The most memorable quotes (so far) from Prairie View A&M coach Tremaine Jackson

When Prairie View A&M head football coach Tremaine Jackson posted his viral list of non-negotiable transfer portal recruitment rules in April, he wasn’t just sending a message on social media. The five rules outlined the foundation of a new regime at Prairie View built on discipline and unwavering commitment to his vision.

That post became the blueprint for what Jackson expected from anyone wearing a Prairie View uniform, and the rules signaled that the program was entering a new era under a coach who refuses to compromise on culture.

“We are a parentally coached program where our players do what we tell them to do in a society that negotiates with them a lot,” Jackson said Monday. “Those that didn’t buy in are no longer on our roster, are no longer in our building, so it’s not very hard for us. We made it very clear on the front end how we were going to run our program and how we were going to take care of our business. Everybody had a decision to make.”

Jackson rebuilt the Panthers’ roster, with 70 newcomers and only 30 returners. He challenged players early, reminding them they had nothing to lose by embracing his vision and everything to gain. In his first season, he elevated a 5-7 Prairie View team, delivering a winning record (10-3 overall, 7-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference), the program’s first conference title since 2009, and its first Celebration Bowl appearance.

Prairie View will face South Carolina State on Saturday for the Black college football national championship. For Myles McHaney IV, a former Prairie View A&M defensive end who helped lead the Panthers to the SWAC championship game in 2023, the team’s breakthrough carries a deeper pride. McHaney said Jackson has transformed the program into a disciplined, competitive, and prepared football team.

The Panthers’ future is bright under Jackson, he said.

“Prairie View showing up in the Celebration Bowl is monumental,” McHaney said. “This championship game brings huge television exposure, national recognition, and a spotlight on Prairie View’s turnaround under coach Tremaine Jackson. That kind of visibility can help the program attract higher-level recruits.”

Under Jackson, the Panthers’ defense led the SWAC in scoring and total defense, after finishing sixth and seventh in those categories a season ago. Offensively, the Panthers finished the season ranked No. 3 in the SWAC in scoring offense and total offense, averaging 31.1 points per game and 430.8 yards of offense. Quarterback Cameron Peters finished No. 2 in the conference in passing yards, throwing for 2,386 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Running back Chase Bingmon finished No. 3 in the SWAC in rushing yards in the conference with 880 this season and eight touchdowns.

Jackson’s rise at Prairie View is no surprise to those who watched him build Valdosta State into a Division II powerhouse, going 30-9 over three seasons and finishing as the NCAA Division II championship runner-up in 2024. He was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coach of the Year a season ago after finishing with a 13-1 overall record. In six years of head coaching experience, Jackson has finished with a losing record only once.

Unlike programs experiencing a championship week for the first time, Jackson’s staff already understood the importance of managing short rest, travel, recovery, and preparation without disrupting the structure players rely on. This week, Jackson said the goal is to keep players grounded in their routine.

“Even though it’s our first time in the Celebration Bowl, it’s not our first time in a major championship game,” Jackson said. “If we didn’t have those experiences, we would be kind of panicking now, but everybody’s been straightforward. We knew how to come back from a championship game. We knew what we need to do on [Saturday], and so there’s no panic here. There’s no rush, there’s no frenzy.”

With the Panthers settled into their rhythm and embracing the moment, here are some of Jackson’s most memorable quotes from this season, moments that made us laugh and that underscored the culture he’s building at Prairie View.

Jackson’s transfer portal recruiting rules:

At his introductory news conference:

“It’s time for us to win the SWAC. It’s time for us to play in the Celebration Bowl.”

After Prairie View defeated Southern 24-3 in the latter’s homecoming game:

“Happy homecoming. I want it to be a cold day in hell before they schedule us again for homecoming.”

On his name being in contention for the University of Alabama at Birmingham job:

“We’re flattered, but it has no bearing on what we’re trying to get done. It’s not going to be the last time that we come out on the list. And so let’s just go ahead and put that out there, and the articles can start. Our guys are focused on keeping the main thing the main thing, as are our coaches, as am I, and so that’s just part of it.

“We’d rather it [be] that way than nobody talking about you because that means you’re a loser. Nobody’s talking about you all, that means you haven’t positioned your career to be at places where people want to talk about you.”

On whether he would rest players against Mississippi Valley after already securing the SWAC West title:

“It’s funny you asked me that because I had my neighbor ask me were we gonna sit people out because it doesn’t matter if we win. And me and my neighbor ain’t friends today because everything matters. We don’t sit people out. That’s not how we go about our business. This ain’t the NFL.”

On his mission at Prairie View:

“Man, I’m living out the prayers of my grandmother, and I know what I prayed for, and I know what’s been prayed for. For me, coaching is a calling for me. I ain’t no preacher. Man, my pulpit is outside on this field, and we’re developing men and we’re giving guys opportunities to have great futures. … I didn’t make any promises. I just told people what was going to happen. We’ve been here before, and there’s no disrespect to anybody. We just really believe in what we believe in. And so it’s shocking to me, just like it’s shocking to some people that we say it when we say it. It’s shocking to me that people don’t believe us.”

On making difficult decisions before and during the season:

“I hope that [it] doesn’t sound cocky – when people say they want to fire you, you learn lessons real quick. You either gonna keep negotiating or you’re gonna do it your way. We played a song from Frank Sinatra when we walked into every building that we come into, “My Way.” This is the way it’s gonna go, and it’s from the top down. We don’t negotiate with anybody.”

On assembling a championship team with 70 new players:

“Our team is free. Nobody’s getting paid, and that’s not normal. In 2025 our quarterback don’t make $25,000. We don’t have anybody getting paid to play football. These guys are playing for the love of each other, for the love of the opportunity that Prairie View A&M gave them. And so it’s really exciting for us because a lot of people say we can’t get it done without paying people.

“So when you write your stories, we’re not taking the lunch money and breaking it up over the month. We’re not doing it. Nobody’s getting paid. You get a scholarship, and some of them don’t get that, so these guys are playing for one another.”

His message to recruits for the 2026 season:

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