#RolandMartinUnfiltered - Roland LIVE at the 2021 Celebration Bowl, HS Prospect Chooses HBCU, Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty

Episode Date: December 16, 2021

12.15.2021 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: 2021 Celebration Bowl, HS Prospect Chooses HBCU, Derek Chauvin Pleads GuiltyTonight, we have an extended show. We are here covering the opening ceremony for this year's Celebration Bowl match-up between Jackson State University and South Carolina State University.  A stunning announcement from the number one high school football prospect. We'll tell you where he's going instead of Florida State.The debt ceiling bill is headed to the president's desk.And convicted murderer Derek Chuavin pleaded guilty to federal charges of depriving George Floyd of his civil rights.#RolandMartinUnfiltered partners:Verizon | Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, now available in 50+ cities, is the fastest 5G in the world.* That means that downloads that used to take minutes now take seconds. 👉🏾https://bit.ly/30j6z9INissan | Check out the ALL NEW 2022 Nissan Frontier! As Efficient As It Is Powerful! 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/3FqR7bPAmazon | Get 2-hour grocery delivery, set up you Amazon Day deliveries, watch Amazon Originals with Prime Video and save up to 80% on meds with Amazon Prime 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/3ArwxEh+ Don’t miss Epic Daily Deals that rival Black Friday blockbuster sales 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/3iP9zkv👀 Manage your calendar, follow along with recipes, catch up on news and more with Alexa smart displays + Stream music, order a pizza, control your smart home and more with Alexa smart speakers 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/3ked4liBuick | It's ALL about you! The 2022 Envision has more than enough style, power and technology to make every day an occasion. 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/3iJ6ouPSupport #RolandMartinUnfiltered and #BlackStarNetwork via the Cash App ☛ https://cash.app/$rmunfiltered or via PayPal ☛ https://www.paypal.me/rmartinunfilteredDownload the #BlackStarNetwork app on iOS, AppleTV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and XBox 👉🏾 http://www.blackstarnetwork.com#RolandMartinUnfiltered and the #BlackStarNetwork are news reporting platforms covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. it wham it strawberry jam it we upgrade it get a 5g phone on us with select plans every customer current new or business because everyone deserves better and with plans starting at just 35 better I'm sorry, December 15th, 2021. We're here at the World of Coca-Cola for the opening festivities of the fifth annual Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl. And, of course, what's happening here is this ball game is between Jackson State as well as South Carolina State. The game was for the first time sold out. This is the opening night. Both teams flew in earlier.

They landed here in Atlanta via a charter plane provided by Delta. And so what's happening is right now there's a program happening inside of the theater here at the World of Coke. Our cameras are inside. Let's go watch that program to see what's going on, hosted by Al Duckett of ESPN. Hometown hero. What makes you a hometown hero? I'm a hometown hero because I'm in my hometown, Orangeburg. I could have went to any other college in the world,

but I decided to go to South Carolina State to play for Coach Pugh. Let's go, Coach Pugh. Do you mean me at Coach of the Year, Coach Pugh? Let's go. By the way, I like that you had big Jay-Z vibes right there. I could have been anywhere in the world, but I chose to come here instead. All right, you get 20 seconds,

and then I'm doing the mayor. Okay, you ready? Okay. All right. It's Frost. It's Frost. It's Frost. Yeah, yeah. Me and my boys, we in the eight.

On Saturday, we gonna play. Dion and Santa, please get out of our way. Cause we about to turn up in this thing. Hey! He's like, you see him turn the mic? He was like, let me go. He was was like let me go he was like let me go off okay z okay z is that your rap name let's go oh frost zach frost oh because you so icy let's go because you're so icy? Let's go. Because you cold.

Okay. It is time. The grand reveal of the aforementioned magic. As we say, congratulations again. And, well, I'm not going to say bye because I'm about to go probably beat you over to the food. Once again, thank you. We're so glad you're here. Now let's eat.

Let's go, y'all. Let's go, Bulldogs. Let's go, thank you. We're so glad you're here. Now let's eat. Let's go, y'all. Let's go, Bulldogs. You got to stand away from the lasers. I was told this. There's lasers. Nope. I know the mayor's coming. But now, instead of just, like, him talking to you, now maybe we can, you know, he can mingle. Oh, here we go. And here we go.

I thought that I'd been hurt before. And now you can walk through the tunnel. You are. There we go. Left me quite this sore. Your words cut deeper than a knife. Now I need someone to breathe me back to life. Got a feeling that I'm going under But I know that I'll make it out alive If I quit calling you my lover

And move on You watch me bleed until I can't breathe Shaking body onto my knees And now that I'm without your kisses I'll be needing stitches Tripping over myself Aching begging you to come help And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches Just like a moth drawn to a flame Oh, you let me in, I couldn't sense the pain Your bitter heart cold to the touch Now I'm gonna reap what I sow I'm left seeing red on my own All right, folks, this is a live shot here. The Jackson State players, they are actually assembled downstairs.

They were on the inside for the president of the program there. You see they are downstairs. So what's happening is team dinner is happening downstairs. You see all the food stations. You see the Southern Fried Chicken, the barbecue bar. They've got all of these different stations that are here for the place. And then, of course, upstairs up here, you have a VIP reception. They've had celebrity chefs that have been preparing the meals.

And, of course, along with people from here. You see right here, they've even got their specialty drinks. South Carolina, get a shot of South Carolina Peach Blitz, Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey, Peach Snops, and also a Mississippi Peanut Butter Rush. These are the drinks that they have up here for the reception up here. And so, again, this is a huge deal. This is the fifth annual Celebration Bowl, and this is a bowl specifically for the champions of the MEAC Conference and of the SWAC Conference.

You might remember back in August we kicked this thing off with the MEAC SWAC Challenge that took place here. And so let's do this here. We're going to walk back over here. You've got, of course, all of these different coaches who are here. And so we're going to sit here

and actually have a conversation with some of the, I see, Commissioner Thomas, as well as one of the SWAC Commissioner. So we're going to try to grab one of them and bring them over here. This is a huge, huge deal here. The payout for these institutions, these HBCUs, is a major deal. And Commissioner Thomas, this has been his dream. He is retiring at the end of this year.

And this was a very, very difficult thing to actually get done. And it really was John Grant with ESPN who stepped in. John Grant is really over this whole deal for ESPN. The ball game is owned and controlled by ESPN. And so it's a major endeavor, as I said. We began the season. ESPN bowl game is owned and controlled by ESPN. And so it's a major endeavor. As I said, we began the season, we were here in Atlanta in August for the MEAC Swag Challenge. That's what kicked this season off.

That took place, of course, at the football stadium where Georgia State plays. This game is going to be taking place on a Saturday at noon at Benz Stadium here in and so it's a really really huge huge deal that is taking place here sit here and I'm sitting here and talk to John Grant is with with ESPN and so he's taking a quick it's gonna really explain terms in terms of how big this is. And again, with a sellout, lots of attention focused on Jackson State this year, obviously because of Deion Sanders. John, how you doing? I'm good, bro. How you doing, man?

I'm all good. So first of all, let's talk about this here because Commissioner Thomas, he said it was his dream to have this ball game, to have something specifically for these HBCUs. ESPN stepped up, so this is the fifth year. So explain to people how this even actually happened. Well, you know, I think the commissioner probably shared his dream, and I think they shared with ESPN, and certainly we love ESPN,

but then he had to go to work and convince his member institutions to do that which took 10 years I was brought on board to be so we've had a lot of fun doing that the goal here for us Roland is to institutionalize this game so that a hundred years from now you know we're calling it the granddaddy of HBCU football games because I do believe there will be other bowl games as a result of the success of this one. But this year, in this time, we're going to put on a world-class event. And it's shaping up that way because we're sold out for this game. How many tickets are we talking about?

50,000. And that's the first time there's been a sellout of this game? First time there's been a sellout. Our largest attendance thus far has been about 35,000. And so to get to this number, we're excited and it really demonstrates the passion, the faith and the way that the game has evolved, Roland, and how enthusiastic we are to get back at it and to have this bowl game back. But there's also a payout for the schools as well.

Huge. So, you know, the payout for both schools is about $1.15 million each for the conferences that go to the schools. And so we're just delighted because it's one of the highest paid payout games, puts it like the top third of payouts of bowl games, so we're excited about that, too. Again, for a lot of folks who don't understand, typically they're at home, they're watching TV,

they see the bowl games, not realize that it's always actually several days of activities. And this is, of course, the kickoff. Not only that, Delta stepped up. Normally these teams travel to the games in buses. Delta sent charter planes to pick up both teams to fly them into Atlanta. Delta is Atlanta's hometown airline. And we can't say enough about, you know, what they did to step in to be a partner to again enhance the experience. Because it's about the student athletes and creating something for them because that they work hard all year long to get to and the cricket celebration ball is that destination for them and their coaches and with that experience we work at creating the same level experience for fans and I think you can kind of see that from from just here tonight and how excited these players are and then the final part of that for our partners and you're a big part of that and

what I want to do thank you for keeping the lights on you know in this space when a lot of other people weren't really looking and now the fact that you have done that is being amplified by you and us and thank you for that. It's a huge week we're certainly glad to be here and of course like I say you've got this happening tomorrow. You've got an NFL event that's happening as well with the players. They're going to be visiting. There's a Disney event tomorrow night at the College Football Hall of Fame. And then, of course, you've got something Friday.

And then, of course, the game on Saturday. Yeah, so it's a great experience for the fans that are involved. And we're just – we're seeing around this game. There are a lot of people coming to town that don't have tickets. This is the Super Bowl. And that's exactly what we want it to be and want it to feel like what we want to be. So if you don't have a ticket, come to Atlanta anyway. It's a great place to be. And if you can't come, make sure you tune in on ABC on Saturday. I repeat that because the game, and it's no great place to be and if you can't come make sure you tune it tune in and on ABC

Noon on set repeat that because the game and it's no disrespect to ESPN But the game was on it is on ABC. It's gonna be broadcast nationally as opposed to on cable. That's correct We're one of the few games I think they're about four in the entire bowl season that would be broadcast on the major network So to be in a position like we're in to open the conference ball bowl season here in Atlanta, Georgia with a game that with conferences like MEAC and SWAC at a venue like Sadie's Bend Stadium, the Cricket Celebration Bowl is a world-class event. You know, we want everybody to be a part of it. All right. Now, people keep asking me this here. So I keep getting this and they've

already been sending me notes. They love the game, but they keep asking me about halftime. So they want to know, where can they see halftime? I told them, I said, I'm going to ask John. All they have to do is tune into ABC. And I tell tell you what if they watch the halftime show this year there is a huge surprise huge surprise so you don't want to miss it and i'm not going to tip the hat now but it'll be something that you won't forget and it's historic i can commit to that all right it's a huge surprise for halftime all right john grant we appreciate it man thank you so much roland all right i appreciate it uh and so again uh what you just heard there, again, this is a really, really important deal. That they are giving this bowl game the same type of attention they do many of the other bowl games that you see happening on ESPN.

What happens now is, you know, really ESPN owns most of these bowls. This is actually an ESPN-owned bowl. It was created by ESPN for these two conferences, so they have the broadcast rights to it, all of those different things. And so that's why when you say John was hired to pull this thing together, that's what he was hired to do. And so they really are giving it the time and the attention necessary and again, putting in the kind of resources to really make this a huge, huge deal. And so that's why you're seeing the level of this big reception that was going on this course being the home of Coca Cola as well. They are major

sponsor their partner with us. We've been working with them, of course, the Bible Classic in New Orleans. Who are they? Of course with the me X Swag Challenge earlier this year. They so with the city classic at Birmingham. So a lot of things going on to really support HBCU football. And so I said, you got the commissioners who were here. I saw the swag commissioner.

