Watch: Deion Sanders Bans JSU Players From Leaving Hotel But Gives Riveting Speech After Learning Of Takeoff Death
Jackson State University football head coach Deion Sanders had his players’ safety on his mind in the aftermath of the fatal shooting Tuesday (Nov. 1) of hip hop star Takeoff outside a Houston bowling alley.
Sports Illustrated published a video of Sanders speaking to his team that night in preparation for a match on Saturday against Texas Southern University. He prohibited his players from leaving their hotel to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"So that eliminates all y'all leaving the hotel,” the former NFL star said, “because it ain't happening until I give you further notice.”
RELATED: Migos Rapper TakeOff Dead at 28
His message to the young men didn’t end there. After wondering aloud about why Takeoff, an internationally acclaimed hip hop artist, was hanging out at a bowling alley where people were armed, Sanders encouraged them to break ties with destructive people and places where they grew up.
“Now, you guys are Jackson State royalty,” he stated, adding that they are “evolving into what God has called us to be.”
“You cannot kick it with the same dudes you kicked it with,” Sanders emphasized. “You cannot kick it with the multitude of women that you kicked it with. You cannot associate in the same realm that you once associated with. You're going to have to change if you expect change.”
Takeoff, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was dead at the scene after an argument led to gunfire from at least two weapons, the Houston Police Department said, according to The New York Times. The shooting occurred while a group of about 40 people gathered near the front door of the bowling alley after a private party.
“We have no reason to believe that he was involved in anything criminal at the time,” Houston police Chief Troy Finner said, referring to Takeoff.
