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

[Mole 4320]

It might be constructive to look at how South Africa dealt with their song problem. When the Apartheid regime fell, the old national anthem was rightly seen by many as the voice of the oppressors. At times, it was directly used as a voice of oppression. The anti-apartheid movement had adopted "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" as a sort of national anthem. Under Mandela, the two songs were combined into a single national anthem, as a symbol of reconciliation. It was messy and at times ugly. It wasn't without criticism, but I would say that it's largely been a force for unity. At lot of the ugliness and redemption played out through the national rugby team. Texas athletes have a real opportunity to lead and I'm happy they're taking this opportunity. 

[Js1 85156]

1 hour ago, US183 said:

As each day goes by and being a season ticket holder since 1984, I feel more comfortable with my decision to not renew my season tickets this year. 

Then I guess someone who isn’t a bitch will enjoy your seats. 

[SHOOTER12 8791]

Jesus, fuck all this shit.  That is all.

[tchookem 3900]

Star-Spangled Banner was written by a man who owned slaves, so we should get rid of that one too, right?
I understand why the origins are controversial and why we shouldn't force those that don't want to sing it to sing it, but the argument that the origins of the song and not the contents invalidate the song is a slippery slope. 

Oh man, do I have news for you.

[hornian 5207]

1 hour ago, CycleTex87 said:

I’ve known the words to “The Eyes” as long as I can remember.  I sang it to each of my children as I carried them away from the delivery room.  I would hate to see it go away. 

That’s kind of weird man. I love UT, but I wasn’t thinking about the university at all in the hospital when my kids were born.  

[Macanudo 12936]

1 hour ago, CycleTex87 said:

I’ve known the words to “The Eyes” as long as I can remember.  I sang it to each of my children as I carried them away from the delivery room.  I would hate to see it go away. 

It hit me yesterday when Macanudo-ette #1 asked me about this.  Bed time for my girls when we were in Alaska and Washington included The Eyes of Texas.  

One night in Alaska when Macanudo-ette #1 was about 18 months old, it had been a majorly trying day in Macanudoland.  Due to drama with Mrs. Macanudo I was not on my game and that included not singing The Eyes of Texas to my daughter.  I put her to bed.  A few minutes went by and then.....  "Daddy........    Daddy.........."   Over and over.

  I was tired.  I was frazzled.   I was worn out.  I walked back upstairs to her room and all but flung the door open.  As I walked in, her little voice said......  " You didnt sing Texas."   I blundered my way through it. 

The Eyes of Texas is something special.

[ousux 5588]

So are you saying the next time a white person is unjustly murdered by police, people should not protest it because the vast majority of white people are killed by white people and they should focus on that instead? That's what you're implying.

Key words are "unjustly" and "murdered"...those are things that used to be decided in front of a judge and jury...before the internet that is. These days the rioters dont even wait for an aquittal certain members of the public may think is the wrong verdict..

I mean, how many police shootings/aided in a suspects death occur when a supect is complying and not resisting arrest, and unarmed on top of that? Yes, those do happen (usually poor trigger discipline and panicky cop) and should be prosecuted...but if we focus ONLY on those cases it makes everything we've seen the past two weeks look like a huge overreaction.

[Born to Run 6568]

War on drugs, AKA, the war on non whites.

It's crazy how fucked up whites were on everything under the sun throughout this war. They could afford the better drugs and of course a better attorney

[mdleast 8285]

Key words are "unjustly" and "murdered"...those are things that used to be decided in front of a judge and jury...before the internet that is. These days the rioters dont even wait for an aquittal certain members of the public may think is the wrong verdict..

I mean, how many police shootings/aided in a suspects death occur when a supect is complying and not resisting arrest, and unarmed on top of that? Yes, those do happen (usually poor trigger discipline and panicky cop) and should be prosecuted...but if we focus ONLY on those cases it makes everything we've seen the past two weeks look like a huge overreaction.

[ChiTownDoc 21107]

44 minutes ago, ousux said:

Key words are "unjustly" and "murdered"...those are things that used to be decided in front of a judge and jury...before the internet that is. These days the rioters dont even wait for an aquittal certain members of the public may think is the wrong verdict..

I mean, how many police shootings/aided in a suspects death occur when a supect is complying and not resisting arrest, and unarmed on top of that? Yes, those do happen (usually poor trigger discipline and panicky cop) and should be prosecuted...but if we focus ONLY on those cases it makes everything we've seen the past two weeks look like a huge overreaction.