I think he took his daughter to the room. And so I'm going to grab Commissioner Thomas over there in a moment as well to chat with him because again, this was something that he wanted to do. Y'all might remember we talked to him for the Miag- Chaps, and he talked about how it was difficult because you have, and remember, you've got, of course, your major divisions, FBS, then, of course, you have FCS, you have your second division, all Division I. And so these schools typically would advance to the playoffs. Well, the problem is, for Commissioner Thomas, he was saying,

hell, our schools weren't making any money going to the playoffs. And so he wanted there to be a bowl game to generate revenue for the conferences and for the schools. You heard John say it took 10 years. It took 10 years for him to convince his schools to actually get this thing done. And so that's what took place and so we're gonna chat with him is to say this is his swan song he retiring and so you know we're just gonna walk over here and see we can grab him for a second I saw him over here and so there is right here you gotta feel real good about this year John Grant just say it you for the first time give a sellout it is absolutely

phenomenal and I really have to give credit to John Grant and his staff, South Carolina State, Jackson State, reaching out to their alumni, fans, supporters, and it's something we've been building to, and it's personal for me, Roland, because I fought for 10 years for this game to come to reality. And to see it develop over the years, it warms my heart. Absolutely. Well, one of the things that is, first of all, to the control room, y'all let me know, I'm seeing comments that we have in choppy audio, so let me know if that's actually the case, if we're good with the audio. Can y'all let me know. I'm seeing comments that we have in choppy audio. So let me know if that's actually the case, if we're good with the audio.

Y'all let me know if we're good? So if we're good with the audio, that's okay. All right, cool. If we're good with the audio, that's fine. You made that point about, so we talked at the MeXPAC Challenge, and you said it was a decade convincing these athletic directors and these presidents why this was a big deal because with the with the playoff system you said conference wasn't making any money not only um not generating revenue but we needed to expand our brand

nationally and that's and that's what this cricketicket Celebration Bowl has done for us since its inception. But the vision that I had started back in 2004 when I brought it to ESPN. ESPN signed off on it, Roland. Then when I took it back to my membership, they said, well, we need to hold off on it for a moment and that holding off period that lasted for 10 years but i wouldn't give up on it i know they had to be driving you crazy going do y'all understand what's going on here i mean i know what's driving you nuts. Well, initially it did. I needed to change my strategy. You see, when you're confronted with adversity and your strategy that you're using hasn't worked,

change your strategy. And what I did was I asked for a meeting with John Skipper. He was the president and CEO of ESPN. He granted me an audience. And I said, Mr. Skipper, you need to come and talk to our presidency chancellor. Now, he did that. And that was the change agent that made it happen. And so you have an amazing year. You've got two strong teams. And of course, you're the MEAC Commissioner. What you got, the reality is the level of attention. We talk about brands, level of attention with Deion Sanders being the head coach of Jackson State. That is also amplified, if you will, the attention on HBCUs, how he's been saying, look, no HBCU player that was drafted last year.

And that ticked him off. And then, of course, I've got to get your thoughts on what happened today. The number one high school football player in the country choosing to go to an HBCU Jackson State, not going to Florida State. It's a bunch of people who are real mad right now. But the young man's statement I thought was important. He said he wanted to create a renewed tradition of top athletes, black athletes going to HBCUs.

I'm very pleased with that. And I have to commend Coach Sanders and his staff for presenting the possibilities at Jackson State and HBCU. And that there is value at HBCU. And that value comes in different packages, Roland. And those values that we have are inculcated for the rest of your life. And so it's gonna be more of it, I forecast. But we've gotten five star players before they just wasn't ready five star players you know you can go you go to the Harry Carson you can go to the

Walter Payton and you can go Donny Shepard all you know at that time we didn't have the opportunity now we do I'm gonna read read this up the doug gottlieb the sport analyst was forced uh we're gonna actually we moved this let's go over here okay we'll slide over just just slide over here just a little second so i gotta read this for you doug gottlieb uh uh cop football analyst so he tweeted that the kid made a mistake but and i responded to him doug gottlieb uh but this is i responded to him Doug Gottlieb but this is I responded to him but this is what he's responding to me and I gotta get your response he said HBCU football doesn't have close to the same support

athletically academically medically and they play an inferior schedule with inferior teammates in, on the football ends, any person would prefer to be a UGA FSU TAMU alum for help in the workforce. Roland, I'm going to contain myself. I haven't responded yet either. I'm going to contain myself, but that is an insult to the Hall of Famers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame that come from HBCUs. It is an absolute HBCUs can compete with the best if we continue to get the best.

It just so happens, unfortunately, our best started to migrate to majority institutions. Now, if they start to migrate back, then you will see the competitive level get better and better. Now, look back at the history of Rowland. Look back at Grimley. Grimley beat Oregon State. Look at Tennessee State. Go back to the 60s and 70s morgan state was in was in the um in the bowl in orlando uh now the citrus bowl but tanya reem bowl and so it's it's a time and i'm happy to see it but but um a few charged words for for the person who actually takes you on that i got a too commission i appreciate it thanks so much thanks for being here i appreciate it appreciate it Thank you.. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you.. What? I'm sorry. Oh, I am. I am. I am... Party out here! Party! Party! Party out here. Party! I'm with the band. Yeah.

Okay, you know Jackson State's going to be fast, right? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ¡Vamos! Okay. Come on! Come on! We'll be right back.. Let's go!. I'll get you next. Alright, next group, let's go. Y'all on the butt' give me that one time. Next group, let's go. We gonna make it look. We're going to make it up. I mean, really? Yep. Black Star Network is here. Hold no punches.

A real revolutionary right now. Black power. Support this man, Black Media. He makes sure that our stories are told. I thank you for being the voice of Black America, Roller. I love y'all. All momentum we have now, we have to keep this going. The video looks phenomenal.

See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN. You can't be Black-owned media and be scape. It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig? ТРЕВОЖНАЯ МУЗЫКА Betty is saving big holiday shopping at Amazon. So now she's free to become Bear Hug Betty. Settle in, kids. You'll be there a while. Ooh, where you going? It's time to be smart. When we control our institutions, we win.

This is the most important news show on television of any racial background. Y'all put $2, $3, $4, $5, $10, $15, $20, $30 on this and keep this going. What you've done, Roland, since this crisis came out in full bloom. Anybody watching this, tell your friends, go back and look at the last two weeks, especially at Roland Martin and Filch. I mean, hell, go back and look at the last two days. You've had sitting United States senators today, Klobuchar and Harris. Whatever you have that you have, you can bring to Roland Martin unfiltered to support it. Please do, because this information may literally save your life.

Watch Roland Martin unfiltered daily at 6 p.m. Eastern on YouTube, Facebook, or Periscope, or go to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Support the Roland Martin Unfiltered daily digital show by going to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Our goal is to get 20,000 of our fans contributing 50 bucks each for the whole year. You can make this possible. Roland Martin, Unfiltered.com. Black Star Network is here. Hold no punches. A real revolutionary right now. I'm proud. We support this man, Black Media.

He makes sure that our stories are told. Thank you for being the voice of Black America, Roller. Be Black. I love y'all. All momentum we have now, we have to keep this going. The video looks phenomenal. See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN. You can't be Black-owned media and be scape.

It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig? ស្រូវបានប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់ប់� yes i need to try it first សូវាប់ពីបានប់ពីបានប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពី Субтитры подогнал «Симон» All right, folks, welcome back to the world of Coca-Cola. We have some technical issues. They're trying to get those things resolved. Joining us right now with the next mayor of Atlanta, Mayor-elect Andre Dickens. Mayor-elect, how are you doing?

I'm doing fantastic. How are you doing, Roland? I'm doing fantastic. How you doing, Roland? I'm doing great. First and foremost, let's talk about you. Got a little more time being free of mayoral duties, but then it all kicks off when you get inaugurated. Yeah, I get inaugurated January 3rd, right at the beginning of the new year. I'm so excited right now. The city's on fire, waiting on a new mayor to get in here and usher in these opportunities for everyone to make sure that we're safe, to be able to make sure we have economic opportunities for everybody to thrive. Right now I'm taking time out to cheer on these college

student athletes for what they're doing. This celebration bowl is going to be big and I'm glad we're doing it in Atlanta. Obviously this is the kind of event that mayors like to see not only big events but also people traveling people coming in filling up hotels and restaurants as well. Yeah I mean this is what you like to see this is economic development. Engine is right now revving up taking people's opportunities and money to be able to fuel our city. Every time they go to the cash register to buy something every time time they eat at a restaurant, everything happens,

and it ends up helping the revenue of the city, and it actually increases the prestige of the city. To have this type of activity, this celebration bowl happening with Jackson State and South Carolina State in our city is great. You know, Atlanta influences everything, as they say. So, you know, when things like this happen, it just causes a just causes a lot of you know hype and we like that in Atlanta. Not only that you have of course a significant HBCU's here in the city and so what is your vision for creating an atmosphere where Atlanta indeed is in essence you

know you hear Howard folks say that's the mecca but you've got more than one institution here so what are your plans to really expand on that and really elevate this city for HBCU students but also graduates and then those corporations are trying to reach them yeah Atlanta is the home of the black student when you think about the AUC Center where you have Morehouse Spellman Clark Atlanta Morris Brown you also have ITC and where you have Morehouse, Spellman, Clark, Atlanta, Morris Brown. You also have ITC. And then you have Georgia State, which graduates the most black students out of any university in the nation. This is where companies need to come to meet their diversity targets. You can come here and find quality talent and also meet your objectives of having a diverse pool of individuals

to help with your leadership in your organization with your company and so when companies come here to atlanta part of our selling point is not only do we have this concentration of hbcu we have the students that are graduate waiting from here and that's a talent pool that's like nowhere else in the nation and so that is part of our selling point of course we have the world's busiest and most efficient airport. Of course, we have TV, film, entertainment, and music. But what we have here is smart people that come from these HBCUs, and they have a whole lot of passion and a lot of capability. And that's what corporations come to seek out. All right, Merrill Leck, Andre Dickens, we appreciate it. Thanks a lot. All right, great deal. All right. Thanks a lot. Take care. It's time to be smart.

When we control our institutions, we win. We win. This is the most important news show on television of any racial background. Y'all put two, three, four, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty dollars on this and keep this going. What you've done, Roland, since this crisis came out in full bloom. Anybody watching this, tell your friends, go back and look at the last two weeks, especially of Roland Martin unfiltered. I mean, hell, go back and look at the last two days.

You've had sitting United States senators today, Klobuchar and Harris. Whatever you have that you have, you can bring to Roland Martin unfiltered to support it. Please do, because this information may literally save your life. Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily at 6 p.m. Eastern on YouTube, Facebook, or Periscope. Or go to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com.

Support the Roland Martin Unfiltered daily digital show by going to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Our goal is to get 20,000 of our fans distributing 50 bucks each for the whole year. You can make this possible. RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. НАПРЯЖЕННАЯ МУЗЫКА Alexa, play our favorite song. I'll deny it. I'll deny it. I'll deny it. Alexa, play our favorite song again. Okay. I only have eyes for you. guitar solo Black Star Network is here. Hold no punches.

I'm real revolutionary right now. Black power. Support this man, Black Media. He makes sure that our stories are told. Thank you for being the voice of Black America, Roller. Stay Black. I love y'all. All momentum we have now, we have to keep this going. The video looks phenomenal.

See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN. You can't be Black-owned media and be scape. It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig? ស្រូវតែរបស់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពី Yeah, yeah, yeah Yes, yes, no, no Yes, yes, no Yes, yes, yes, no Yes, yes, yes, no Yes, yes, yes, no

Yes, yes, yes, no I need to try it first Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström

Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Kjell Kronström Nå er det en av de fleste stående stående i verden. I'm just about hurting black folks. Right. We've got to deal with it. It's injustice. It's wrong.

I do feel like in this generation, we've got to do more around being intentional and resolving conflict. You and I have always agreed. Yeah, but we agree on the big piece yeah, conflict is not about destruction. How it's going to happen. Maureen is saving big holiday shopping at Amazon so now she's free to become Maureen the Marrier.

Food is her love language, and she really loves her grandson. ТРЕВОЖНАЯ МУЗЫКА You know how some carriers give you so little for your old or busted phone you just end up living with it? I don't think so. Verizon lets you trade in your broken phone for a shiny new one. You break it, we upgrade it. You dunk it, doggy bone it. Slam it, wham it, strawberry jam it. We upgrade it.

