He said he shared the experience with his teammates. We were required to. The vice president of the University of Texas told football players they are to stand for the school’s song “The Eyes of Texas” despite its controversial roots. The controversy surrounding “The Eyes of Texas” began in the offseason and has continued into the fall. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. 1 of 4 FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, fans join in singing "The Eyes of Texas" after Texas defeated UTEP 59-3 in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas. Graham said he plans to remain on the field Saturday for what might be the most scrutinized Eyes ever. It is set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad." Update 06/17: This article has been amended to reflect that “The Eyes of Texas” is UT’s alma mater and an unofficial fight song. Texas’ Black athletes want ‘The Eyes of Texas’ replaced because of the song’s racist undertones. Texas A&M prediction: Will No. The Longhorns players’ decision to vacate the field for “The Eyes of Texas” might have people even more angry. Idle Texas Band Divided on 'Eyes of Texas' Controversy. AUSTIN, Texas -- Losing football games is one thing at the University of Texas. A challenge to the hallowed school song is quite another. The University of Texas will not have its band performing against Baylor on Saturday. “(‘The Eyes of Texas’) was first sung and played at a minstrel show which featured performers in black face.” The song was written and performed in a period of intense anti-black sentiment in Texas… Copyright © 2021 The Dallas Morning News. Wikipedia says it was first introduced during a minstrel show. The Eyes of Texas was once the fight song of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The post Repor: Texas Had Big Meeting About ‘Eyes Of Texas’ Controversy appeared first on The Spun. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Graham doesn’t see a schism in the locker room. Of course, it comes months after the song’s role within the program came into question, as many college football programs grapple with the social justice causes furthered following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others at the hands of police earlier this year. UT-Austin band members refused to play "The Eyes of Texas" after they say the traditional alma mater song has a racist history. In his opening statement, which clocked in at around nine minutes, Herman addressed the largest elephant in the room: the “Eyes of Texas” controversy between Texas fans and players. 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Repor: Texas Had Big Meeting About ‘Eyes Of Texas’ Controversy. He holds town hall meetings to explain everything going on. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. In the meantime, players had exited the field quickly after the first two games without the traditional gathering for the song. Following two weeks of controversy after Texas Longhorns senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger sang “The Eyes of Texas” alone in the Cotton Bowl in the aftermath of the four-overtime loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, the administration made clear to players that they are expected to remain on the field with teammates for the alma mater. For much of the summer, and the first several weeks of the season, UT tried to run out the clock on the controversy. Tom Herman, who is under fire already for his performance as head coach, tried to split the difference on this issue, saying that players who were uncomfortable with the song certainly don’t have to sing it after games, but on Wednesday night Hartzell and athletic director Chris Del Conte told the team that is expected to remain on the field after games while it is played. Our job is to win and eliminate distractions along that path.”. If there was a year that another team can win the Big 12, this is it. As the Texas Longhorns lose on the gridiron, the culture war is winning the season. Acho continued on the controversial, ‘The Eyes of Texas’ song: ‘Most black players hated singing that song. Ehlinger grew up a Longhorn fan and picked up the allegiance early from his late father, Ross, who died in 2013. — Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) October 15, 2020. How ‘The Eyes of Texas’ controversy is becoming more of a distraction for the Longhorns. Satiating Texas football donors may also be a concern, though others reject that idea. “I know that this game coming up I’m going to stand out there with my teammates, and I’m going to be out there for the song,” Graham said. Obviously Texas fans are upset about the loss, especially with Oklahoma having a down season, and coming off of a loss to TCU. The song has been the center of a controversy … “I would say it’s been more of a distraction,” Graham said. The fan furor resulted in a team meeting with athletic director Chris Del Conte and Herman where Del Conte explained his expectation was to have players honor fans and the university by staying for the Eyes. These signs feature a silhouette of a Texas Ranger, encouraging motorists to call 9-1-1 to report criminal activity. A University of Texas spokesman confirmed Wednesday that the Longhorn band will not perform during Saturday’s football game against Baylor, and it’s clear the band will not be back on the field anytime soon over division within its ranks on the song "The Eyes of Texas," according to USA Today and Hookem reporter Brian Davis. Everything Tom Herman said about 'The Eyes of Texas' on Monday By Jeff Howe Oct 19, 5:02 PM 85 The controversy surrounding how Texas head coach Tom Herman and the Longhorns … Their next game is slated for Oct. 24 against Baylor at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The biggest controversy gripping Texas football this week may not be the four-overtime loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, but what happened after the … It is also hard to separate this from both Herman’s dwindling status with the program, at just 27-17 through three-plus years at Texas. The Texas Longhorns have a Texas-sized problem on their hands. The controversy surrounding the University of Texas’ school song continues to unfold. It seems the Longhorns ’ back-to-back losses to the TCU Horned … What happened? Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University sing the song at Longhorn sports games, before the fireworks and other events. A controversy over “The Eyes of Texas” has lingered for weeks now at Texas, with some players refusing to sing it after games or even stand for it given its links to the racist minstrel shows of yesteryear. Texas football players are requesting changes to names of campus buildings and the removal of "The Eyes of Texas" as the school song in an effort to … Many students, including some Texas athletes, actively tried to convince the university to stop using the song, due to alleged racial undertones. Friday high school football scoreboard, Dec. 18: See live scores, stats for area games, In this difficult Cowboys season, DeMarcus Lawrence has been a consistent bright spot, Mavericks still hoping to have fans at AAC this season after ‘Mavsmazing’ final preseason game, A ‘mini Klyde Warren Park’ in Far North Dallas will welcome new restaurants in 2021, D-FW Christian TV network reportedly returned $3.9 million PPP loan after investigation into jet purchase, Children and women are being sold on Harry Hines, and it’s past time to apply pressure on their pimps, North Texas Food Bank, local pantries prepare to lose millions of pounds of food in 2021. AUSTIN, Texas - Losing football games is one thing at the University of Texas. It was conveyed to the players that they will be expected to stand during the school song. William Lambdin Prather learned the phrase “The eyes of the South are upon you” from Robert E. Lee, turning the phrase into “The eyes of Texas … A challenge to the hallowed school song is quite another. Over the summer, a large group of Texas students, including some Black Longhorns athletes, met with UT president Jay Hartzell to discuss replacing the song with something else, due to the racial undertones. Texas alum Matthew McConaughey: I say don’t change ‘The Eyes of Texas’, just change the way the eyes see The Oscar-winning actor believes the school tradition can be preserved. Texas Longhorn Band Won't Participate At Baylor Game Due To ‘Eyes of Texas’ Controversy Outkick ^ | October 22, 2020 | Clint Lamb Posted on 10/22/2020 4:11:31 AM PDT by C19fan. Players and others students on campus had objected to the “The Eyes of Texas” this summer and sought to have it replaced as the school song, citing its roots in early 1900s minstrel shows. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger wondered about the distraction factor as well. So […] As the Texas Longhorns lose on the gridiron, the culture war is winning the season. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Confederate flag banned from being sold or displayed on state property in New York, An iguana wearing a bandana attacked a person in Miami because 2020 isn't weird enough. We were required to. Not hard to fathom that the same racist kids thought lets just change the lyrics of an old show favorite so our racist pastime can live on in school tradition. “The Eyes of Texas” controversy In a continuation of the “everything is racist” hysteria that has gripped America in 2020, the song “The Eyes of Texas” is now coming under fire. AUSTIN, TX - A controversy is growing at the University of Texas over a school song that dates back more than 100 years. He’s totally transparent, and it’s appreciated.”. Wikipedia says it was first introduced during a minstrel show. TM This Week The stories you want, in one weekly newsletter. Texas (2-2, 1-2 Big 12) has lost two straight to TCU and Oklahoma and has seen a season that started with high expectations hit the skids. The noise around the controversy has morphed into something else too for the Texas players, defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham acknowledged Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s home game with Baylor. The biggest controversy gripping Texas football this week may not be the four-overtime loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, but what happened after the game. Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte will now expect players to remain on the field postgame for the playing of ‘The Eyes of Texas.’ Dozens of Texas football players voiced their strong opinions over the summer in an attempt to prevent the song from being played due to … The noise around the controversy has morphed into … All rights reserved. It is unclear if there will be repercussions for any player who decides to leave the field. A controversy over “The Eyes of Texas” has lingered for weeks now at Texas, with some players refusing to sing it after games or even stand for it given its links to the racist minstrel shows of yesteryear. Per 247Sports: Sources said reports of some $25 million in UT athletics facility upgrade pledges drying up are false. “I feel like we’re very close and not divided.”. Texas alum Matthew McConaughey: I say don’t change ‘The Eyes of Texas’, just change the way the eyes see The Oscar-winning actor believes the school tradition can be preserved. