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Texas athletes petitioning University to replace "The Eyes of Texas" and to no longer require athletes to sing it

Goo Punch

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Deej
Deej

Considering it is sung to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad", shouldn't the Chinese students be the ones with the problem?

NorthLoop
NorthLoop

I'm a Trump hating liberal and hope the Republican party withers and dies before my children are of voting age.  That being said....  The song isn't racist. The bullshit 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon

crash_davis
crash_davis

I don't like some if the demands but I'm not a black athlete representing the University of Texas. I don't know what it's like to deal with the fucked up system that they've grown up under.  Fuck

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LTtxfan

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USA TODAY.... by Brian Davis

Eyes of Texas’ report details song’s complicated history but determines ‘no racist intent’

Quote

‘The University of Texas released a comprehensive 95-page report Tuesday detailing the complex history of “The Eyes of Texas” school song, determining that while it debuted at a 1903 minstrel show, there was “no racist intent.”

A 24-person committee was tasked with researching the song’s history and cataloging anything remotely possible about the song’s origins and historical use. The school believes the report uncovers important facts and historical context never known before.

In an executive summary, the committee determined, “These historical facts add complexity and richness to the story of a song that debuted in a racist setting, exceedingly common for the time, but, as the preponderance of research showed, had no racist intent."

Social justice issues brought to light last summer triggered an ideological controversy over the century-old song sung at football games, graduations, weddings and funerals. Texas President Jay Hartzell had already announced “The Eyes” would remain in place despite criticism from all sides, both on campus and off.

Richard Reddick, associate dean for equity, community engagement and outreach in Texas’ College of Education who served as the committee's chairman, said this report “does not have a vindication or a smoking gun.”

Texas officials are hopeful that anyone with a passing interest in the topic will read the report and make their own determinations. No UT student will be forced to sing "The Eyes" at events, Hartzell said. 

“Courageously confronting your history, you don't get to say ‘What starts here changes the world,’ and just mean it for things that are comfortable,” Reddick said in an interview. "It has to be everything.”

The final report states the song, which debuted at a minstrel show on May 12, 1903, was “almost certainly” performed by white singers in blackface. While not written as a song meant to disparage any race, the report states, “we are pained and uncomfortable with this aspect of its history.”

Throughout the years, having this song on a once-segregated campus “has, understandably, blurred the lines between intent and historical and contemporary impact,” the report states.

“The research leads us to surmise that intent of the ‘Eyes of Texas’ was not overtly racist,” the committee determined. “However, it is similarly clear that the cultural milieu that produced it was.”

No connection to Robert E. Lee

The committee found no direct link to Confederate general Robert E. Lee regarding the phrase “the Eyes of the South are upon you,” which has long been thought as the song’s lyrical inspiration. Researchers at Washington and Lee University could find no evidence that Lee said that as the school’s president in the 1860s, the report states.

The anecdote was traced back to a memoir published in 1938. Retired Texas engineering dean Thomas Taylor wrote about how UT President William Prather had given a speech to incoming medical students on Nov. 15, 1900. Taylor tied Lee’s words to Prather, but there is no supporting verification in transcripts from Prather’s speech.

“Absence of evidence, of course, is not proof of absence,” Texas’s report states. “But if the phrase was as common with Lee as Taylor asserted, one would expect some supporting evidence.”

The lyrics were penned by Texas student John Lang Sinclair, a yearbook editor and UT band member, at the urging of Lewis Johnson, a director of the University Chorus. Johnson believed that Texas needed a school song that “students could sing as proudly as the students of Harvard or Princeton sang their school songs,” the report states.

Sinclair drew his inspiration from Prather, who said often “the Eyes of Texas are upon you.” The tune borrows a medley from “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” a noted slave work song. The report says it was “a popular melody that many Texas students already knew.”

According to Johnson’s “extensive” family records, the lyrics “Do not think you can escape them/At night or early in the morn” had specific purpose, the report states.

Some have come to believe those lyrics are a reference for slave owners to watch Blacks. Johnson’s family records state that those words were “a direct statement to the student body (overwhelmingly white at that time) that the elders of the state and the previous generations are watching them and expecting them to do great things with their education.”

The Daily Texan, the school newspaper, printed an article on Nov. 30, 1922, with the headline “'Eyes of Texas’ Considered Joke When Introduced.” The entire song was meant to poke fun at Prather. It was well received at the time and even sung at Prather’s funeral in 1905. 

Despite that, UT’s report does not shy away from the fact it was performed at a minstrel show, which doubled as a fundraiser for the Texas track team. Over the years, the question has been raised whether the performers wore blackface. 

