Great Story About Deion Sanders at a U-M Football Camp
I don't think this story has been posted on the blog before, but back in the early 1980s, Deion Sanders was at a University of Michigan football camp and his roommate was none other than James "Lights Out" Toney, the boxer from Ann Arbor who went on to win multiple world championships in three weight classes.
In the early 1980s, he was a football hotshot at Ann Arbor Huron and Michigan was apparently recruiting him as a defensive back. So it made sense at the camp that they set him up to room with Deion Sanders.
Well, the story goes that at one point during the camp, Deion came into their dorm room and claimed the bunk bed that James had already claimed for himself. So James responded by knocking him out with one punch. James got sent home and Deion decided to go to Florida State.
Here's a video of James telling the story. He mumbles a lot, but the details are all there,
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:45 AM ^
Great find for sure, OP.
This was at the top of my search results:
https://www.boxingscene.com/james-toney-even-turned-out-neon-deions-lights--15497
Deion finished HS in 1985, so it couldn't have possibly been 1986. 1984, maybe? James is a year younger, so that's plausible. I'd like to hear Deion's side of the story, unless he's repressed the memory.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:53 AM ^
Repressed/No recollection of the moments prior or right after the punch.
Damn, Dion…you got knocked the f#%k out!
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
Favorite line from the story
"It was a two hit fight. Me hitting him, and him hitting the floor"
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:51 AM ^
He mumbles a lot
well he did get punched in the face for a living for almost 30 years. one of my favorite boxers of all time.
fun fact: Toney was undefeated in his first 46(!) professional bouts before losing his first fight to another all-time great … Roy Jones Jr
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
One of the best close-in fighters I've ever seen. The dude could stand 6 inches in front of his opponent's face and slip 95% of his punches.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:25 AM ^
If he slipped 97% of the punches he wouldn't mumble.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:31 AM ^
Wouldn't that depend on the # of punches?
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
Toney was still fighting in 2015, when he was in his mid-40s. He fought a six-round exhibition LAST YEAR against Razor Ruddock at the age of 55. Dude is a badass.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:46 AM ^
It should be noted that Razor Ruddock is 60 yo and also had 3 professional bouts in 2015, although he actually retired in 2001 and came out for a few fights.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
I saw him fight once. His first draw. Like all very promising fighters, he was carefully managed to build up his career. He was up against a more experienced journeyman. He did enough damage with the very few shots he got in to get the majority draw, but it might have been a generous decision (IIRC, his opponent was named fighter of the night on that card).
As great fighters do, he learned from the experience.
Perhaps knocking out Prime Time inspired his career choice.
February 2nd, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
I lost money on that fight.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:51 AM ^
Very colorful - thanks for sharing.
Deion / Colorado have another interesting season. I don’t have a horse in the race - but, seeing the level of interest in the Buffs this Big 12 season will probably be a story i’ll follow on Big Noon and Game Day.
My guess is - we’ll begin to see more of the roster and development / scheme / game planning this season as compared to last year.
The Buffs travel to Nebraska and (I believe) play five “Way too early” Top 25 Big12 teams mostly in the second half of the season. The Big12 definitely has a new look - Oklahoma and Texas are gone - four Pac-12 teams join.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:54 AM ^
It's interesting how the season's college football narrative flipped from the Deion & the Colorado Buffs to Michigan & its Cartier Buffs.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:57 AM ^
Seeing a Michigan player put on the Buffs always brings a smile to my face.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:22 AM ^
I certainly assume the players were “good” with Jim donning the Buffs.
And, if there’s one thing I have enjoyed from Teams 142, 143, and 144 - it’s how much fun they seem to have on the field and as a team. I remember the Jump Around in Madison during the ‘21 season. I’d say at that moment - things looked and felt a bit different - in a good way.
Hoping this culture- which I believe is fantastic - can be sustained.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:34 AM ^
I think Will Johnson physically put them on Harbaugh if I remember correctly.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
I didn’t notice that - but - assuming you are correct - well - that reflects what the team thinks of him and was a great gesture.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:55 AM ^
Yup, these are the Turnover Buffs that Will Johnson sells on his website (gold legs, blue lenses), not the Cartier buffs (white bone legs, brown lenses). Ordered a pair myself!