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger made headlines Oct. 10 when he was one of the few Longhorns who sung "The Eyes of Texas" following their game … A high school senior called out her superintendent in public for an illegal act. The song, set to the tune of “I’ve been working on the railroad,” debuted in 1903 at a campus minstrel show featuring white students performing in blackface. The dispute over “The Eyes of Texas” song looms large for the Longhorns, and now members of the band are refusing to play. “The Eyes of Texas” have turned into much more than a school song in the past few weeks. Much like the Big 12, I've improbably survived two bouts of realignment. "So while I absolutely respect the university and ‘The Eyes of Texas,’ I want to win. It seems the Longhorns ’ back-to-back losses to the TCU Horned … Chuck Carlton, College sports writer. "I thought we were past this point, I thought we were past the issues surrounding the song. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. "The Eyes of Texas" is the school spirit song of the University of Texas at Austin. It turns out that their beloved school song, “The Eyes of Texas,” is steeped in racism. The decision came after students said in a survey that they refused to … A challenge to the hallowed school song is quite another. William Lambdin Prather learned the phrase “The eyes of the South are upon you” from Robert E. Lee, turning the phrase into “The eyes of Texas … Controversy over the song grew over the summer as Texas athletes called for the school to stop playing it, citing a history tied to racism. We talked about it as a team, as a family. Acho continued on the controversial, ‘The Eyes of Texas’ song: ‘Most black players hated singing that song. We want to win and this is a lot of politics that are getting in the way, and we understand that,” Ehlinger said. The most controversial of the letter’s demands was for Texas to stop using “The Eyes of Texas.” The song is sung at nearly every organized campus event, and players in all sports gather as a … With dispute still raging over “The Eyes of Texas,” the University of Texas band won’t play at the school’s final two home football games against West Virginia and Iowa State. It turns out that their beloved school song, “The Eyes of Texas,” is steeped in racism. In case you are not aware I’ve Been Working on the Railroad is the same song as The Eyes of Texas but with different lyrics. UT-Austin band members refused to play "The Eyes of Texas" after they say the traditional alma mater song has a racist history. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. Texas football is off this weekend. “I grew up singing ‘The Eyes of Texas’ win, lose or draw, and I’ve shared my experience with my family and I’ve shared that experience with my dad. According to one of the quoted sources in the 247 report, one of the biggest concerns for those at Texas, is that “The Eyes of Texas” controversy made it seem as if the team is divided, an idea that they say is false. Texas athletes demanded song change Over the months since the callous killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police, athletes at the amateur and professional levels have used their platforms to … Among those who raised issues with the song this offseason is team captain Caden Sterns, so this definitely isn’t an isolated issue. The University of Texas made headlines earlier this week after the Longhorn marching band decided not to play its fight song “The Eyes of Texas” at a football game against Baylor University. “I have had many conversations with our head coaches outlining my expectations that our teams show appreciation for our university, fans, and supporters by standing together as a unified group for ‘The Eyes,’ while we work through this issue,” Del Conte said in a weekly message about the state of athletics, per ESPN. The dispute over “The Eyes of Texas” song looms large for the Longhorns. AUSTIN, Texas - Losing football games is one thing at the University of Texas. “I feel like we got on some common ground amongst my teammates and myself,” Graham said. With dispute still raging over “The Eyes of Texas,” the University of Texas band won’t play at the school’s final two home football games against West Virginia and Iowa State. Several other players, including Graham, remained on the field, he said. 1 of 4 FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, fans join in singing "The Eyes of Texas" after Texas defeated UTEP 59-3 in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Never once singing that song has anything negative crossed my mind.”. “But it popped up again. Everything Tom Herman said about 'The Eyes of Texas' on Monday By Jeff Howe Oct 19, 5:02 PM 85 The controversy surrounding how Texas head coach Tom Herman and the … “It’s pretty difficult to determine what’s going to happen in five days in the minds of a hundred different people,” Ehlinger said. “The University of Texas, at least originally, had very clear minstrel connections,” Gordon said. Texas president says 'Eyes of Texas' will continue to be played at games despite band members' refusal Longhorn Band will not be participating in game vs. Baylor amid controversy … That doesn’t appear to be in the cards. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. The “Eyes of Texas” situation has reportedly inflamed a number of the school’s boosters and fans, who have voiced displeasure to athletic director Chris Del … No one quite knows what will happen Saturday. Things ratcheted among the fan base when viral photos showed Ehlinger standing with a few coaches after the four-overtime loss to Oklahoma in Dallas. The song remains for now, with new school President Jay Hartzell appointing a panel to study the song with a report expected in January. Repor: Texas Had Big Meeting about ‘ Eyes of Texas ’ controversy appeared first the... 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