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Will 'College Gameday' at Jackson State shine light on city's water crisis?
Jackson State WR Travis Hunter (12) is seen during their homecoming NCAA college football game against Campbell in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, October 22, 2022. Hannah Mattix/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Will 'College Gameday' at Jackson State shine light on city's water crisis?

ESPN's "College GameDay" announced Sunday to much fanfare that it would be heading to Jackson, Miss., for Saturday's game between unbeaten Jackson State (7-0, 4-0 in SWAC) and its rival, Southern (5-2, 3-1).

But there are some who think that — while the attention is needed — it's misdirected.

On Thursday — in much quieter but more impactful news — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced "it is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the state's majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements for its failing water system," per CBS News.

The announcement of a civil rights investigation into the state's water crisis came after Jackson lost water pressure for days following a late-August storm system.

"We're operating in crisis mode," said Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders at the time, via Instagram. Sanders said the team was forced to move players staying on Jackson State's campus into hotels in the days following the water shortage.

The decision by "College GameDay" to broadcast from an HBCU school should be celebrated. How ESPN and "College Gameday" covers the water crisis could determine whether the praise was justified.

In an interview with "60 Minutes," Sanders addressed the lack of attention and resources given to the residents of Jackson and HBCUs in general.

"I'm not into politics, but I am into people," Sanders said.

"And I just feel as though our people should be taken care of a lot better."

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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