Get a 5G phone on us with select plans. Every customer, current, new or business. Because everyone deserves better. And with plans starting at just $35, better cost less than you think. It's time to be smart. Roland Martin's doing this every day. Oh, no punches! Thank you, Roland Martin, for always giving voice to the issues.

Look for Roland Martin in the whirlwind, to quote Marcus Garvey again. The video looks phenomenal, so I'm really excited to see it on my big screen. Support this man, Black Media. He makes sure that our stories are told. See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN. I got to defer to the brilliance of Dr. Carr and to the brilliance of the Black Star Network.

I am rolling with rolling all the way. Honestly, on a show that you own, a Black man owns the show. Folks, Black Star Network is here. I'm real be on a show that you own, a Black man owns the show. Folks, Black Star Network is here. I'm real, uh, revolutionary right now. Like, wow. Roland was amazing on that. Hey, Black, I love y'all. I can't commend you enough about this platform that you've created for us to be able to share

who we are, what we're doing in the world, and the impact that we're having. Let's be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You can't be black on media and be scared. You dig? You want to support Roller Bar Martin Unfiltered? Be sure to join our Bring the Funk fan club. Every dollar that you give to us supports our daily digital show. There's only one daily digital show out here that keeps it black and keep it real.

As Roland Martin Unfiltered, support the Roland Martin Unfiltered daily digital show by going to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Our goal is to get 20,000 of our fans contributing 50 bucks each for the whole year. You can make this possible. RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. All right, so a lot of y'all are always asking me about some of the pocket squares that I wear.

Now, I don't, and Robby don't have one on. Now, I don't particularly like the white pocket squares. I don't like even the silk ones. And so I was reading GQ magazine a number of years ago and I saw this guy who had this pocket square here and it looks like a flower. This is called a shibori pocket square. This is how the Japanese manipulate the fabric to create this sort of flower effect. So I'm going to take it out and then place it in my hand so you see what it looks like. And I said, man, this is pretty cool. And so I tracked down.

It took me a year to find a company that did it. And so they're basically about 47 different colors. And so I love them because, again, as men, we don't have many accessories to wear. So we don't have many options. And so this is really a pretty cool pocket square. Now, what I love about this here is you saw when it's in the pocket, you know, it gives you that flower effect like that. But if I wanted to also, unlike other, because if I flip it and turn it over, it actually gives me a different type of texture.

And so therefore it gives me a different look. So there you go. So if you actually want to get one of these Shibori pocket squares, we have them in 47 different colors. All you got to do is go to rolling this martin.com forward slash pocket squares. So it's rolling this martin.com forward slash pocket squares. All you got to do is go to my website and you can actually get this. Now, for those of you who are members of our Bring the Funk fan club, there's a discount for you to get our pocket squares. That's why you also got to be a part of our Bring the Funk fan club. And so that's what we want you to do. And so it's pretty cool. So if you want to jazz your look up, you can do that. In addition,

y'all see me with some of the feather pocket squares. My sister was a designer. She actually makes these. They're all custom made. So when you also go to the website, you can also order one of the customized Feather Pocket Squares right there at RolandSMartin.com forward slash pocket squares. So please do so. And of course, it goes to support the show. And again, if you're a Bring the Funk fan club member, you get a discount. This is why you should join the fan club. Yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА Norske Kulturskapet ТРЕВОЖНАЯ МУЗЫКА ТРЕВОЖНАЯ МУЗЫКА Alexa, play our favorite song again. Okay. I only have eyes for you All right, folks, welcome back to the World of Coca-Cola. Hopefully, again, we've got all of our technical issues resolved, a lot of issues going on here, but, again, we make it happen.

We're here at the World of Coca-Cola, the fifth annual celebration bowl, the freaking wireless celebration bowl, pitting South Carolina State versus Jackson State. Now, Deion Sanders is the head coach, getting all of the attention, but South Carolina State head coach is like, yo, I'm not small potatoes. He joins us right now. Coach, how you doing? I'm rolling.

How are you? I'm doing good. So, again, everybody. All you keep hearing is Jackson State coach prime time and all that sort of stuff. And you're like, we here too. Yeah, well, we are. And we got a game this Saturday. I guess at that point, we'll get it done on the field. But he's done a fantastic job. So I've got to take my hat off to him. So a little bit of buzz on a lot of buzz, actually, that he's created with his program in a very short period of time,

we're really excited about. So I'm happy for him. You know, one little bit of water raises all tides. Hopefully we can all, you know, benefit by this deal some, and we're just looking forward to seeing where we go through from here. Talk about the importance of this being, look, this is a real bowl game. This is, you know, the Delta set the plan for y'all. Y'all didn't have to take the bus from South Carolina here.

No, we didn't. And, again, to be able to have this event here, your players are excited as well. Well, it's a great atmosphere. And we have over 50,000 at the stadium on Saturday. You know, I've been in bowl games and other places, and I can tell you that this is as big as it gets. Now, the fact that we're an MCS means nothing when you've got the kind of crowds and raising the kinds of sponsorships and that kind of stuff that you

can do in a game such as this. So I'm excited by this and thinking that we've got a great model for the future for our two leagues to create revenue. And that's one of the things there. When I was talking to Commissioner Thomas, one of the things that he said, he said, look, it took him 10 leagues to create revenue. And that's one of the things there when I was talking to Commissioner Thomas, one of the things that he said, he said, look, it took him 10 years to get this to convince those athletic directors and presidents, because he mentioned FCS.

You know, before the conference champions were going to the playoffs, but the reality is that wasn't generating much for the universities. It was not. And, you know, I was one of the big proponents of staying with the playoffs. I actually fought this thing for a good many years. And I feel kind of silly at this point now because it's obvious that this is a better deal. But our conference, John Grant and some of those guys, you know, finally came and said, hey, man, you need to fix this deal. You're going to kill the goose that's ready to go today.

So, you know, we're trying to work on through the real building of this whole game now. We're at the point now I think it's really big. So I think we all got it figured out now. Talk about this season and bringing your team to this point. Well, we are a little bit better than our record, it says. We played Clemson and Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M. You know, A&T is just non-conference games. So, you know, our schedule was really strong before we got to our league record. So we're 6-5, but I can tell you that our team really built some momentum toward the end of the year. So we think we're playing right now as good as anybody.

So, you know, we won't be, you know, quite as, I guess, maybe pretty as 11-1 and Deion and all that kind of stuff. So now we don't have to play him. You know, we're playing those guys, you know, on the field. You know, if we had to play him, I'd be really afraid because I think he was one heck of a player. But at the same time, you know, the guys that we are playing with and the guys that he's playing with are nothing close to what he was when he was playing. What also, I mean, how important is it, you know, for these players? I mean, you hear these guys back here, for them to be here. A bunch of them have already been coming up to me talking about, who are you going to be talking to? Can we sit down and talk? I'm

like, oh, so y'all, so y'all ready to run your mouth. There'll be some guys that'll give it a shot now. You know what youth means. They just got to go in there and have at it. But at the same time, I think I might be a little bit better off coming up here and representing my university at this point. So let's hope that we can continue to do some great things with our program overall and put our best foot forward. I think we've got a chance to really make a name for ourselves on Saturday. Earlier this year, the beginning of the year, I actually spoke to the South Carolina State

alumni. It was a virtual deal for their convention. You've got an interim president who came in. You've had a lot of leadership changes at the university the last several years. You've had some financial issues as well. So what does it mean for the morale of your students and your alumni to be able to be competing for what some are calling the HBCU National Championship? Well, our new interim president, Alex Conyers, has come in, and I think he's hit right on, exact points that you need to in a situation where you've got issues. He's done a fantastic job of rallying our alumni.

And then, you know, it's a perfect time. We get a football program that's getting after it pretty good. We've got the President of the United States on our campus this Friday speaking at our graduation ceremony. So, you know, we've got a lot of neat things going at the same time. I'm trying to figure out how I can be at both places at the same time. But at the same time, I really do think that South Carolina State is on the upswing at this point. And Alex Conyers, our president, is a big part of it.

And you're right, President Joe Biden will be on campus on Friday. A little payback for one of your alums, Congressman Jim Clyburn, who was instrumental in him becoming president. Well, Mr. Clyburn is a good friend of ours. He's an alumni from back in about 1960. I can tell you that he's done a lot for South Carolina as a whole, and South Carolina State is surely dear and dear to his heart. So if there's anything he can do for us, I'm sure he's going to give it a shot. Give folks a sense of your team.

Is it an older experience team? Are they young? Break down your team for the audience who's not familiar with South Carolina State football team. Our offense is really young. We've got an offensive line that starts two and a half freshmen. I call one freshman a guy. We don't know what anybody else is right now because after COVID went through, we got a lot of time back

in certain situations, but we're really young up front, but they're starting to play really well. Our quarterback Corey Fields is a young man from down at Hollywood, South Carolina. Have you ever heard of that? I've never heard. I know about Hollywood

in California. I know about Hollywood, Florida. I have never heard of I know about Hollywood in California. I know about Hollywood, Florida. I have never heard of Hollywood, South Carolina. Well, now, let me tell you what. It's not such a bad place either. It's at Editho Beach. So it's a nice place in South Carolina that way. But he's an extremely mature young man who leads our football team on offense.

He can throw it around. He's kind of your prototypical old-style kind of quarterback. You know what we mean when we say, wink, wink, old-style quarterback. But he's that kind of guy, and then he runs our team in a real strong and positive way. And then on defense, we're a little bit older. Our best player is a young man, Kobe Durant. He's made everybody's All-American team.

We've been traditionally a great team to turn out pro defensive players. We've got Darius Leonard that's playing for the Colts. We've got Javon Hargraves that's playing for the Eagles at this point. Antonio Hamilton's playing for the Cardinals. So we've got guys all over the place that have gone on to play at the next level that come from the defensive side of the ball. So we've traditionally done a nice job of producing those type kinds of guys. And DeCobb and Durant is our next heir apparent to that guy.

So we've got always a strong defensive side of the ball. We think that we've got good enough defense to slow them down, to stop them maybe possibly. You know, we'll see. How long have you been coach here? I've been here for 20 years. 20 years? Yes, I have.

I left Coach Lou Holtz at South Carolina back in 2002, and I think we kind of know Coach Holtz. And we're at a point now where we think that I might be getting close to the end of this deal, but I'll tell you what, I've had a great time, and I enjoy doing what I do every day, so I look forward to going to work every day. I'm glad you mentioned the number of players that have come through South Carolina State in the NFL because, and again, I'm about to bring up Deion again. All the tongues are wagging today because the number one football player in the country, according to rivals, said no to Florida State, no to Georgia, and yes to Jackson State. And folks are upset. It's a whole bunch of people who are saying these are inferior programs and why would you go to an HBCU?

And I was on Twitter and I had to remember, I had some person who hit me who said, well, you know, you're throwing your shot away at the NFL. And I'm sitting there going, do you have any idea what the hell you're talking about? Well, anytime you go into a program that's producing the kind of finances, first of all, that these guys are producing. Now, it's obvious that you get a little bit of a chip on your shoulder when you go to a program where, you know, people don't necessarily think you've had the ability or the rights to think that you can actually aspire to be you know some of the great things but you know what

our role we turn out a bunch of doctors and lawyers and that kind of stuff out of our program too so i can tell you that the programs the hbcu programs in this country still continue even though we don't get the same kind of guy at least they thought the same kind of guy as he leaves high school. We do a better job of developing that guy down the road piece. And he ends up being the same guy that they wish they had four years ago. But that's my point. I mean, so there's this notion, this whole idea of, oh, you know what? These are larger programs.

They've got more money. I mean, I'm going to hear all of it. They've got better doctors, better medical staff. Well, let's be clear. Okay. For all the people out there who don't want to own this, that was a time when the best athletes were at HBCUs because the white schools were not recruiting them. Now, the reality is the money follows also what the best athletes are. And here's the whole deal. If all of a sudden HBCUs are selling five stars and four stars, trust me, TV content is going to change.