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
link please!
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:04 PM ^
Too me 3 seconds to find on Google but I am feeling generous since it’s friday
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
They're probably pissed they didn't think of it first.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:52 AM ^
Neon Deion and Bo Schembechler would have gotten along famously.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:05 AM ^
Neon Deion and Bo Schembechler would have gotten along famously.
Really? The first time Deion did an OLE and did not come up to support the run BO might have chased him off to special teams duty.
Great athlete-
Awesome with the ball in his hands-
Made plays-
Taking on that pulling guard or sack a QB - not so much.
The Franco Harris of defense not my cup of tea prefer Woodson.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
Uhhhh. It’s called sarcasm
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:07 AM ^
Luring kids from the deep South to Michigan was then and always will be a hard pull to begin with, but the idea of him playing for Schembechler is hilarious.
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:46 PM ^
The idea of Toney playing for Schembechler is pretty hilarious too.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:57 AM ^
Any chance Toney could do it again?
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:04 AM ^
I think there are two quick views of Colorado’s ‘23 season. First, they finished with a 4-8 record, which was a notable improvement from the prior season. Second, their record in the PAC-12 was 1-8. Their lone conference win was against Arizona State by a score of 27-24.
A very interesting season awaits. And, I’ll just revel in a Michigan NC until the season opens.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:41 AM ^
Far too much noise is made about Colorado's previous season, which was an outlier. They were not a perennial 1-win team.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:07 AM ^
It's like when people would mention that Scott Frost took over an 0-12 UCF team.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:08 AM ^
I'm mostly bummed that James Toney never got to play football here. I'm thinking he would have been like Shockner from "The Longest Yard" - "You broke my fucking nose!"
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:34 AM ^
One of the most terrifying fight scenes as a child from the movie "The Deep" was with Robert Tessier (Shockner).
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:12 AM ^
true story.....
I delivered a pizza to Toney when I was at Michigan. He seemed like a cool dude and gave me a 5 dollar tip, which is a lot for those days.
Also delivered to Steve Fischer, honestly, he was a jerk.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:41 AM ^
Did Steve Fisher tell you just to put it on Ed Martin's tab?
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^
I wish.... he just scowled when my facial expression indicated that I realized who he was in order to prevent any conversation. Gave me an extra dollar and effectively slammed the door in my face.
I guess Steve just didn't know that I'm also Kind of a Big Deal.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:10 AM ^
I met Steve Fisher while we were waiting in line in a bank. He was very friendly, but the circumstances were different. He was essentially a captive audience. At least, he banked like your average Joe.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^
That is indeed a very cool find but a very disturbing story. Who fucking punches someone over a bunk bed at a camp?
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:10 AM ^
Well, he turned it into a lucrative career, so....
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:26 AM ^
probably someone who wants to punch people for a living. someone like, say, James lights out Toney.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:43 AM ^
I'm sure the exchange was a bit more heated and drawn out than, "that's my bed" - "f you" - knockout punch.
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:08 PM ^
My money would be on the Deion making some kind of Showtime statement after moving Toney's stuff - and not expecting the local kid to do anything about it - guess that didnt work out well.
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:48 PM ^
Have you ever roomed with Deion? I'm just saying.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^
James Toney fought an exhibition against Razor Ruddock JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO on Nov. 11, 2023 - the same day we beat Penn State. So yes, I think he's perfectly capable of doing this again.
Here's the fight:
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:51 PM ^
Yikes. Father Time is undefeated.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
It's pretty rude to get me thinking of the possibility of Deion on those teams at the end of the Bo era.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
According to an old Daily story I found, the campers were housed at South Quad and East Quad.
I'm still giggling about Deion Sanders getting punched in the face by James Toney over a bunk bed at South Quad.
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
If I recall, FSU ended up playing Michigan in the Big House when Deion was at FSU in the mid-1980s. Deion did not have a good game. I think he picked up a pass interference and was otherwise not useful. But I'm glad he got to play in the Big House and I'm glad to see him doing well at Colorado.