I really got to feel what it is
to be like on a winning team, and I just...

I appreciate you, I just appreciate
everything you done like...

[Coach Prime] Well I appreciate the way
you go about practice and work, E.

It was a great day to day, man. God, it
was a great day to day.

Y'all balled your
butt off today man.

You showed us not just to dominate in the
game, but dominate in life.

And I appreciate you for all that.

Well, Mr. Hagler, we appreciate you, my
man. Way to fight back.

[Ashley] We've done some great things.
And we should be proud about it.

We're the number one FCS team in the
country. I don't care what nobody say.

Let's continue, let's finish this thing.
Let's show people what we can do.

But Coach, I wanna say I appreciate you
and I thank you.

Let's finish what we started.

From the bottom of my heart, I absolutely
love every last one of you.

[team shouts in agreement]

[Coach Prime] Bucky, get in this picture.

I was much relieved when I saw the love
and the respect and the joy,

from the multitude of kids, not only the
players,

but the support staff. Now, I got my check
mark, it's like my validation.

God told me to come here, and I came.
Never been to Jackson, Mississippi.

And my whole life has been totally
different.

[player] Tiger on three, family on six.
One, two, three.

[team] Tigers!

- [player] Four, five, six.
- [team] Family!

[hip hop playing throughout credits]

[music fades out]