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

[TwiceHorn 31,987]

4 hours ago, David Dennison said:

And the school is taking steps to distance itself from all of them. This is an ongoing process that will take years if not decades to play out. But cultural change is moving along apace. Think about how much has changed since Ferguson, since Charlottesville, since Minneapolis.

Traditions are not sacrosanct. It's best not to get too attached to them.

 

But following the logic of banning The Eyes, its origins, and indeed its first 75 someodd years of operation are tainted by racism. Therefore, it should be abolished.

A university is not a song, granted, but there are parallels.

I can't say for sure that the song was sung without racist intention for the first few decades, but I can for the last few.  And, given that it is devoid of racist content, I suspect that only its origins were very slightly and tenuously racist.

[TreatyOak 17,197]

On 8/21/2020 at 4:10 PM, David Dennison said:

But is was written by racists about a racist who venerated a racist and it was first performed by racists for racists.

So there's a whole lot of racism associated with it.

[Nivek 17,330]

Please define "not too distant future" and I will call bullshit.

Next Sunday, A.D.

[Duke Silver 191]

2 minutes ago, Nivek said:

Next Sunday, A.D.

Thought it would be Tuesday.  It’s always A Tuesday. 

[MadBurgerMaker 404]

This is real easy

[Knighthawk 295]

I’m down for some band dork discussions. 
 

MLB is a snoozer and the NBA is sterile.   NHL is pretty solid on tv though ... but the stars only play every couple days.  
 

Perhaps some talk about the shitty band uniforms or the pace of play on the eyes or some such.   

[Newy25 7,894]

19 hours ago, Tex Pete said:

The exaggeration is ridiculous. It was written to mock the university president. Period. Intellectual dishonesty makes it hard to have adult discussions. 

The strategy of David Dennison is to repeat the lie over and over again to convince himself and others it’s true. 

[BurntOrange&White 41,649]

I like how we played the eyes while players were shaking hands and such. It seems like a smart decision by the university to do it this way to avoid any controversy with who is staying for it and who isn’t.


Hopefully going forward we continue to play it during that time as it’s in both sides best interest to avoid any drama.

[Valmy77 13,567]

9 minutes ago, Bevo VIII said:

I like how we played the eyes while players were shaking hands and such. It seems like a smart decision by the university to do it this way to avoid any controversy with who is staying for it and who isn’t.


Hopefully going forward we continue to play it during that time as it’s in both sides best interest to avoid any drama.

I think we have managed it all very well. The protesters seem generally satisfied and more conservative opinion is somewhat molified as well. 

[RomaVicta 30,500]

23 minutes ago, Bevo VIII said:

I like how we played the eyes while players were shaking hands and such. It seems like a smart decision by the university to do it this way to avoid any controversy with who is staying for it and who isn’t.


Hopefully going forward we continue to play it during that time as it’s in both sides best interest to avoid any drama.

Thanks for describing it. It does sound like a good compromise so long as the players are good with it. I bet they discussed with them in advance. 

I've come down firmly on pretty much letting the African American students decide what needs to be changed. I don't feel right putting myself in the decider's role. Do things whatever makes us whole as Longhorns. We can revisit some things later and see if there is a consensus to restore things.

I love singing The Eyes. I hate dividing us more than that though.

[Patricio Swayze 17,058]

It was interesting how they played it immediately. It seemed to work out well.

On a side note, I looked around the stands to see who or who was not singing it. Two of the stadium ushers next to us were black and they had their horns up and were singing The Eyes. I saw a few black fans also singing. No real point, more just an observation for folks not there.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,707]

In hindsight it’s very silly if it matters if some college players decide to not sing a school song. 

[BurntOrange&White 41,649]

In hindsight it’s very silly if it matters if some college players decide to not sing a school song. 

It’s about avoiding controversy and not creating a media spectacle.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,707]

2 minutes ago, Bevo VIII said:

It’s about avoiding controversy and not creating a media spectacle.

Are you talking about the players or the people who flip out if the players don’t want to sing the Eyes?

[BurntOrange&White 41,649]

Are you talking about the players or the people who flip out if the players don’t want to sing the Eyes?

Both and the dip shit media.

[Fondren & Main 6,871]

1 minute ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Are you talking about the players or the people who flip out if the players don’t want to sing the Eyes?

I don’t think most people gave much of a shit about the players not singing.  It was more about getting rid of the song altogether.  I’m glad it’s here to stay.

[TwiceHorn 31,987]

It will be interesting to see what happens with Volleyball.  Some of the more moving closeups are of seniors on Senior Day and the final game of the season, which obviously includes a few black gals.  My gut tells me that they are a bit less likely to have subscribed to some of the dubious racist interpretations of the song.

[utee94 16,066]

6 minutes ago, Fondren & Main said:

I don’t think most people gave much of a shit about the players not singing.  It was more about getting rid of the song altogether.  I’m glad it’s here to stay.