“The answer is: Most probably, yes,” the report states. “The surviving contemporary accounts don’t allow a direct, definitive answer. Neither the printed program for the show nor reviews afterward identified cast members as specifically wearing blackface or not. No photographs from the show have been found.”

‘The Eyes’ becomes legend

As time passed, “The Eyes of Texas” became engrained in the school’s DNA. The report goes into considerable detail how the song was used during times of protest and peace, once performed by Elvis Presley and played on the surface of the moon.

The school has never tried to hide the fact “The Eyes” was first performed at a minstrel show. Others have tried to have the song changed or done away with in the past. All those efforts were rebuffed.

The report states that George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, and “the ensuing protests around the country and world” gave the issue new attention. UT athletes, including many in the football program, prepared a list of “demands,” the report states, that addressed UT’s racial history.

Texas officials agreed to change the name of several buildings while the athletic department made a series of other changes. UT renamed the football field in honor of its two Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. The Longhorns also erected a statue to honor Julius Whittier, UT’s first Black football letterman.

The players wanted “The Eyes” removed, though. Members of the Longhorn Band got involved, and some opted not to play the song. The band was effectively suspended for the football season when no agreement could be reached.

The Longhorns jogged off the field the first two home games and ignored the song playing over the loudspeakers. It was thought in September this would be the new normal. 

Then against Oklahoma, UT quarterback Sam Ehlinger was one of the few players that stayed on the field with his "Horns Up" while the song played and fans sang. Photos of Ehlinger appearing to stand alone in the Cotton Bowl ricocheted around the UT universe, sparking a massive backlash and emails directed at Hartzell. 

The locker room was divided, as some Black players demanded the song go instantly. Former coach Tom Herman had to start his Monday press conference on Oct. 12 by reading a prepared statement about the song's importance while balancing his players' requests.

After Texas played Baylor on Oct, 24, the players voted to stay on the field, as requested by UT athletic director Chris Del Conte. Many of them just stood out there, hands on hips, while some did the "Hook 'em Horns" hand gesture. A few players took a knee. It wasn't ideal, but the move seemed to calm things down. 

Hartzell said he would meet with the football team Tuesday morning as they were the first major group to initiate the conversation. 

New football coach Steve Sarkisian left no room for interpretation at his introductory press conference in January. “I know this much, ‘The Eyes of Texas' is our school song,” he said on Jan. 12. “We’re going to sing that song. We’re going to sing that song proudly.”

No UT athlete, like other students, will be forced to sing “The Eyes” after games. Athletes have been asked to stay on the field during the traditional post-game singing as a way to show team unity. 

The school plans on teaching future students about the song’s history. 

Still, for some, the song may be a deal-breaker. Those who believe the song is racist will likely continue to feel that way and vice versa. But Hartzell said that “my vision” this fall is to have 100,000 fans packed into Royal-Memorial Stadium as the Longhorn Band plays "The Eyes" before and after the season opener.

“I really hope that's not the way people think of this, as a binary decision about being involved in (the) university or don't, based on belief about a song,” Hartzell said in an interview.

“I think it's incumbent upon us as university leaders to do the best we can to build a culture where you and I can disagree over the song — whether we want to sing it, whether we want to put our Horns up, whether we want to go to a football game, whether we want to listen to the band. We can disagree with all that, but we’re both still Longhorns,” he added.

“That’s a tough cultural thing I think to get right,” the UT president said. “But I think that’s the goal. And this report is just a tool to try to get closer to that place, rather than a tool to try to let people make a choice whether they’re in or they're out.”   

Contact Brian Davis at 512-445-3957. Email bdavis@statesman.com or @BDavisAAS.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2021/03/09/eyes-of-texas-committee-report-determines-song-no-racist-intent/4642140001/

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BurntOrange&White

BurntOrange&White 41649

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Just now, David Dennison said:

And the University published that conventional wisdom on it's website for years. It was still on the University website as recently as last week.

I assume that is no longer the case, but I haven't looked.

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the livelong day.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Do not think you can escape them
At night or early in the morn --
The Eyes of Texas are upon you
Til Gabriel blows his horn.

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Guest Lobo

Guest Lobo

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As an olive branch to all sides, I'd like the list of low-level dipshits who sent these messages to Hartzell and to current athletes with these vague threats...to be published.  SO we can widely ridicule them.  

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David Dennison

David Dennison 19441

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1 minute ago, BurntOrange&White said:

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the livelong day.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Do not think you can escape them
At night or early in the morn --
The Eyes of Texas are upon you
Til Gabriel blows his horn.

And I will have my Horns Up and sing it at the end of every game, just like I always do.