Lmao.  Panicky cop.  😂

Edited June 15, 2020 by ChiTownDoc

[OU Sucks 8749]

1 hour ago, ousux said:

Key words are "unjustly" and "murdered"...those are things that used to be decided in front of a judge and jury...before the internet that is. These days the rioters dont even wait for an aquittal certain members of the public may think is the wrong verdict..

I mean, how many police shootings/aided in a suspects death occur when a supect is complying and not resisting arrest, and unarmed on top of that? Yes, those do happen (usually poor trigger discipline and panicky cop) and should be prosecuted...but if we focus ONLY on those cases it makes everything we've seen the past two weeks look like a huge overreaction.

Uh what?  First off, I was just giving some random scenario because the poster continually stated BLM should be protesting all the black on black killings, too.  The point I was trying to make was that if that's the case, white people should protest all the white on white murders when they protest something, too (the stat is something like 82% white/white murders vs 90% black/black murders -- very similar and a strange stat to try to build some kind of argument around).  I think after watching the video and having the cops walk free for days with no charges, it was perfectly fine for people to protest when they did.  When this pattern happens time after time after time, do you really think people need to wait a year and half until the cop is acquitted to protest?  Chances are the cops wouldn't have even been charged had there not been any public reaction.

Edited June 15, 2020 by OU Sucks

[futureman 22427]

2 hours ago, Mole said:

It might be constructive to look at how South Africa dealt with their song problem.

it would also be constructive to look at what rhodesia became and what south africa is becoming and try not to do that. 

[What? 13]

7 hours ago, Apex73 said:

Micheondra Williams, a College of Liberal Arts sociology major, learned about the alma mater's history from a friend.

"I have to admit that I was a little bit shocked to read about the song's history," she said. "But there aren't any words that put me down or degrade me, or make me feel negatively about myself or anyone else."

That's the part you left out. Try to be more professional in the future sir.

That's a quote from a different person than the one I originally cited.  Why would I include that?  The point is you said you never heard of it being an issue for UT students until a few days ago.  However, as the article pointed out, it has been raised before.  Some students were okay with the song, some were made uncomfortable by it, the part I "cut off" doesn't change either side of that equation.  You've really got your panties in a bundle over this.  Again, no one is stopping you from from bellowing minstrel songs at student athletes during football games.

[NorthLoop 14122]

7 hours ago, Mole said:

It might be constructive to look at how South Africa dealt with their song problem. When the Apartheid regime fell, the old national anthem was rightly seen by many as the voice of the oppressors. At times, it was directly used as a voice of oppression. The anti-apartheid movement had adopted "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" as a sort of national anthem. Under Mandela, the two songs were combined into a single national anthem, as a symbol of reconciliation. It was messy and at times ugly. It wasn't without criticism, but I would say that it's largely been a force for unity. At lot of the ugliness and redemption played out through the national rugby team. Texas athletes have a real opportunity to lead and I'm happy they're taking this opportunity. 

I got The Eyes of Texas callin a young nigga phone

All the live long day with the mothafuckin' dope 

The Eyes be ballin' like a mothafuckin' pro 

You cannot get away from my nigga Mo (Bamba, bitch) 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21784]

So what happens in the unlikely event that the team gets a bid to the Cotton Bowl?

[landman 559]

9 hours ago, CycleTex87 said:

I’ve known the words to “The Eyes” as long as I can remember.  I sang it to each of my children as I carried them away from the delivery room.  I would hate to see it go away. 

It's a special song to a lot of people.  The first song my boys learned was The Eyes of Texas from my mother.  My grandfather taught it to me.  I sang it with my family in Omaha and at the Rose Bowl and thousands of other times with tens of thousands of other people.  My dad requested we sing it at his memorial service 13 years ago.   

And it's a stretch to tie it to racism because of the timing.  Hook'em Horns was first used when the football team was all white.  Does it need to go away?  Dirty Martin's likely didn't serve black people at one time.  Do we need to burn it down?

[Fuck Tim Beck 3806]

24 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

So what happens in the unlikely event that the team gets a bid to the Cotton Bowl?

[Macanudo 12936]

38 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

So what happens in the unlikely event that the team gets a bid to the Cotton Bowl?