Yup, same here.  I don't care if the players sing it or not.  Shitcanning the entire song would have been the wrong move, it's still meaningful to scores of thousands of graduates and fans who are as much a part of The University as are the current players.

This way, the players don't have to feel compelled to avoid singing it and making it into a big deal, and the fans that want to, can sing.  Works out fine.

 

[Nivek 17,330]

I liked the players singing with the fans. More important than what they were singing.

[TwiceHorn 31,987]

I thought all of the social justice stuff during the game was well done, btw.  I may be more sympathetic to it than some others, but I think it was hard to find it objectionable.

[bullet 1,627]

On 8/22/2020 at 11:56 PM, Knighthawk said:

I’m down for some band dork discussions. 
 

MLB is a snoozer and the NBA is sterile.   NHL is pretty solid on tv though ... but the stars only play every couple days.  
 

Perhaps some talk about the shitty band uniforms or the pace of play on the eyes or some such.   

Band uniforms.  THERE is a tradition we could change.

Dance squad uniforms-get rid of the chaps!

 

[utee94 16,066]

Just now, bullet said:

Band uniforms.  THERE is a tradition we could change.

Dance squad uniforms-get rid of the chaps!

 

Negged

[bullet 1,627]

1 minute ago, utee94 said:

Negged

You like the band uniforms with the fringe on top?

Or do you like the chaps?

[formermav43 4,607]

50 minutes ago, Bevo VIII said:

It’s about avoiding controversy and not creating a media spectacle.

Ironically, our own network was doing their best to try to stir up a controversy over it last night. Herman did well to just blow it off as a non-issue.

[utee94 16,066]

3 minutes ago, bullet said:

You like the band uniforms with the fringe on top?

Or do you like the chaps?

I love the chaps.

I don't give a rat's ass about the band uniforms, because they're band uniforms-- they're all terrible.  At least ours are distinctive though, and don't involve a stupid shako hat.  

[Red Five 41,596]

I liked the players singing with the fans. More important than what they were singing.

Always seemed odd to me. So many clearly had no desire to be doing that.

[Randolph Duke 4,034]

1 hour ago, Nivek said:

I liked the players singing with the fans. More important than what they were singing.

Obviously, the players weren’t all that big on doing it. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see much of an effort on the part of the players to continue the tradition. 

[Aggyisazombiecult 13]

The "Eyes of Texas" has no more to do with racism then Irving Berlin's "White Christmas". People need to be educated on that fact instead of allowing a false interpretation to become the accepted norm. I really give no shits who sings it or not. I do give a shit that people read things into it that aren't there. 

[BurntOrange&White 41,649]

Obviously, the players weren’t all that big on doing it. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see much of an effort on the part of the players to continue the tradition. 

Imo singing school songs after games always felt forced by the school whether it be high school or college. Most players I think really don’t care either way.

[Newy25 7,894]

1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

I thought all of the social justice stuff during the game was well done, btw.  I may be more sympathetic to it than some others, but I think it was hard to find it objectionable.

I did not find any of it objectionable I just fear I will get annoyed with it if we see it with the same intensity level throughout the season. At the end of the day, this is still football. I felt the same way after 9/11 when we had non stop “Team America, Fuck Yeah!”. After a month or so of it I was ready for the commentators to just focus on the actual game and not focus on every human interest story relating to the military or first responders. 

It won’t be any kind of deal breaker for me or anything just something I will roll my eyes at eventually is my guess. 

[TwiceHorn 31,987]

9 minutes ago, Newy25 said:

I did not find any of it objectionable I just fear I will get annoyed with it if we see it with the same intensity level throughout the season. At the end of the day, this is still football. I felt the same way after 9/11 when we had non stop “Team America, Fuck Yeah!”. After a month or so of it I was ready for the commentators to just focus on the actual game and not focus on every human interest story relating to the military or first responders. 

It won’t be any kind of deal breaker for me or anything just something I will roll my eyes at eventually is my guess. 

Well, it will be repetitive like everything else on LHN.  Minor annoyance.

[jinx 2,636]

1 hour ago, utee94 said:

I love the chaps.

I don't give a rat's ass about the band uniforms, because they're band uniforms-- they're all terrible.  At least ours are distinctive though, and don't involve a stupid shako hat.  

Seconded on the chaps.  Just get rid of the shorts and go G string like Halle Berry in The Last Boy Scout

 

[Hagbard Celine 11,159]

1 hour ago, bullet said:

Dance squad uniforms-get rid of the chaps!

dude.  the fuck.  are you on acid?

[tx 3 putt 78,470]

3 hours ago, Bevo VIII said:

I like how we played the eyes while players were shaking hands and such. It seems like a smart decision by the university to do it this way to avoid any controversy with who is staying for it and who isn’t.