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PassiveAggressiveCoach

PassiveAggressiveCoach 118

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11 minutes ago, LTtxfan said:

USA TODAY.... by Brian Davis

Eyes of Texas’ report details song’s complicated history but determines ‘no racist intent’

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2021/03/09/eyes-of-texas-committee-report-determines-song-no-racist-intent/4642140001/

Clearly DD has done more research than this tiny committee.

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Jerry Callo

Jerry Callo 8952

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57 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

The student-athletes not only don't have to sing the song, they don't have to stick around for it if they choose not to.

That's a big deal.

Maybe the student-athletes will see the song for what it is and not for what they were erroneously told it was.

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babysdaddy

babysdaddy 2731

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13 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

And the University published that conventional wisdom on it's website for years. It was still on the University website as recently as last week.

I assume that is no longer the case, but I haven't looked.

Just take the L bro.  

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po elvis

po elvis 2137

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2 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

But now it's up to them. That's a good thing.

it has always been up to them. if they truly think it is racist, they leave or don't come here. they have always had the choice. to stay here, play football for this school, then leave the field as 100,000 fans sing a "racist" song makes no sense. if you feel enough to leave the field, then you should feel enough to leave the school.

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RollLeft

RollLeft 5088

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I humbly ask that all posters in this thread accept the challenge to do God's work and now go out and find some actual racist shit from the historical archives of OU, Bama, tOSU and Aggy history.  Then put that shit on twitter blast.  Godspeed! 

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UncleSonny

UncleSonny 6790

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55 minutes ago, Johnny Sack said:

When was anyone ever required to sing or stay on field?

Quote

Athletic director Chris Del Conte said there was an "expectation'' players at least stand "in unison'' for the song to honor the school and fans. 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30184792/texas-players-stay-field-eyes-texas-win-baylor

The last bullet point of the letter that started all of this was lifting the requirement of athletes to sing the song

image.png.8438a756e2cd352cf72d6d40a1ea41e7.png

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ousux

ousux 5635

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The song itself is not important , the reason behind the singing is. It doesn't matter if its written by John Sinclair or Darude unless the artist or the lyrics subvert the entire reason you're singing in the first place. People get too hung up on the what of the singing and forget the why.
People have no issue driving Volkswagen products even if theyre aware it was originally commissioned by Hitler to provide affordable cars for the German people...or Mercedes who provided custom cars to shuttle Nazi officials around during the war.

Oh, and VW owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati (among other nameplates not sold in the US)..so can't buy any of those products either if we use the same logic tied to the EOT.

So yes, like you said..the meaning behind singing it is the important thing.
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David Dennison

David Dennison 19441

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7 minutes ago, po elvis said:

it has always been up to them. if they truly think it is racist, they leave or don't come here. they have always had the choice. to stay here, play football for this school, then leave the field as 100,000 fans sing a "racist" song makes no sense. if you feel enough to leave the field, then you should feel enough to leave the school.

Now they can blow off the Eyes of Texas if they want to. That's new.

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Js1

Js1 86939

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10 minutes ago, RollLeft said:

I humbly ask that all posters in this thread accept the challenge to do God's work and now go out and find some actual racist shit from the historical archives of OU, Bama, tOSU and Aggy history.  Then put that shit on twitter blast.  Godspeed! 

I think you could probably find something on aggy from like, 3 hours ago if you tried hard enough? 

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927 E. 41st

927 E. 41st 1124

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18 minutes ago, Johnny Sack said:

As I suspected.  Was my problem with that Tribune Article, it was vague and poorly written so that one could conclude it was major donors sending racist emails. Was probably some dipshits who gave $50 once.

I think you're spot on. 

For a donor of long standing or great means, it's not really necessary to say much. And it would be a courtisy to let them know you are about to pull your funding and why. Otherwise, if you just pull the funding you really didn't give them the chance to have a conversation about your concerns. Would work the same way no matter which side of a particular fence you're on. 

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927 E. 41st

927 E. 41st 1124

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Just now, Nueces River Rat said:

The song NEVER had any racial undertones and only became a narrative because some of the adults in the room should have said right then and there this was not the case.  

 

There were no adults in the room, only Tom.

 

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David Dennison

David Dennison 19441

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1 minute ago, Nueces River Rat said:

The song NEVER had any racial undertones and only became a narrative because some of the adults in the room should have said right then and there this was not the case.  

The University bears some responsibility for this. It promoted the Lee narrative for years. 

 

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futureman

futureman 22664

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25 minutes ago, ousux said:

People have no issue driving Volkswagen products even if theyre aware it was originally commissioned by Hitler to provide affordable cars for the German people...or Mercedes who provided custom cars to shuttle Nazi officials around during the war.

Oh, and VW owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati (among other nameplates not sold in the US)..so can't buy any of those products either if we use the same logic tied to the EOT.

have you ever ridden in a thyssenkrupp elevator?