Well, any time you've got the best players on the field, which is what TV actually follows, and, of course, you're exactly right. You're going to have better opportunities to get bigger games televised. But now I can tell you that I think it's more fun, you know, from our perspective to take a little lesser guy and do a little more with him. You know, those guys seem to have a little different attitude, a little different determination. I just think it's more fun dealing with from that perspective than it is taking a whole bunch of prima donna kind of guys,

especially with some of the kinds of guys that we see out there today well i i just think that when you see those comments they're coming from people who have no understanding of first of all hbcu history don't have any understanding of recent i had to walk people through like this one guy was like well you couldn't be a first round draft pick hbcu and i said uh steve mcnair went number three jerry rice went number 16 walter payton with number number four uh there's another gentleman i just i can't remember his name he he signed with he signed with a program changed coach they got dropped the scholarship he mama called, got him to Alabama State. He switched his positions. Yeah, that's the one of the Browns, yes.

Because of the first-round draft pick. So, again, this idea that you can't get to the next level if you go to HBCU has been proven a lot time and time again. Well, I don't know if you go to college thinking, though, that that's your main reason for going to school that way. You go to a college that fits your learning styles and all other things that go along with your getting yourself educated. Because five, six, seven years down the road after you graduate, you know, it's going to be that college degree that's going to keep you, you know, afloat anyway. But now I can tell you that there are guys out there that can be as good as anybody, and then something happens to them all of a sudden, and then they hurt and that kind of stuff.

And it happens a bunch. Great players play two, three, sometimes less than that in the league after they've gone to these great programs. So you're a lot better off going to a place where you're going to make sure that you do a good job of getting yourself prepared for life down the road a piece. And I think that means the most in this whole process of deciding the school. A couple more questions for you. This is the first time there's been a sellout of this game, all 50,000 tickets sold. Well, a l with South Carolina state the Jackson state crowd w

take all of the credit fo crowd that we had. But we actually determined our b two before they did and h out of all of our part of y'all allotment. Exactly. What you're saying is it' of folk missing from South Carolina in the next three days.

And I guarantee you as many of them will be in that stand hollering for South Carolina State as they will for Jackson. So sounding to me like what you're really saying is Jackson State, y'all might want to pump your brakes on thinking y'all making all this happen. Well, we like to think that we can play with them. And at that point, if you hang around long enough, who knows what can happen in the end. All right. So, all right, so I got to put you on the spot. Last question.

I know you're going to predict your team is going to win. I need a score. So you said you got defense. I'm not going to predict. But you said you got defense. So you think there's going to be a defense or not? I'm going to predict that it will be a low to medium scoring kind of game. But at that point.

Like what, 17-10? Maybe somewhere in there. But I don't think it will be, you know, a real high scoring game. But at the same time, you know, I just think it will be close in the end. That's my best bet. All right. Coach, I appreciate it. Thank you, Roland.

Thanks a bunch. All right, you take care. Thanks a bunch. All right, I'm going to talk to a couple of your players. Let me know who I need to grab. Since where the one who wanted to run his mouth? He came over here to try to jump in your spot. Is that right?

Which one is it? Who was it? Which one? He was running over here. He was like, hey, I want to talk. Was that you who you wanted to talk before, Coach? Was that you? Me?

See, yeah, that was him. Was that him? Yeah, that was him. All right. Go ahead and take a seat. I asked you a couple of questions since you're ready to talk. First of all, what's your name, where you're from, what's your classification? My name is Jaylen Barr from Lake City,, South Carolina and I'm a red shirt senior.

You're a red shirt senior. Alright, so let's talk about this season. How's it gone thus far? It went amazing. We made our goal and then we came to the celebration bowl. That was our main goal for the whole season though. Absolutely. Absolutely. And so

y'all didn't have to do the bus ride here. Oh man, that plane ride felt amazing. The plane ride felt amazing. Well, Delta sent charter flights for both schools, and our cameras were there on the tarmac as y'all were coming in. So, I'm quite sure that was a little different feeling. It was. It's just a great experience for everybody out here. A lot of people don't get a chance to do this, and it's just a blessing. How has the excitement been for your fellow players once y'all clinched the berth in this bowl game and then now being here? Everybody got excited, but the goal ain't finished yet,

though. We want to win it. We don't want to come out there and just lose it. We want to come out here and win. Are you and some of your players, do y'all believe that Jackson State is getting a little too much attention, overshadowing South Carolina State? I mean, it's Deion. We don't believe in the hype. We play our ball, we play ball, and we play our game the whole time. So Deion's slogan is, I believe, but you're saying y'all got your own belief system. Yeah, you always play your game and you'd be fine

Coach said the strong suit of this team is defense It is I mean the whole team good, but I energy come out defense the defense come out of the stock now The whole team will be lit. Okay, so you think it's a bit defensive battle come Saturday? Yeah, I think will be a different battle. It will be a good battle, too. Okay. And so I take it you plan on holding that trophy up at the end of the game, right? Yes, sir. We plan on doing it. Okay. All right, then. Well, good luck. Congratulations on getting

here. Enjoy the rest of the experience here at the World of Coca-Cola. All right, then. We'll be seeing y'all throughout the week. Thank you. All right. Appreciate it. Thanks a bunch. All right, folks. Again, we're here at the World of Coca-Cola. This is the fifth annual Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl, pitting South Carolina State against Jackson State. So here's the deal. So South Carolina State came in first. What? One of y'all want to talk?

All right, y'all go ahead. Go ahead. Take a seat. Which camera are we looking at? Take a seat. That's fine. take a seat that's fine it's fine what that's fine they're fine they're fine don't worry about it that's what we're doing okay that's why he said that oh it don't matter it's all all good. Doc, what's your name? Where are you from? What position do you play? My name is Zachary Felder. I'm from Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Right. And I play tight end. You play tight end. And I'm a senior, a graduating senior. Graduating senior. Yes, sir. All right, then. Which means you're going to miss President Biden speaking on Friday.

Oh, I graduate in May. Oh, see, all right. So you, like, already graduated. So you graduate next May. Oh, see, all right. So you, like, already graduated. So you graduate next May. Yes, sir. Got it. So let's talk about being here. First of all, you guys, no bus ride here.

We flew. We flew. We MIAC champions. We flew. Absolutely. Absolutely. How was the ride? It was great.

It was my second or third time getting on a plane, so my ears popped a little bit, but it was fine. What has it been like for you guys, again, once you were coming here, and then all the festivities, flying here, they roll the red carpet out, here at the World of Coca-Cola? Oh, man. I just want to start off by saying thank you to Coca-Cola and Cricket for sponsoring this event. I love it, man. My teammates were having so much fun. I never had as much fun before in my life.

I don't want to leave. But this is also a business trip. We're ready to play Saturday. So let's talk about that because Jackson State has gotten lots of attention, lots of publicity, a lot of folks talking about Coach Sanders and not talking a lot about South Carolina State. I really don't know. Not that Deion Sanders, but Coach Pugh has more championships than the Celtics. So I don't understand why people don't talk about Coach Pugh as much as people talk about Deion Sanders.

How many championships does he have? I believe we have 19 conference championships. 18? 19. Should. 19. It should be 19 included this year. Did I mention we went five and only to MIAC? No, no, no. Yeah, we went five and only to MIAC.

Undefeated in the MIAC. Complete sweep. Gotcha. Gotcha. Which camera are we looking at? All right, take it. What you want to say? Oh, this is my camera.

Okay. All right, next question. Go ahead. You said you were like, which camera I'm looking at. You got something specific to say? No, sir, I'm just making sure I look at the right camera. You know what I'm talking about. No, no, no, you talk, just look at me.

Don't look at the camera. Don't look at the camera. Don't look at the camera at all. And so, Coach said the best thing about this team is defense, but you play tight end. Yeah, the best feature. All right, a lot of the time we rely on our defense, but our offense is strong too.

But we got some guy guys. But see, you don't want to give it up to the defense. Who plays defense? Who's better, defense or offense? I don't really like those guys. You said you don't really like those guys? I don't really like them because, you know, I go against them in practice, so I don't really like those guys.

So you tolerate them? Yeah, I tolerate them. Okay, got it. But they're great players. Got it. We got great players on both sides. Got it. And did I mention I'm a great player, too? No, you didn't mention that. I didn't. Okay. You didn't mention that. How many receptions this year?

Can we go to the next question? No, no, no, no. You said you're a great player. I just asked how many receptions. Oh, are you a great blocker? Yeah, I'm a great blocker. Great blocker, great blocker, great blocker, great blocker. You know, blocking is one of those attributes that don't go up on the stat sheet all the time. Oh, gotcha.

Let's not talk about stats, okay? No, no, no. You the one brought up I'm a great. No, you said, let me roll it back. You said, did I say I'm a great okay? No, no, no. You the one brought up I'm a great. No, you said. Let me roll it back. You said, did I say I'm a great player? That's what you said. Yeah, that is what I said.

Right. So, you opened that door. I just walked in it. Oh, you want to get a mic up to somebody else? Yeah, how much time do we have left, Mr. Yeah. Why don't you get a mic up to somebody on defense? I appreciate it. See? See? I've been watching you since I was a to somebody on defense? I appreciate it.

See? See? I've been watching you since I was a little kid, man. Uh-huh. Say it again? I've been watching you since I was a little kid, man. It was a real nice meeting you, man. Brother, I appreciate it.

Thanks, buddy. I want to be on TV one day. All right. Good luck on Saturday. Thank you. But don't ever say I'm a great player if you don't know the answer coming back. How you doing, Doc? What's your name?

Where you from? What position you play? Kobe Durant, cornerback, Lamar South Carolina. You said where in South Carolina? Lamar South Carolina. Lamar South Carolina. Got you. All right.

So let's talk about, so how has this year been for you? It's been great for me. I couldn't have done none of the things I did without my teammates on the defensive side of the ball and offensive side of the ball. They helped me get all the accolades that I got. Okay, and what are those accolades? First team all-me-at, defensive player of the year in the conference. Oh, so you actually are a great player. Yes, sir.

Hey, you got a guy-guy in the seat right now. So go ahead. So you said All-MEAC, Defensive Player of the Year? Defensive Player of the Year. I just found out I was FCS All-American. Okay. First team. And HBCU All-American first team.

So congrats. Yeah, that's a few accolades. Yeah. So I got to ask you this here. So a lot of talking about uh young man Hunter who signed with Ja a lot of people talking t wasting his time. He's go

going to HBCU. But coach put a whole bunch of guys Uh a lot of guys paid awa play. Darius Leonard played with the Colts. Highest paid linebacker in the league. We got Joe Thomas, Antonio Hamilton, Javon Hargraves. So those guys along the lines just really opened the doors for us at

South Carolina State. But not only that, me just telling a guy that's going to HBCU, you can make it anywhere. A lot of scouts go to a lot of HBCUs. Why did you come to South Carolina State? I came to South Carolina State because the opportunity that I had.

It was really my only opportunity, and I just took advantage of it. Absolutely. Yeah. And so it certainly has been a good ride. Yeah, it's been a great ride. Coming in at my freshman year playing and never looked back. Just stacked my years as I was going. And so you ready for the next level? Yes, sir.

Definitely ready for the next level. That's the plan. So look at, so what, two or three years from now, I take it you'll be coming back to the campus as a big man on campus as an NFL baller, right? Yeah, no doubt. Okay. All right, then. Well, look, good luck this year. Last question.

How's all the bowl stuff been thus far? Of course, the plane ride here and, of course, the big event here at the Royal Coca-Cola. It's been great. It's something we never got a chance to really see. So it's been good for all my teammates. All right. Well, I appreciate it. Good luck.

Yes, sir. Thank you. All right. Thanks so much. Thanks so much. All right. Who's next? Oh, he like, yeah, I'm next.

Hey, where the mall moving to? Man, the mall. Man, the mall. What? Man, don't bring the mall, man. Who you bringing in? Hey, bringing the D-Line men. Oh, bringing the D-Line men.

Yeah. Hey, come on. Come on, Darryl. Come on, man. Hey, get packed. Get all the boys. So you going to bring all your people with you? Oh, yeah, I got to.

