Deion Sanders calls on governor to address 'consistently late' financial aid refund checks at JSU
Several HBCU football coaches have expressed concerns about students receiving financial aid refund checks late, according to Jackson State coach Deion Sanders.
In a YouTube video uploaded by Thee Pregame Show, Sanders called on Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves to help address the problem at JSU.
"I spoke to this issue several months ago and still to no avail and it's bothering me," Sanders said. "Gov Reeves, can you help me with this issue? How is it fathomable that our refund checks for our kids are consistently late, but the checks for the administrators are consistently on time?"
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Sanders said the issue is causing financial strain for parents and hurting recruiting.
"Here's the problem. I sit with a parent and say I'm going to take care of your child and make sure your child is secure," Sanders said. "Yet and still, refund checks are consistently late. Now the child calls the parent needing money. Now the parent has to overextend themselves or the child has to go to the bank and take out a loan to pay their rent on money they should already have."
Sanders said he adores Reeves and considers him a friend. He's asking the governor to identify where the root of the problem is so it can be fixed.
"Where is this disconnect coming from? Is it from the state? The government?" Sanders asked. "Or is it from the school campuses or those administrators? I need to know because it is affecting us. At the SWAC meeting, one coach told me he lost a few kids because of this situation, and we can't have that."
Sanders said the issue has affected his three kids who attend JSU. His sons Shedeur and Shilo are on the football team. His daughter, Shelomi, is on the women's basketball team.
"We've got to keep our momentum so we have to get these check out on time to these kids. And guess what? Three of them are mine," Sanders said. "And you know I ain't having it because now they're bothering me about something they should already have. Thank God I got it. But I'm looking out and I'm speaking out for those parents that may not, that are budgeting their life. Someone help me bring solvency to this consistent and continuous problem."