Hopefully going forward we continue to play it during that time as it’s in both sides best interest to avoid any drama.

playing it right after the clock hits 0:00 or right after the coaches shake hands ?

[Llano Estacado 1,257]

I liked the players singing with the fans. More important than what they were singing.

Ah yes, evokes a simpler time.

Now watch, Soulja Boy off in this ho
Watch me crank it, watch me roll
Watch me crank dat Soulja Boy
Then Superman dat ho!

[LonghornSean 4,072]

As said earlier, I like the way it was handled. Let's try to avoid controversy if possible.  Will be interesting to see if it's different when the band is in attendance.

Also the team isn't totally averse to singing (if you can call this singing).

 

Edited September 13, 2020 by LonghornSean

[Valmy77 13,567]

1 hour ago, Aggyisazombiecult said:

The "Eyes of Texas" has no more to do with racism then Irving Berlin's "White Christmas". People need to be educated on that fact instead of allowing a false interpretation to become the accepted norm. I really give no shits who sings it or not. I do give a shit that people read things into it that aren't there. 

Actually that is not a bad example since black face makes an appearance in the movie that song first appeared.

If that bothers you so much you cannot sing or listen to White Christmas then I guess that would be the same.

[Aggyisazombiecult 13]

21 minutes ago, Valmy77 said:

Actually that is not a bad example since black face makes an appearance in the movie that song first appeared.

If that bothers you so much you cannot sing or listen to White Christmas then I guess that would be the same.

I can sing and listen to both because neither has anything to do with racism. 

[Valmy77 13,567]

8 minutes ago, Aggyisazombiecult said:

I can sing and listen to both because neither has anything to do with racism. 

I didn't mean you in particular, I meant a person in general. Neither is a racist song but they are adjacent to racist stuff, if that is enough for somebody to reject both I guess I get it. I don't agree but I get it.

[dcar00 14,902]

as long as the band plays it(when they get back in the stadium) after the game in normal fashion I don't care if players sing it, people put their horns up or not, do or don't sing it.  I'd like to have the opportunity to sing it with my horns up..  hell most of them didn't sing it anyway(especially if they lost) but they would have their horns up.

the song doesn't belong to the current players and students, it belongs to all graduates and students at the university.

[BurntOrange&White 41,649]

I think playing it during hand shakes is what we’re going to be doing from here on out. It’s a good balance for everyone and as people get used to it in the stands it will be a very good middle ground for everyone.

[mininghorn88 2,330]

How will it work on away games?  I have gone to away games and, to me, it is something special to sing "The Eyes" with the Team after the game, win (preferred) or lose.  For me it is a sign of appreciation to the players of a well played game and acknowledgement from the players to the fans/alumni that bothered to make the trip to cheer for and support them.

[TKthunder2 5,058]

10 minutes ago, mininghorn88 said:

How will it work on away games?  I have gone to away games and, to me, it is something special to sing "The Eyes" with the Team after the game, win (preferred) or lose.  For me it is a sign of appreciation to the players of a well played game and acknowledgement from the players to the fans/alumni that bothered to make the trip to cheer for and support them.

I’ve sang it at BYU, UCLA (in Dallas), ND, Cal, USC, and Maryland maybe we should care more about the team not winning than the song.

But to be devil’s advocate, I know lot of people who stay during blowouts and what will be obvious losses to show respect to the team.  If this is the new standard, I’ll bet you’ll see less of that.

[HRSchenker 2,331]

Anything to avoid controversy is probably ideal for the university. That being said, I think this whole issue has been totally blown out of proportion and all of the people bouncing up and down to Mo Bamba in the 3rd quarter prove that. I'd like to see an end to music with racial slurs but that's an issue for another day.

[LTtxfan 49,909]

1 hour ago, dcar00 said:

 

Edited September 13, 2020 by LTtxfan
messed up

[Guest Lobo]

Some of you really seem incredibly close to the program and deeply connected to the hearts and minds of our young athletes of color.  Or not, either way.  

[Horn80 6,313]

4 hours ago, bullet said:

Dance squad uniforms-get rid of the chaps!

 

That’s blanket party worthy.

[Cairn Horn88 8,500]

4 hours ago, utee94 said:

I love the chaps.

I don't give a rat's ass about the band uniforms, because they're band uniforms-- they're all terrible.  At least ours are distinctive though, and don't involve a stupid shako hat.  

I’d love the chaps....without the pants!

[TriStone 1,724]

9 hours ago, utee94 said:

I don't give a rat's ass about the band uniforms, because they're band uniforms-- they're all terrible.  At least ours are distinctive though, and don't involve a stupid shako hat.

All band uniforms are terrible, but our band uniforms are an abomination.  Remember Back to the Future 3 when Marty was traveling back to the old west so he put on "western" clothes so that he'd blend in?

Our band uniforms are worse than that.

[randygilman 643]