I feel like we don't get, you know, I think we don't get much love like any other position. Ah, I got you. Right. Oh, yeah, you got the Johnny Gill thing going to shades. You can leave them on, no matter. It's all good. You fine? You can be Hollywood. I'm good. I'm good.

Who's over my shoulder telling you to take them off? Nobody ain't telling me to take them off. He is. Not at all. Yeah, you busted. He is. It's all good. All right, what's your name? Where you from? My name is Shaheem Hawthorne. I'm from Leesville, you busted. He is. He is. It's all good. All right, what's your name and where you're from? My name is Shaheem Hawkswonger. I'm from Leesville, South Carolina. Leesville? Leesville.

Leesville. Yes, sir. It's a very small town in South Carolina. And classification? I'm a senior. You're a senior? Yes, sir. All right, so how's your South Carolina State career been? You know, it comes through adversity, you know, but by far it's been good. It's been a good,

great learning experience throughout my life. Absolutely. Now, previous championship ring? Oh, yes, sir. 2019. Yes, sir. That was 2019? Yes, sir. That's nice. I mean, you know, that's my alpha ring. That's my alpha anniversary ring. We got another one coming in. Hopefully another one added to that. Okay. Okay. Talk about that because a lot of people are ignoring South Carolina State

with Jackson State and Deion getting all the attention. So what do you want to say to those folks who are not really showing y'all enough love? I mean, this is how I look at it. It's okay, you know, to be the underdog sometimes. That's how I feel. I feel like we the underdog. But everything don't have to come with cameras and lights. We have to prove other people that we belong.

I think it's a great opportunity to prove that we belong, not just in HBCU, but in the whole SES as a whole. Now, one of the things your coach said is he said that the strong suit of this team is the defense. Yes, sir. So with that being the case, what's the strongest part of the defense? Is it DBs, linebackers? It's definitely the D-line. It's definitely the D- line. Really? Definitely. Now, would the cornerbacks and linebackers say the same thing? Of course.

I mean, they'd probably be a little biased, but, you know, of course it's the D line. The games are won up front. So, of course, it's got to be the D line. Say it again? Of course it's got to be the D line. The games are won up front in the trenches. Oh, really? Yes, sir.

Okay. All right, sir. Okay. All right, then. And so when it comes to the D-line, who's the best defensive player? The best defensive player? We ain't going to say no names. Only D-line.

No names. We don't look. See, that won't make us a good defense. We don't look at each other as who the best. Now, you know doggone well. You know doggone well. defense we're gonna look at each other as who the best now you know dog on whale you know dog on whale truthfully if you want to ask who the best i think the whole d-line as a whole is the best as in the best on defense everybody that's the politically correct answer yeah that's

politically correct answer because you want you didn't want to sing anybody so who are all the starters who are the artists all right i are the D-line starters? All right. All right. Introduce the mall. This is the mall. All right. We got D-Tackle, John Doe. Got the young bull. Young freshman. True freshman. Oh, true freshman.

Got the OG, Daryl. Got the young dog, Brandon Tucker. Got another freshman, young bull. There's going to be some guys one day. Who are freshmen? One and two. You ain't no freshman. You can going to be some guys one day. Who are freshmen? One and two. You ain't no freshman. You can't have no grown man damn beard

being a freshman. No, you're not. But yeah, we got Big 34, Big Blonsky. We got my young boy, Nate. We got Western. We missing one more person. We missing Pat. Yeah, Pat. We missing one more person. But yeah, Pat. Yeah, Pat. We're missing one more person.

But, yeah, that's the mall. Been to the mall, yeah. So if you had to predict a score for Saturday, what is it? I would say a great defensive game. But I would say the score would be 24-10. 20-14? No, 24. 24-10. 24-10. 20-14? No, 24-10. 24-10.

Gotcha. Okay. All right. Okay. Coach says it's going to be a close game. I believe that. Okay. Believe that.

The last question, this game is going to be not on ESPN. It's going to be on ABC. ABC. Big game. Big national. Probably the biggest game. Got to be the biggest game of the year. Bigger than the closest game we played ABC. Big game. Big national. Probably the biggest game. Got to be the biggest game of the year. Bigger than the Clemson game we played earlier.

Way bigger. Gotcha. Yes, sir. Okay. Well, look. First of all, we're looking forward to the game. Y'all got lots of other fun stuff to do this week. Yes, sir.

Certainly enjoy all the festivities. And give them hell out there. Appreciate it. All right. I appreciate it. Thanks for sitting down and chatting. Hey, thank you. All right. Thanks a bunch. it. All right, I appreciate it. Thanks for sending out chat. Hey, thank you. All right, thanks a bunch.

Oh, you guys see a little something, something? I don't want to tell you I need to go to the mic. I don't want to tell you I need to go to the mic. Nice. He said you one of the OGs? Something like that. Gotcha. Gotcha.

Classification, name, where you from? Jablonski Green, Jr., senior from Lamar, South Carolina. All right, then. And so, same thing for you. Talk about the camaraderie, the brotherhood, if you will, with your fellow players, but specifically your D-line players. Okay, the camaraderie of the whole D. I mean, we battle each and every day.

We push each other to be great every day. We don't take no days off, whether we're in helmets or whether we're in full pads. We don't take no days off. We make sure everybody doing their assignment right, going 100%. As far as the D-line, we give each other the H-word every day. You know what I'm saying? So, I mean, like, we push each other. Hold the microphone up. We got one of the toughest coaches on the team.

So, I mean, he pushes us every day. What do you say to the people out there who say, oh, yeah, you can go to HBCU, but you got a better shot of going to a major institution to get to the next level I mean I'm not wrong not going to HBCU ain't nothing wrong with going big D1 not going I mean HBCUs put more we put people in the NFL too that's what people really don't know, but as far as me, I wouldn't go based off the internet saying, oh, I should go Big D1 because that's what everybody else is doing. I'm going to go where it best suits me.

Right. Absolutely. That's why you came to South Carolina State. Yes, sir. I've got to ask you this here. How big is them earrings? They're a little big. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm like, really? Like, right. I mean, how big is, like, but he got, he is smaller than y'all. So what, you got the biggest earring on the D-line? Yeah, I definitely do.

Right, both ears? What, you got a little hook over there? Come on, let's see. Oh, boy, I got a hoop. Y'all see a little hoop? Oh, boy, I got a hoop. Y'all see a little hoop earring? Yeah, but you want to have the biggest flags.

You want everybody to see. Now, do you play with them on? No, I don't play with my earrings on. I'm too physical. I'm too physical. Oh, okay. That's wise. You be looking like Mike Tyson versus Amanda Holyfield,

like having your ear gone. Well, look, we're looking forward to being here. Y'all enjoy the week. Looking forward to a great game Y'all enjoy the week. Looking forward to a great game taking place on Saturday. Congratulations, and so see y'all on the field. We appreciate y'all having us. I appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

Thanks a bunch. Alright, folks. What's up, Doc? How you doing? Alright, name. Where you from? My name is Dyson Roberts. I'm from Southern South Carolina. What position do you play? Kicker and punter. Say it again? Kicker and punter. Kicker and punter. Yes, sir. Y'all don't get no respect

on any team. Nah, we get respect over here. Oh, really? Yes, sir. Because you know me, because you know me. That's the kicker and the punter. And then, don't nobody show kickers and punters love, but if they miss an extra point, everybody got to add two.

Everybody. We don't miss those, though. It's a standard. We can't miss those. So have you been a kicker punt in your whole life? Yes, sir. Really? Yeah, I grew up playing soccer all my life,

so that's when it just transitioned. It was easy for me. Longest punt? 69 this season. 69? Yeah. Okay. Longest field goal 69 this season. 69? Yeah. Okay. Longest field goal?

59. Not 59, 49. High school. 49? Yes, sir. In high school? Yes, sir. Okay.

All right, then. Yes, sir. Okay. Not bad. Not bad. Talk about this team. Talk about the season you had. Coach said you had a real rugged regular season, if you will,

non-conference schedule. Yeah, we had a rough non-conference schedule, but it's full of lessons. You know, you learn, live and learn, you get better. We ended up 5-0 in the MEAC. So we do what's best for the team, learn, we get humble, and the Bills are the wins. So we win the MEAC, act now we're here that plan is celebration bowls absolutely what you got with six and five yes I've been on

the conference yes sir okay so now you here what are you biggest thing I look obviously got office and defense but there are three phases to football special teams matters as well yes sir, sir, always. Yes, sir. And probably the most important because special teams set the tone. Okay. Start from the kickoff. Okay. And then it just leads on forward. Okay.

All right, then. All right. So we're looking forward to it. You're going to get a lot of eyeballs on you because you're playing on ABC on Saturday. Yes, sir. That's what we want. Now take it as your folks told everybody to tune in. Everybody. Yes, sir. That's what we want. Now, take it as your folks told everybody to tune in. Everybody.

Yes, sir. I got to get a bit of people coming. Okay. Get a support system. All right, then. Well, look, looking forward to it. Yes, sir. Good luck with the game.

I appreciate it. All right, so if you come down to a field goal, you say you're going to make it? Oh, no. I'm punt. My boy Gavin is going to hit it. Okay. My boy Gavin is going to hit it for sure. But you have the ability to flip the field.

We're going to flip that field. We got to. That's the game plan. Yes, sir. All right. All right. Well, good luck with it. I appreciate it.

Thanks a bunch. Folks, again, we're here at the World of Coca-Cola for the team event. And so it is, let's see here. Let's see what time it is. It's 7.54. They should be, South Carolina State should be moving out real soon right now. Jackson State, they are actually downstairs. There's a dinner downstairs happening. And so each, what happens is they have the bands outside. They come to the red carpet. They've go into the theater here where they've got a short program sponsored by, first of all, emcee by Elle Duncan of ESPN.

And then what happens is what they then do is then they come down for the dinner. Then they come upstairs here. This is the taste. First of all, two things here. You've got the Coca-Cola store. come upstairs here. Uh, this is the, uh, taste, uh, two things here. You got, you got, you got, yeah, you got the Coca-Cola store. Uh, then of course you got the taste of the taste of Coca-Cola, all the drinks around the world. Uh, what you're seeing right now is the shop from downstairs, uh, the dinner taking place downstairs of the Jackson state team, 11 and one. Uh, they are there, uh, folks. It's like I say, it's a whole lot going on here as we are here.

We're going to be here all week, partnered with Coca-Cola, showing all these different events. And the reason this is important, folks, and look, there's a lot of news that's going on. You know, you have the death of author Bill Hooks, who passed away at the age of 69. Of course, Derek Chauvin, who passed away at the age of 69. Of course, Derek Chauvin, he pleaded guilty to civil rights charges and will not go to the trial, but he pled guilty to two charges. We're going to be talking about a lot of that stuff tomorrow. But this really is important. to showcase this, being able to give you a sense of what these players are doing, what they are experiencing, the opportunity for them to be able to come here to experience this world of Coca-Cola.

It really is important. And so we certainly appreciate Coca-Cola for partnering with us to make this happen. We're going to be here all week showing you different events. They're going to be visiting children's hospitals. You're going to have also a roast and toast of meAC Commissioner Thomas. We're going to be covering that. You've got the SWAC Hall of Fame dinner. We're going to be covering that. Tomorrow night, there's an event happening at the College Football Hall of Fame right across the street. Disney is sponsoring that event. We'll be showing you that as well. So we're going to be covering all aspects here of the Celebration Bowl.

Our cameras were on the tarmac earlier today when Jackson State and South Carolina State flew in. So we'll be covering those things as well. So all these things are happening. And so we wanted to be able to show this. Yes, folks, we're going to be sitting here trying to talk to Coach Sanders. We're going to be talking to both university presidents, the athletic directors, the conference commissioners. All that is important. And so we felt it was important, Coca-Cola felt it was important having us here as well,

showcasing what they are doing, showcasing what these universities are doing, giving them the kind of attention that other networks give, the major programs, the Texas A&M in the world where I graduated from, and Alabama and Georgia and Clemson. And so we should also be doing the exact same thing for our prestigious HBCU program. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to go to a commercial break. We're going to step back out there. A little bit earlier, we talked with the mayor-elect of Atlanta, Andre Dickens.