Actually, we play at ths Cotton Bowl every year.  Should we stop the best tradition in college football?

[Bama Llama 1447]

Song tossing discussion will soon be spreading to a couple of SEC fanbases:

1. Last line in lyrics of "Yea, Alabama!" - "You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide."

2. Last line to "War Eagle" - "War Eagle, win for Auburn, power of Dixieland."

I say we figure out a way to come out of all this better than ever.  Step one: listen.

 

 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21784]

Actually, we play at ths Cotton Bowl every year.  Should we stop the best tradition in college football?

It’s not my place to say the players should mind performing unpaid labor in the Cotton Bowl

[Armybrat 40755]

Unpaid? 
we are sending our non-Pell Grant walkons?

[ImissWallyPryor 9045]

8 hours ago, Macanudo said:

It hit me yesterday when Macanudo-ette #1 asked me about this.  Bed time for my girls when we were in Alaska and Washington included The Eyes of Texas.  

One night in Alaska when Macanudo-ette #1 was about 18 months old, it had been a majorly trying day in Macanudoland.  Due to drama with Mrs. Macanudo I was not on my game and that included not singing The Eyes of Texas to my daughter.  I put her to bed.  A few minutes went by and then.....  "Daddy........    Daddy.........."   Over and over.

  I was tired.  I was frazzled.   I was worn out.  I walked back upstairs to her room and all but flung the door open.  As I walked in, her little voice said......  " You didnt sing Texas."   I blundered my way through it. 

The Eyes of Texas is something special.

So, your nighttime routine with your daughter included mocking black people and celebrating slavery?  That’s weird. 

[Js1 85156]

1 hour ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

So what happens in the unlikely event that the team gets a bid to the Cotton Bowl?

Then we missed the god damn playoffs AGAIN

[Fuck Tim Beck 3806]

The team will never be able to play anywhere but DKR after this because at some point they would have to cross

a set of railroad tracks. And railroad tracks are racist because "The Eyes" is set to the tune of I've been working on the railroad. 

And "The Eyes" is racist because it was performed at a minstrel show, thus by association making railroad tracks racist. 

 

 

[Armybrat 40755]

Don’t get me started on MoPac then.

[TreatyOak 16172]

Hey, if the decision is made to change the names of campus buildings and drop "the Eyes of Texas," it's fine with me. I think an even better idea would be to contribute a portion of the athletic budget to assist black colleges. 

What I am concerned about is the Longhorns winning football games. I want our team to make me proud to be a Lifetime Longhorn. 

But if this team tanks in the upcoming season, I don't want all the people here clamoring for change to post that "they've never been more proud of the Longhorn players, blah, blah, blah."

We are proud of championships. 

Hook 'em

  

Edited June 15, 2020 by TreatyOak

[NorthLoop 14122]

9 minutes ago, Fuck Tim Beck said:

The team will never be able to play anywhere but DKR after this because at some point they would have to cross

 

DKR coached the last all-white team that UT had. We'll have to rename the stadium or play somewhere else. 

[TXSG8R 3360]

I thought the athletes request was at a minimum, to not be forced to sing the song after games?  That seems reasonable.  How did some of you jump from that to burning down the campus or the US constitution?  

[NeverMarryAStripper 21784]

53 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Then we missed the god damn playoffs AGAIN

Cotton Bowl is not a playoff game this year

[UTEX_ME 4754]

So does CDC or Interim Prez make a statement today? 

[Js1 85156]

6 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Cotton Bowl is not a playoff game this year

Isn’t that what I said 

“what happens if Tom makes the cotton bowl?”

cotton bowl = not a playoff game in 2021 

“then we missed the playoffs AGAIN”

[MonkeyDoughnut 10154]

17 minutes ago, TXSG8R said:

I thought the athletes request was at a minimum, to not be forced to sing the song after games?  That seems reasonable.  How did some of you jump from that to burning down the campus or the US constitution?  

Still a lot of people that don't get it and proving the point that they aren't listening and not hearing what is being said.

[TexasPride10 573]

2 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

So what happens in the unlikely event that the team gets a bid to the Cotton Bowl?

Well, hopefully we get picked for a better bowl. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21784]

7 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Isn’t that what I said 

Yes, but that's not what I read.  Coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

[stone oak 639]

All this will be fun and games until LSU is up by 28 in the 3rd quarter and the camera pans to Tom on the sidelines...