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Tex-19

Tex-19 3009

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12 minutes ago, ousux said:

People have no issue driving Volkswagen products even if theyre aware it was originally commissioned by Hitler to provide affordable cars for the German people...or Mercedes who provided custom cars to shuttle Nazi officials around during the war.

Oh, and VW owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati (among other nameplates not sold in the US)..so can't buy any of those products either if we use the same logic tied to the EOT.

So yes, like you said..the meaning behind singing it is the important thing.

Don't forget BMW, Hugo Boss, and I'm sure many others.

If people start boycotting anything with past connections to racism, might as well just get rid of anything created before the mid 90s. You think companies like Ford and coca-cola never had segregated or racist policies? It's unfortunate but a reality that can't possibly be changed.

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po elvis

po elvis 2137

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19 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

Now they can blow off the Eyes of Texas if they want to. That's new.

I don't think this will be an issue. Sarkisian and CDC will bring in African Americans from the committee to talk with the players. They will discuss their findings. As a team, they will agree the song isn't racist and no reason to not embrace it.

Now the LHB will be a different story. There will be a bunch of fragile little shits who despite everything are so obsessed by appearing to be one of the "good" white people that they won't care about truth and facts.

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sheeeit

sheeeit 129

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5 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

And I will have my Horns Up and sing it at the end of every game, just like I always do.

The irony of this post is off the charts.  DD's claims:

1) It is an absolute fact that the song has racist origins

2) It doesn't matter if the song is actually racist or not if our black athletes think it is then we should respect their feelings and no one should get to tell them what they should be offended about

"If you say so, but it's clear that the EOT is no longer a unifying tradition at the University of Texas."

So after 100s of pages of telling people that the song is racist, that even if it is not racist it doesn't matter if it is or not if black people, especially black athletes, think that it is racist then we should do away with it.  You fully admit to having always sung the song after games and will continue to do so.  So you admit that continued to sing a song that you admit was considered offensive and racist by the players.  You continued to sing a song and will continue to sing it even though you claim it is "no longer a unifying tradition at the University of Texas."  Who is the fucking racist here.  As usual, you and your ilk have zero true principles and zero character.

 

 

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David Dennison

David Dennison 19441

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1 minute ago, po elvis said:

I don't think this will be an issue. Sarkisian and CDC will bring in African Americans from the committee to talk with the players. They will discuss their findings. As a team, they will agree the song isn't racist and no reason to not embrace it.

Now the LHB will be a different story. There will be a bunch of fragile little shits who despite everything are so obsessed by appearing to be one of the "good" white people that they won't care about truth and facts.

But if a player chooses not to stay on the field for the Eyes of Texas, that's OK. 

It's a good compromise.

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Nueces River Rat

Nueces River Rat 5739

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10 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

The University bears some responsibility for this. It promoted the Lee narrative for years. 

 

Yea.  Robert E Lee who died in 1870 should be on the hook for this.    It's stupid it's even mentioned in this report as it looks like it was an attempt to try to make a link...   That's kind of like making the modern day Mercedes Benz part of Hitler's legacy and if we want to hold society to those standards,  get the junk yards and scrap metal dealers ready because every MB should be disposed of because of their links to one of the worst humans to ever walk the planet.

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futureman

futureman 22664

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1 minute ago, po elvis said:

fragile little shits who despite everything are so obsessed by appearing to be one of the "good" white people that they won't care about truth and facts.

easily the absolute worst of anyone even tangentially involved with this. 

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Huckleberry

Huckleberry 34407

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37 minutes ago, ousux said:

People have no issue driving Volkswagen products even if theyre aware it was originally commissioned by Hitler to provide affordable cars for the German people...or Mercedes who provided custom cars to shuttle Nazi officials around during the war.

Oh, and VW owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati (among other nameplates not sold in the US)..so can't buy any of those products either if we use the same logic tied to the EOT.

So yes, like you said..the meaning behind singing it is the important thing.

Well that's one of the reasons I have never purchased and will never purchase anything from any of those companies. You should see me excoriate the Merc fans on the F1 threads. So there.

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JesusSweatDuck

JesusSweatDuck 18045

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2 minutes ago, Nueces River Rat said:

Yea.  Robert E Lee who died in 1870 should be on the hook for this.    It's stupid it's even mentioned in this report as it looks like it was an attempt to try to make a link...   That's kind of like making the modern day Mercedes Benz any German car maker part of Hitler's legacy and if we want to hold society to those standards,  get the junk yards and scrap metal dealers ready because every MB should be disposed of because of their links to one of the worst humans to ever walk the planet.

FIFY

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