We're going to prepare that interview and show that for you. We're going to also show you the interview that we did with Commissioner of the MIAC, Commissioner Thomas. We're going to show you that as well. So a lot of moving parts here. We had some technical issues earlier. We sort of fought through those. Now we're going to have some additional things for you. I'm going to try to grab Elle Duncan of ESPN to chat with her as well.

Also, some of the Coca-Cola executives. We're going to be talking to them as well. There's a whole lot of folks that are going on here. That's why you're watching Roland Martin Unfiltered and the Black Star Network. Let's go to commercial break, and we'll be back at the House of Coca-Cola here in Atlanta for the fifth annual 2021 Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl. I'll be back in a moment. I'll be back in a moment.

Alexa, play our favorite song again. Okay. I only have eyes for you. НАПРЯЖЖНАЯ МУЗЫКА It's time to be smart. When we control our institutions, we win. This is the most important news show on television of any racial background. Y'all put $2, $3, $4, $5, $10, $15, $20, $30 on this and keep this going. What you've done, Roland, since this crisis came out in full bloom. Anybody watching this, tell your friends, go back and look at the last two weeks,

especially at Roland Martin Unfiltered. I mean, hell, go back and look at the last two days. You've had sitting United States senators today, Klobuchar and Harris. Whatever you have that you have, you can bring to Roland Martin Unfiltered to support it, please do because this information may literally save your life. Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily at 6 p.m. Eastern on YouTube, Facebook, or Periscope, or go to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Support the Roland Martin Unfiltered daily digital show by going to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Our goal is to get 20,000 of our fans contributing 50 bucks each for the whole year. You can make this possible.

RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Folks, Black Star Network is here. Hold no punches! I'm real revolutionary right now. Black crowd. Support this man, Black Media. He makes sure that our stories are told. Thank you for being the voice of Black America, Roland.

I love y'all. All momentum we have now, we have to keep this going. The video looks phenomenal. See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN. You can't be Black-owned media and be scape. It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig? Thank you. ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА СИГНАЛ СМС

СКРИП КЛИКОВОЙ ЧАСОВ ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА Norske Rundforskning Or till's murder. We saw struggle for civil rights as something grown-ups did. I feel that the generations before us have offered a lot of instruction. Organizing is really one of the only things that gives me the sanity and makes me feel purposeful. When Emmett Till was murdered, that's what attracted our attention. I need to try it first. All right, so a lot of y'all are always asking me about some of the pocket squares that I wear. Now, I don't know.

Robby don't have one on. Now, I don't particularly like the white pocket squares. I don't like even the silk ones. And so I was reading GQ magazine a number of years ago, and I saw this guy who had this pocket square here, and it looks like a flower. This is called a shibori pocket square. This is how the Japanese manipulate the fabric to create this sort of flower effect. So I'm going to take it out and then place it in my hand so you see what it looks like. And I said, man, this is pretty cool. And so I tracked down, it took me a year to find a company that did it. And so they're basically about 47 different different colors and so I love them because

again as men we don't have many accessories to wear so we don't have many options and so this is really a pretty cool pocket square and what I love about this here is you saw when it's in in the pocket you know it gives you that flower effect like that but if I wanted to also unlike other because if I flip it and turn it over It actually gives me a different type of texture. So therefore it gives me a different look. So there you go So if you actually want to get one of these shibori pocket squares We have them in 47 different colors. All you got to do is go to rolling this martin.com forward slash pocket squares So it's rolling this martin.com forward slash pocket squares. So it's RollinusMartin.com forward slash pocket squares.

All you got to do is go to my website and you can actually get this. Now, for those of you who are members of our Bring the Funk fan club, there's a discount for you to get our pocket squares. That's why you also got to be a part of our Bring the Funk fan club. And so that's what we want you to do. And so it's pretty cool. So if you want to jazz your look up, you can do that. In addition, y'all see me with some of the feather pocket squares. My sister was a designer. She actually makes these. They're all custom made. So when you also go to the website, you can also order one of the customized feather pocket squares right there at rolling this martin.com forward slash pocket squares. So please do so. And of course, that goes to support the show. And again, if you're a Bring the Funk fan club member,

you get a discount. This is why you should join the fan club. ТРЕВОЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА សូវាប់ពីបានប់ពីបានប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពីប់ពី МУЗЫКАЛЬНАЯ ЗАСТАВКА ТРЕВОЕННАЯ МУЗЫКА ВЫСТРЕЛ НАПРЯЖЕННАЯ МУЗЫКА It's time to be smart. When we control our institutions, we win. This is the most important news show on television of any racial background. Y'all put $2, $3, $4, $5, $10, $15, $20, $30 on this and keep this going. What you've done, Roland, since this crisis came out in full bloom.

Anybody watching this, tell your friends, go back and look at the last two weeks, especially at Roland Martin Unfiltered. I mean, hell, go back and look at the last two days. You've had sitting United States senators today, Klobuchar and Harris. Whatever you have that you have, you can bring to Roland Martin Unfiltered to support it.

Please do because this information may literally save your life. Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily at 6 p.m. Eastern on YouTube, Facebook, or Periscope, or go to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Support the Roland Martin Unfiltered daily digital show by going to RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Our goal is to get 20,000 of our fans contributing 50 bucks each for the whole year. You can make this possible. RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. Our goal is to get 20,000 of our fans distributing 50 bucks each for the whole year. You can make this possible. RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. We're here at the opening reception of the 2021 fifth annual Cricut Wilder Celebration Bowl.

The Jackson State football team, they're downstairs. You hear Al Duncan of ESPN talking. You know what? Let's go follow Al. So y'all follow me. Y'all follow me. We're going to go this way. We're upstairs, so we're going to go see. So he's downstairs.

You got, like, some of the players. They're sitting here. Here we go. Come on. Come on. Here we go. I don't know what these dudes are singing. Here we go. All right, so we're going to check this out.

So we got right over here. Go ahead and get a shot of this. I was. Oh, yeah. So I don't know if this is like team karaoke. I don't know what this is, if it's team karaoke. But they got different players who are singing. I guess Al is coordinating. I'm not quite sure. Let me go. Al, is this team karaoke, what are you doing?

What's going on? I was told to put some of these players on the spot and as you see it has turned into karaoke You said you hated them out. You're not thinking about them sharing at all. Oh, shit. That's not right. Okay, Computer Love. Okay, now it's Computer Love. Yeah. Go ahead. Oh, yeah. They.

Now, what you know about this song? Hey, y'all, I don't even think he knows the words to it. I don't think he even knows the words to Computer Love. All right, go back and show them. Go back and show them. You know what? I think he needs the lyrics. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Dude, dude. The lyrics. You need the lyrics.

Read the lyrics. He needs the lyrics. He needed the lyrics. He needed the lyrics. Y'all, I gave him the lyrics. He ain't reading the lyrics. I don't know what he's doing. Okay, put it back on air. Let's see what she does next. I have no idea.

I have no idea. Follow her. Follow her. Follow her. Follow her. Follow her. Follow her. Follow her. All right. I want to remind you that we're going to take you to the music by mom. The whole music is in the stores. So when you're not in, you can walk around.

There's a little blind meeting going through up this area around the corner. I hope you take this time. You can try all sorts of things. So feel free to explore and walk around. You can go anywhere you want. You have all kinds of music. You're ready. All right, y'all, that's it. So they're going upstairs.

So they're going to the Taste of Coke. So up there they've got all of the soft drinks from around the country, around the world that are there. And so they're going there. And so you see we've got Coach prime over here coaches everybody here they've been and so that's what's going on and so this is a show them show them so that's all enjoying themselves coaches heading on out in a motor vehicle.

Coach is still in the car. And so all these guys are here. We're going to go talk to them upstairs. So what are we going to do right now? What's going on, man? What up, Gene? What's up, baby? What's up?

You all good? Great. All right. Gene Jock Taylor, big-time sports writer at Dallas-Fort Worth. Been knowing him for years. Man, let's talk about this game. Let's talk about these two teams. Just your thought about this whole atmosphere for the Meade-Axel Black Champions.

I think it's a testament to what Deion has brought to the SWAC at VCU football. And the fact that the game has sold out, I think it's double the attendance that they've had the previous three or four or five years. And the back of the SWAC football at VCU football is being back because they're getting some attention.

And the South Carolina coach said, we sold Howard Chapman out. He said, so don't get it twisted. And it all happened in Jackson State. He said, we sold out. He said, so South Carolina State would be well represented. But, yeah, now the question is, how long would them folks be there?

Because this Jackson State defense is nasty, though. Now, South Carolina State defense is their strongest asset. Oh, I think they're good. And I think Jackson State's offense has been shady off and on throughout the season. But I haven't seen anybody consistently move the ball on Jackson State. And I don't think South Carolina State going to do it. And I do know that Shador Sanders once or twice a game hits Malachi Whitman for a big play and that's it. This has been of course a quite interesting season, the amount of attention that has come to this team. A major thing happened today when him saying the number one player in the country. And it's been real interesting watching the haters all of a sudden now saying,

oh, these programs, you're wasting your time going to HBCU as if they're not NFL players with HBCUs. No, I mean, that's absurd. I mean, I think what's happening is you need somebody to always be the first. You need somebody to make it cool to go to an HBCU as an elite athlete. Deion did it last year, bringing in the top class in the FCS. He's doing it again this year. And once these guys have success, once they go to the NFL,

then it's wide open, man, and the quality of education you can get at HBCUs. You've got to understand, I'm the product of two HBCU parents. Mom went to Fisk. Dad went to Tennessee State. They turned out all right. Well, one of the things that people also, I believe the NIL has also changed this, because if you're now able to sign endorsement deals based upon your athletic ability, that removes

this whole deal about, oh, the economics of the major institution. Well, yeah, I mean, because, but you got to gotta be, you gotta have somebody who knows how to do that. Dion is obviously a great marketer. He understands how to put deals together. He's great about putting sponsorships together. And more important, he'll teach you how to do it. Like earlier today, he was talking to his son. I was sitting at a table with him.

He's like, let me tell you, this is how you work a room. And he told him, go talk to this person, introduce yourself, that person introduces himself. All these things are part of learning the process. One of the things that I also think is great, I talked to Commissioner Thomas, who's talked about how it took him 10 years to get this ball game. He said all of his athletic directors and presidents, they all kept wanting to go to the FCS playoffs. He was like, we ain't making no money from the playoffs. So for more than a million bucks to be going to each one of these conferences, that's a huge deal as well. No, that's huge, man. Actually, I had the same question because I just got into HBCU football a couple years ago. I was like, they don't seem too concerned about the playoffs for the exact same reason that you said. It's about the money here. It's also about getting an exposure that you can put people to and bringing people and putting on a real big event just for the HBCUs

as opposed to spending money going to Eastern Washington or some other place. Because, see, this game is also going to be on ABC. I know. So it's a lot of attention. It's a lot of exposure. And, you know, the thing with the SWAT schools themselves is you can play big time football. You can be on TV. That's a big deal because it ain't always been like that.

Absolutely. And also, I believe, you know, the streaming aspect has also changed the game because now the ability for schools to be able to see, alumni to see their institutions that goes beyond just if they're on one network or two networks. And what you know about when alumni see institutions and they see them doing well, it means they give. And when they give, you've got more facilities, you've got more scholarship opportunities. Everything's bigger when donors are giving money and they're proud to be at the university.

That's why when you see the high school trophy, that school's enrollment usually is quite low. The next year or two what all the exposure looks like a place to go I go and of course grandma's state is hot Hugh Jackson to be their head football coach I have people hitting me up talking about Kevin some might be going to Prairie View of course I hit coach someone I heard back but at the end of the day is is what makes it inviting for Samadhi? Well, I think what it is, is it's a good body right now. You got money to build facilities.

You got an opportunity to teach young men. You got an opportunity to do something no one's done in a long time. HBCUs used to be the best. We couldn't go to Texas Ohio State, et cetera. Now they have choices, and now they still want to go to some HBCUs, especially if it's a shot that you can get in the NFL through an HBCU because, actually, the cultural experience of going to an HBCU is incredible. Well, I think that's the whole point there.