[mdmost 42879]

28 minutes ago, TXSG8R said:

I thought the athletes request was at a minimum, to not be forced to sing the song after games?  That seems reasonable.  How did some of you jump from that to burning down the campus or the US constitution?  

Are you new to the football board? Knee jerk reactions are our speciality. 

[Neonmoon 38127]

27 minutes ago, TXSG8R said:

I thought the athletes request was at a minimum, to not be forced to sing the song after games?  That seems reasonable.  How did some of you jump from that to burning down the campus or the US constitution?  

They requested to change the song and to not require players to sing it. But let’s be honest. The team not singing the eyes of Texas is going to be super weird if the crowd continues to sing especially knowing why the Team is no longer singing the it. Let’s throw in another scenario. What  if players start kneeling during the song at the beginning of the game? 

 

 

[Armybrat 40755]

1 hour ago, NorthLoop said:

DKR coached the last all-white team that UT had. We'll have to rename the stadium or play somewhere else. 

I did not like it when the regents added his name to Memorial Stadium and was further disappointed when he accepted the honor.

[gernblansten 3190]

3 minutes ago, mdmost said:

Are you new to the football board? Knee jerk reactions are our speciality. 

This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it.

[Armybrat 40755]

1 minute ago, Neonmoon said:

They requested to change the song and to not require players to sing it. But let’s be honest. The team not singing the eyes of Texas is going to be super weird if the crowd continues to sing especially knowing why the Team is no longer singing the it. Let’s throw in another scenario. What  if players start kneeling during the song at the beginning of the game? 

 

 

The pregame Eyes are sung before the team is on the field.

[Armybrat 40755]

5 minutes ago, mdmost said:

Are you new to the football board? Jerking off is our speciality. 

Fify

[NeverMarryAStripper 21784]

3 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

They requested to change the song and to not require players to sing it.

I went back and read their demands/requests and it reads like they demand/request that the song be changed and that they demand/request that they not be required to sing the new song.  

[UTEX_ME 4754]

18 minutes ago, stone oak said:

All this will be fun and games until LSU is up by 28 in the 3rd quarter and the camera pans to Tom on the sidelines...

But he was woke, put it on the wall

[stone oak 639]

2 minutes ago, UTEX_ME said:

But he was woke, put it on the wall

That will probably be the only thing he ever puts on the wall at this rate

[US183 124]

2 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

So what happens in the unlikely event that the team gets a bid to the Cotton Bowl?

Anything made of cotton or that has the name cotton in it is racist and offends me. Therefore we should never play in the cotton bowl again and that includes any game in October. 

[markstanco 12528]

2 hours ago, Macanudo said:

Actually, we play at ths Cotton Bowl every year.  Should we stop the best tradition in college football?

just move it to Jerryworld.  Fixed.

 

*stanco ducks*

[David Dennison 18705]

30 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

They requested to change the song and to not require players to sing it. But let’s be honest. The team not singing the eyes of Texas is going to be super weird if the crowd continues to sing especially knowing why the Team is no longer singing the it. Let’s throw in another scenario. What  if players start kneeling during the song at the beginning of the game? 

Oh, there will be kneeling this season, you can be sure of that.

[Longhorn 145]

12 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

Oh, there will be kneeling this season, you can be sure of that.

I miss Admiral McRaven and his leadership.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2681237-National-Anthem-Memo-1-6-16.html#document/p1

Edited June 15, 2020 by Longhorn

[3shot 139]

14 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

They requested to change the song and to not require players to sing it. But let’s be honest. The team not singing the eyes of Texas is going to be super weird if the crowd continues to sing especially knowing why the Team is no longer singing the it. Let’s throw in another scenario. What  if players start kneeling during the song at the beginning of the game? 

I have no idea how the UT band operates, but I suspect that either the band will pick a side or, more likely, the University will say, "play the song," or "you can't play the song."  So as a practical matter, I don't expect this to be an issue.  If the band plays the song, the vast majority of fans will sing, and most of them won't care whether the players or singing or kneeling.          

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

Texas was a slave state, adopted the Texas flag before abolition, and flew it during its years in the Confederacy. How can these kids possibly be expected to play football if we continue to unfurl a gigantic State Flag of Texas before each game? Or fly it in the stadium at all?