Jackson State University (JSU) has reached an $800,000 settlement with Summitt Management Corporation (SMC), marking the end of a contentious lawsuit stemming from the university's decision to withdraw from the annual Southern Heritage Classic football game.
Jackson State had played in all but two games against Tennessee State in the event's 30-year history leading up to JSU's 2022 decision to bow out due to conference conflicts. As reported by Salman Kahn of BNN, that decision, heavily influenced by former football coach Deion Sanders, has had far-reaching financial implications for the institution.
Kahn wrote, "At the heart of the disagreement was JSU's premature departure from a five-year contract to participate in the Southern Heritage Classic, a decision made with two years remaining. The move, championed by Sanders, was fueled by concerns over the high costs associated with competing at a neutral venue in Memphis. Citing expenses for transportation, accommodations, and food for the team and band, Sanders argued that the financial strain was too great. However, this rationale did not prevent SMC from seeking $1.8 million in damages for the 2023 and 2024 games, alongside claims of more than $5 million in annual damages from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)."
The settlement reached between Jackson State University and Summitt Management Corporation, agreed upon around Halloween 2022 but only recently coming to light, brings to a close a legal dispute that has highlighted the complexities and financial stakes involved in collegiate athletic contracts, Kahn reported. It leaves the Jackson State with the burden of navigating the financial repercussions of a settlement that, while significantly less than the initial claim, remains a substantial fiscal responsibility.