And, again, that's one of the reasons why Deion was so angry last year that no HBCU players were actually drafted by the NFL. Yeah, once you raise that exposure level and they see that level of success, that begets more success. And that's what he's doing because this is what happens, man. It happens. Urban started flipping recruits and other coaches. What are you doing?

What's the way to do it? So what happens? It makes the game go up. When Deion is doing what he's doing to Jackson State, it means everybody has to raise their game. You've got to pay more money. You've got to increase their facilities. You've got to recruit better players.

You can't be scared to ask the best players. There's a kid today who transferred from Florida State to Jackson State, a white defensive lineman. See, there you go. Because what it does is it runs you out. Because if you don't run you out, Jackson State will run you out. And now you've got A.D. George at Tennessee State, a number of former NFL coaches who are on his staff as well.

Again, they want to learn from the best as well to get to the next level. And it's about opportunity, man. If I can coach here, then I can coach it elsewhere. And, you know, for Ray Lewis maybe or Marshall Falk or an Ed Reed, they want to go be an assistant somewhere at a low level. You can go to an HBCU and you can drop the an ass but then I will tell you man and I over 30 years it's about work you put it to get these kinds of play and the wind to put a program together of course you got ready fears wasus, who's the athletic director and head basketball coach at Bethune-Cookton.

Now sir, it also trickles down from the NBA. And Kenny Anderson, head basketball coach at Fisk. See, that's what I'm saying, man. Guys just want opportunity, and then when you get it, just can you take advantage of it? Well, I tweeted this earlier. I hate that our Mississippi homeboy who passed away last year, Roger B. Brown, he'll be ecstatic to see what's happening with Jackson State and HBCU football. Oh, yeah, he would, man. He's a good friend of mine. Wish he were here, but hey, he got the best seat in the house now. See you, baby.

All right, man. All right, take care. Take care. All right, folks. Again, we're here. That's my man Gene Jocks, longtime sports writer, Dallas Morning News, other outlets as well. He's been focused on doing stuff for the undefeated. And so we're sitting upstairs.

And so the dinner is done down here. We've got a Coke reception up here. And the taste of Coke is here. It's going to a commercial break. When we come back, I'll be back at the base up there talking to some of the players in Jackson State. You're watching the Martin Unfortunate from the Brickstar Network live from the World of Coca-Cola. My fifth annual Cricket Rocks.

We're partnering with Coca-Cola to make this happen. I'll be back. НАПРЯЖЖНАЯ МУЗЫКА សូវបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបារូវតែរបស់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពីប្រាប់ពី Yes, yes, no, no, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, folks, welcome back to the taste, the world of Coca-Cola. We're actually in the taste room. And so this is where they have Coke products from all across the world where you can come in and sample. This facility is open, of course, every single day. And they close it because, of course, for the two teams, earlier South Carolina State, now Jackson State, got an opportunity to experience this. You got McDonald's over here where they've got the 360-degree camera going. That's what's happening over there.

That's why you hear all that noise coming over there. So they're having a ball. You got the Coca-Cola store over here where they got all the different products that's in here. Joining us right now is Elle Duncan from ESPN. She got the dress memo wearing the Coca-Cola red. Yeah, I'm a company woman. I'm like, oh, Coca-Cola, I'm going to wear red. And I'm a cat dancer. I'm going to wear red, too. In fact, I'll hold a Coke right now if you want me to, and I'll take a long sip. I wouldn't do that, Roland. Well, good to see you, because of COVID, we've actually only

communicated on social media. Yeah, we're social media friends. I follow you. I love the show. I love everything you say. And when I saw that you were on the list to be here, I was like, finally, I get to put actual hands on Roland Martin. Absolutely. So it's really good to see you. You did the program a little bit earlier. This is always an interesting thing because these college players, they're always hype. But they are a little bit more hype, these HBCU players.

Yes. This is so funny because, you know, when we first were talking to South Carolina State, like, they were a little bit more loose. I think that comes with the territory when you're the underdog. And so, Jackson State was a little more buttoned up when they first got here, right? A little bit more about the business. And I could sense that they were sort of like, you know, we're here for serious business. Then, of course, I handed one of them a mic and it turned into a talent show.

Then it was over. And then it was a complete and total wrap. My personal favorite was when the kids started yelling like FFF over and over in front of some of the dignitaries of Coke. It was fantastic. But this is the kind of energy you get. He said one yellow Pepsi. 100%, which would be way worse, absolutely. But I love it.

I love the energy, especially on a Wednesday, because this is not how they're going to be come Friday. But it's nice to see this and to see them cut loose a little bit. All right, folks. I'm getting folks saying we have some audio issues on our social media. So if y'all could just let me know to make sure that we're fine. That's what I'm getting. We have some audio issues, so let me know.

So let's talk about this week because it's not just, I mean, obviously, the bowl game is Saturday. But also I think we were on the tarmac earlier. Delta sent charter planes to pick them up. These cats normally ride buses. I know. And they talked about it like, yo. And some of them, it was their first time riding a plane.

Wow. And so, I mean, this is, and I'm trying to explain to people, this is a real bowl game. This is not, no, it's a real bowl game. It's a a real bowl game. It's a real bowl game experience. It's the first bowl game of the bowl season. It's significant, right? Whenever people say that, I'm like, no, the very first one is the most important. And on top of that, just look at who's around. We had the mayor. We're fine now with the audio. We had the mayor elect here. We've got, you know, the chief marketing officer for all of Coca-Cola here, the chief marketing officer for cricket here.

Like, this is a huge deal. And I give a lot of credit to the guys as well because you know, Roland, like I've been working with the Celebration Bowl for a few years now, and where this was six years ago is nowhere compared to where they are now. I mean, listen, we couldn't even fill the lower bowl in 2015. This thing is sold out. There will be 50,000 people there on Saturday in six years. Now, the Jackson State people are taking credit by having to go to South Carolina State.

He said, oh, no, no, we sold our allotment. He said South Carolina State, he said South Carolina is going to be represented at the game on Saturday. Absolutely, right? You've got the proximity of South Carolina. You've got the relevancy of Jackson State and, of course, Coach Prime. And on top of that, you've got good football. And I think that's the most important thing for people to understand is it would have been very easy for these kids to just be like, fine, Coach Prime's our guy, like to have a really famous coach and not be a very good

team. And that wasn't good enough for them. And they have earned this 11 and one record undefeated in their in their against other FCS schools like this is they're here for a reason and so it's really nice to see them get the adulation oh and the south carolina state coach uh buddy what he said was he said look we played a tough non-conference schedule he said play some tough teams he said then we went to five and oh in the conference so we earned this 100 they earned it should be a really good really good battle it's funny because you know jackson state's ready they're like our goal is not just to win. Our goal is to end this thing in the first quarter, right?

And, of course, South Carolina State coming in as the underdog are like, cool, sleep on us if you want to. Oh, yeah. They were. I talked to a number of their players, a lot of defensive players. They said, okay, we got something. Right. We got something for you.

We're ready. So, you know, never underestimate a man with nothing to lose, you know? Well, and then when I talked to John Grant, the game was going to be on ABC. And I said, no disrespect to ESPN, but the game was going to be on ABC. So for them, for the Miak and the SWAC to have a national audience on broadcast is also huge. The first bowl game of the season is a huge deal because, you know, sometimes over time people start getting like during bowl season, it's like, okay, at some point you're getting six, seven bowls a day. And it's like, all right, it's a huge deal because, you know, sometimes over time people start getting like during bowl season, it's like, okay, at some point you're getting six, seven bowls a day.

And it's like, all right, it's a little bit of over 60. Yeah. There's a ton of bowls. Yeah. Almost 60, 65 bowling. Exactly. This is the first one. Right. And so, um, it's significant. It's going to be on ABC. It should be fantastic in Atlanta. So ingrained in the culture. So ripe with HBCU culture. It's fantastic. Well, I think, to your point, when you look at all the things that are surrounding this, I think you're going to have more stuff added. And, of course, we're very used to the classics, HBCU classics, and all the traditional things happening here. So I suspect you'll see more of that. And again, what I also hope, though, I also hope that folks beyond the schools embrace this game

and understand what it means for the culture, what it means for the other HBCUs, even those that don't have football programs, what it means to see these universities elevated. And look, that's one of the reasons why we partnered with Coca-Cola, because it's not just, oh, we're covering the game and the events. It's also talking about what's happening with their business schools, their engineering programs. It's happening on the academic side as well. Absolutely.

To hear John talk about the financial literacy that these guys will go through, because that's what it's about. Let's be real, Roland. Like, a lot of these guys are not going to play in the pros necessarily, right? And that's the case with SBS schools as well. So it's really about making sure that they are able to sort of set themselves up for that next step, in particular for our young black men. So to your point, keep supporting because people like Coke,

they don't come on board out of the goodness of their heart. They do a little bit, but also because this is a big deal and because you support. So we ask for these giant companies to come and support us to support our HBCUs To support our young black men and now we have to show them that same sort of reciprocity by Supporting by buying tickets to the game by watching their games by making sure that they know there is a market So I gotta ask you this year Huge news today with the number two ESPN ranked player, the number one rivals player, saying no to Florida State, no to Georgia, yes to Jackson State. There are a lot of folks who are shocked and stunned by that decision.

Yeah, especially because we've talked a lot about, we saw this with McCormaker, right, when he chose basketball player, when he chose Howard instead of, you know, Duke and Kentucky and all these blue blood schools. But we thought basketball players can get away with this because you can stand out more when it's five people on the court, right? The facility, all those things don't mean as much. And we had been saying that until a football player did it, until a football player said no thank you to the Georgians and the Alabamas of the world, it wouldn't mean as much. And I think that what you're seeing is not an overreaction in any way. It is huge. Not only that he chose Jackson State, but that he decommitted from Florida State to do it. He was committed to going there,

but prime, you know, who, by the way, just told me that it's his staff that is fantastic recruiters, like being very deferential. So I think it's a huge deal. I hope that we see more of this. I hope this is the start of something and not an anomaly, because I think we're seeing a lot of young guys for the culture entertain the idea of going to an HBCU, but we're not seeing any of them commit. So this hopefully is the first. Look, I'm a Texas A&M graduate.

My brother is. My sister is. Her husband, my wife's sister, so there are five Aggies in my family. And so all of our nieces and nephews have grown up in the Texas A&M culture. Well, one of my nephews, he's majoring in engineering, construction, something like that. Construction management. So his plan was to go to Prairie View for two years, and then he was going to finish at Texas A&M. Told my sister, his mother, you know what? I'm not going to transfer.

He said, the students he said I met, he said, I want to stay here and actually finish from here. And I was like, first of all, it's your decision, but it was a huge deal. And what you're seeing, what Dr. Ruth Simmons is doing at Prairie B&M is amazing, with how she's elevating the school, Nikki Giovanni is there teaching this semester. I'm a scholar in residence at Fisk University this semester as well. And so what you also are seeing, you're seeing HBCU say, wait a minute. We're not going to play this other game of oh, woe is we. No.

We're going to say here's an opportunity. Hugh Jackson now becoming head coach at Grambling. Eddie George at Tennessee State University. Reggie Theus becoming athletic director and head coach at Bethuneley, Eddie George at Tennessee State University, Reggie Theus becoming athletic director head coach at Bethune-Cookman, and so Kenny Anderson's at Fisk University head basketball coach. It's also going to come down to where's the opportunity, and you know what? If I can also help elevate an HBCU in the process, that to me is a game changer.

Yeah, I just think that there is something to be said for a very specific kind of coach in HBCU, right? And I was talking with some of, you know, Coach Prime's players here in Jackson State and just asking, like, what it is that resonates, right? And he said that he talks to them like he's a man. It's not, you know, he understands what they're going through as black men, as young black men from, you know, similar areas, and that they just feel like their relatability is a huge deal. And I think that I don't think that you can under, you know, value how important it is that someone looks like you and knows you and intimately and understands you. Because there's just only so much that you can know if you don't know. Right.

