Deion Sanders Claims He's Not a Seminole During Wild Exchange

Former Florida State defensive back Deion Sanders isn't claiming to be a 'Nole, but rather the opposite.

While Deion Sanders and Colorado are preparing for TCU in their Week 1 matchup, a reporter asked him a question about the Florida State and Miami Rivalry.

"And you're a Nole, my friend," the reporter said before Sanders interrupted.

Sanders chimed in and asked where he graduated from, which he graduated from Talladega College in 2020. Talladega College is a Historically Black College in Alabama. 

“I graduated from an HBCU,” Sanders said. “I thought it was from where you graduated from, isn’t it? Why do you keep calling me that if it wasn’t where I graduated from? I’m an HBCU grad.”

Deion Sanders says he’s not a NOLE he’s a HBCU Grad. pic.twitter.com/gXlgSxqrRV

— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) August 29, 2023

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While Sanders played his college football career in Tallahassee for Florida State, he is no alumnus and will make that clear. He played for the Seminoles in a four-year stretch from 1985-1988. He was a consensus All-American in his last two seasons with the team.

The jersey No. 2 is retired in Tallahassee, even, going to show the level of impact Sanders brought to Florida State. 

There's a chance he said this out of fun, or maybe his coaching career is the reason he said it. He did flip Travis Hunter, who was expected to go to Florida State, and the five-star plus athlete went to Sanders' Jackson State at the time.

So, there's no known motive for why Sanders doesn't want to claim the title of being a 'Nole, but it's setting up a fun storyline. Who knows -- maybe the two sides can face off in a bowl game someday. 

Sanders racked up 14 interceptions, 287 interception return yards and three intercepted touchdowns in his time with Florida State. Not only was he an elite defensive back, but he was a punt returner, too. He picked up three touchdowns on punt returns in his four seasons, too. 

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