And I think we're going to see more of that. We're going to see more of what I hope we do to Roland island is i hope we don't just say well black coaches get their jobs because they can relate to players because that's not true they get them because they're good right they're good it's not just about being a coaches player but we know all the code words because for years before you had look is that like we got a plethora of black coaches now but i would say in the 70s 80s and even to the 90s who was always the best recruiter it was always that black coach who only who only who only recruited who only was a coach for two positions right he was a running back coach or the wide receiver coach yeah and every major institution it was like oh it was always a brother. Oh, that's the best recruiter. You can send that brother in, you know. And so when the opportunities expand,

that to me is also important. And I also, what I'm also hopeful, we talk about next level. I'm also hopeful that when these major programs also looking for their next head coaches, they look at the successful HBCU coaches. I mean, what has happened in North Carolina A&T, what's happened in other programs, and that also just doesn't happen where you are successful, but they act like you don't even exist. But if you're from some lowly major program, you're now the hottest coaching prospect in the world. Yeah, you can be from any FCS school, and it's like, oh, we've got to get this guy. He's untapped potential, right?

But you get a mark if you come from an HBCU. So to your point, yeah, no, I think you're absolutely right. It's about changing sort of the dynamics, the tropes, the stereotypes. The dismantling of that takes a lot of time. But things like today, the news today of what Coach Prime was able to do and pulling someone away from a major school, that's going to be significant. And I think, too, it's going to give some of these other schools, it's going to empower them to say, oh, wow, like we can go for these top recruits in these states and keep them in house. I also love what it's doing because it's also shaking up all these white sports writers who don't know nothing about black people.

And they're like, oh, my God, like, what's going on? Because I got a, so I was tweeting earlier, Doug Gottlieb, who's with Fox, he and I had some words. Oh. Yeah, because I took offense to something he said. First of all, he said, all the people who are celebrating this kid, who's making a big mistake. Well, people are like, how in the hell is he making a big mistake by going to Jackson State?

As if you haven't had players who go to the NFL from HBCU. Right. So then all of a sudden, he then responded to me, and I read the tweet to Commissioner Thomas, who was not happy. So this is what Doug said. HBCU football doesn't have close to the same support athletically, academically, medically, and they play an inferior schedule

with inferior teammates. In addition to football ends, any person would prefer to be a UGA, FSU, TAMU alum for help in the workforce. Now, what then happened was folks went after him big time on this here. And so he goes, you know, he's talking about how huge alumni base. Here's why that's idiotic. First, and I can speak as a Texas A&M graduate. One, I said, Doug, I've spoken at 60 HBCUs. I've done 18 commencements, 14 at HBCUs. That's somebody who has no idea of the number of black engineers produced at Prairie View.

Correct. Or the number of black doctors produced at Meharry. Correct. Or the number of black scientists produced at Fisk. Correct. And doesn't understand the black scientists coming out of North Carolina A&T. The robotics team at Spelman. Correct.

Doesn't know anything about the debate team at Texas Southern University. Right. And so what he's also saying is what my criticism always has been when people talk about the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues. I said, no, the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues. I said, no, the Negro Leagues was the Major Leagues. Dizzy Dean said there was more talent in the Negro Leagues. The only reason they were the Major Leagues was because they had more money, because they were white. So what Doug doesn't understand is he's talking from a position of really white supremacy of these big schools that

always were funded by the state where even your state HBCUs were not properly funded so to say all inferior academics and inferior teammates no don't act like that that did not happen for a reason that was a time players they couldn't go to the Georges and Florida and the Texas A&M. Yeah. By the way, the Negro Leagues had better numbers, too. They had better ticket sales, all of those things. In fact, there's many people that will tell you integration really, really,

really, truly hurt Negro League baseball, which was thriving and a much hotter ticket than Major League Baseball was at the time. The difference was they didn't have, economically, the money for the bigger stadiums, better lighting, better food, better travel, better uniforms. Right. But that was that was the difference between being black and white. 100 percent. And it's like it's sort of the chicken and the egg. Right. It's like, OK, so these schools may be underfunded and all of those things. Right. The only way to change those things is relevancy, talent. And how do you do that? It requires someone doing what we saw that kid did today.

I just think people speak a lot of... But here's the thing, though. He said it. I said, Doug, you clearly didn't even read his statement. He said, I want to change this for the players coming after me. Yeah, something that our white brothers and sisters will never truly understand is... It's interesting because I do speak to, you know, white friends about this,

when they would ask, like, why do you cry? Why does it affect you so much when you see a black man killed on the news or whatever? Like, I see white people killed all the time, and I don't relate the same way. And I just think that there is something that they just can't understand, which is sort of how we feel beholden to each other and how we feel good or bad, right or wrong. We feel a responsibility to our community and our family. And because we've been through so much as a community, we galvanize and rally around each other. And he'll never understand the sacrifice that this kid is making, not because he's like doing them a favor. They're a very good team. They are very talented. And he's going to be

coached by one of the greatest NFL players of all time. But the idea that he would have to inform his decision by also knowing what he's doing is trailblazing, knowing that maybe it's an easier path for him to go to a Georgia or whatever. But this is the path that he's taken for his career, for his people, for his community. And it's significant. And he just broke open the levies, I hope. You know, someone's going to look at him as the first one or the beginning of what I'm hoping is an evolution. And that's just something that some people like a Doug probably can't understand. No, feeling a responsibility to your to your community.

Well, because what we're talking about here are also institutions. I think about Dr. King's last book, Where We Go From Here, Chaos or Community. And in the book, he said there are four institutions that are prime position to liberate black America. He said the Negro church, the Negro press, he said black fraternities and sororities and business organizations. So what we're talking about here, this is not just a football conversation we're talking about pillars of our in our community or institutions so if you don't if you don't for me support black-owned media right support black churches support HBCUs then you literally don't have your community institutions that really form the basis of unifying forces in the

community. Yeah, no, it's absolutely right. There's a lot more layers to it than who's got the best facilities. Yeah, absolutely. It's a very sort of lazy take. We know that Georgia's got better facilities than most schools. Most FBS schools, right? It's a lazy take. But what people also don't realize is, again, we're going to go into history, the black town that was raised in order to create the University of Georgia. See, again, it's that stuff that people are like, oh, I didn't realize that. Yeah. Yeah. Look into Chubb Town, right? You might know Nick Chubb from his days in Georgia. But look at what Chubb Town was right near the area of Athens and what it meant and what it represented.

And, again, next time you watch Nick Chubb run, remember he's running with ancestors on his back. There you go. And there's a lot more to it. There you go. You here all week? I'm actually leaving tomorrow. I've got to go back and do SportsCenter rolling.

Okay. All right, then. Well, look, we're going to be here all week. We'll be holding it down. I'm going to just watch the stream. Oh, that's all you've got to do. I mean, I'm going to watch the stream. I know you go back and do SportsCenter, Roland. Okay. All right, then. Well, look, we're going to be here all week. We'll be holding it down. I'm going to just watch the stream. Oh, that's all you got to do. I'm going to watch the stream. I know you're going to have me covered. We're going to have it all. We were there on the tarmac when the planes got here.

You saw the talent show. Oh, yeah. We broke out into a talent show down there. It was amazing. Yeah, that was right. Even when I handed him the phone with the lyrics, it was still rough. You were like, well. Elle, good to see you. Good to see you, Roland. Tell all my friends back in Bristol I said, what's up? You know I will. the phone with the lyrics, it was still Shirov. You're like, well. Elle, good to see you. Good to see you, brother. Tell all my friends back in Bristol I said what's up.

You know I will. And tell Michael Eves when he wants to miss on the golf course, I'm still waiting. Oh, you know that spicy toss is going to get you taken. I'm just saying. There you go. You left me a challenge, Eves. Michael, I mean, you know, you ain't been playing the NFB Day Golf Tournament. Where you at, Mike?

Oh. Vegas. I know your address, E at, Mike? Ooh! Vegas. I know your address, so I will tell them. I'll be there with clubs. Good to see you. I appreciate it. Good to see you, Roland. All right, y'all.

I'm going to go to a quick commercial break. We'll be back. Roland Martin on the filter on Black Star Network live from the Royal Coca-Cola here in Atlanta, 2021, fifth annual Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl. Back in a moment. Stavros Stavros Stavros Nettopp på en viss måte. ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА I need to try it first. Black Star Network is deep. Hold no punches! I'm real revolutionary right now.

Back up! Support this man, Black Media. He makes sure that our stories are told. Thank you for being the voice of Black America, Roller. Hey, Black, I love y'all. All momentum we have now, we have to keep this going. The video looks phenomenal. See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN.

You can't be Black-owned media and be scape. It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig? Субтитры подогнал «Симон» Yo, it's your man Deon Cole from Black-ish and you're watching Roland Martin Unfiltered. Stay woke. All right, folks, welcome back to the World of Coca-Cola here in Atlanta. It has been quite the busy day. We got started today with Jackson State and South Carolina State arriving on the tarmac at Jackson Hartsfield Airport.

Our cameras were there. We were the only folks there live from the ground. You can go to our Black Star Network, see the team arriving. They were excited with the Delta, seeing those charter planes, and, of course, the program here as well. Absolutely fantastic kickoff to this 2021 Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl, pitting South Carolina State versus Jackson State. There's a lot of stuff happening, of course, for the rest of the week.

We're going to be live all week. Now, tomorrow, what's happening at 730 in the morning, it's going to be the careers in the NFL presented by the NFL. It's going to be players only. And then tomorrow evening, the reception from Coca-Cola from 6 to 7. Then there's a Champions Circle Showcase sponsored by Disney on the Yard. We don't know what that program is, but we're going to be live from the College Football Hall of Fame field

for that event as well. We're also going to be paying tribute to author Bill Hooks, who passed away today, an iconic figure in the literary and academic field. And so we'll still cover the news. We're going to have that tomorrow as well. Now, Friday, our cameras are going to be there when the team's going to be visiting the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Then it's going to be a roast and toast salute to MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas taking

place 11 a.m. on Friday. We'll be live streaming, broadcasting that as well. Then at noon on Friday, it's for the MEAC Team News Conference. We'll be covering that live as well. At 2 p.m., it's going to be the SWAC team news conference. We're going to be live streaming that as well. And then on Friday night from 7 to 9, it's going to be the SWAC Hall of Fame. We're going to be broadcasting that as well. And so then, of course, on Saturday, you're going to be from 830 to 12 of the Coca-Cola Experience and Fan Zone at the Georgia World Congress Center in National Plaza. Our cameras will be there.

We'll be broadcasting from there as well, talking to various people at the whole demonstration, all sorts of stuff that's going to be going on with the Coca-Cola Kitchen. Lots of stuff going on. Then noontime is the actual game on ABC, pitting Jackson State versus South Carolina State. You heard John Grant of ESPN said he got a big surprise for halftime. We're looking forward to that as well. And so, folks, a whole lot going on. We want to appreciate and thank Coca-Cola for partnering with us,

allowing us to be able to broadcast all of this. Our whole team is here. I know we had some technical issues earlier. We sorted through those. Those things happen with live television. And so we appreciate all of you sticking with us. We're going to put together, of course, the program, be restreaming this over the next 24 hours as well.

And so a whole lot happened. And again, we certainly appreciate everyone watching. And just tune in. Download the Black Star Network app on all platforms, Apple phone, Android phone, Apple TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Samsung, Xbox, because, folks, we got content nobody else has given you. We also want y'all to support us, what we do, by joining our Bring the Funk fan club, Cash App, Dollar Sign, RM Unfiltered,

Venmo is RM Unfiltered, Zelle is rolling at rollingismartin.com, PayPal is, of course, rmartinunfiltered. And so, again, look forward to seeing you all tomorrow. A lot of things happening here in Atlanta. Our cameras are going to be here bringing you everything. Looking forward to some great interviews with the university presidents, athletic directors, the coaches, you name it. We got all that stuff going this week from Atlanta.

And so thank you so very much to our team back in D.C. Thanks a bunch as well. I'll see you guys tomorrow from Atlanta for the 2021 Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl. Thanks a bunch. Thanks a bunch. Take care. Holla! This is an iHeart Podcast.