“They will forever be known for being responsible for tangible, positive change on our great campus. The field at DKR had been named in honor of the late Joe Jamail, a Houston attorney and major Texas donor. But the response stopped short of any change to the school song. Before debate began, representatives heard a presentation of the history of the fight song given by Ted Gordon, the vice provost for diversity. The 'Eyes of Texas' are upon you, All the live long day! An article in The Daily Texan two years ago wondered, “Racist tradition or cornerstone of school spirit?” As writer Jessica Luther aptly noted on Twitter, “The answer is ‘Yes’ and that’s the problem.”. Former Texas defensive lineman Sam Acho had tweeted that “most Black players hated singing that song.”. More. Forever A Buckeye: 1-on-1 with Jeff Traylor, Florida's Dan Mullen extremely confident ahead of SEC Championship game against Alabama, “I would like to paraphrase that utterance and say to you, ‘Forward, young men and women of the university, the eyes of Texas are upon you!”. Hail, Hail, The gang's all here, And it good-bye to all the rest! Major changes sought by Texas football players and student groups in the name of racial equality are coming to the Austin campus. It is my belief that we can effectively reclaim and redefine what this song stands for by first owning and acknowledging its history in a way that is open and transparent. “Aspects of its origin, whether previously widely known or unknown, have created a rift in how the song is understood and celebrated, and that must be fixed. Jim Crow laws emerged. Lee’s connection to the song came through William Prather, president of the University of Texas from 1899 to 1905. by The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. Geoff Petrulis reports. “One petition calls for acknowledging racist roots to the song, another calls for discontinuing its use at all university events.”. The eyes of Texas Are upon you. “I do think it’s important that those who partake are informed and educated of the roots of the song and how it came about. most recently regarding racial disparities among NFL coaches and front office members, unreconstructed racists like Robert E. Lee Moore, began committing acts of racial terrorism, Its evolution from minstrel shows to a popular children’s song. As The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer writes, “The Confederacy lost the war. Much like the Big 12, I've improbably survived two bouts of realignment. It is sung to a fast tempo version Taps, a song played at many military funerals. Texas A&M prediction: Will No. At the University of Texas, Longhorns athletes are using a portion of their leverage to enact change around the campus, by requesting both that certain campus buildings get new names and that the school stop using “The Eyes of Texas” as its fight song. Update, June 16, 2020: As "The Eyes of Texas" has been sung for 120 years, it’s worth considering both its present-day and historical contexts.Embracing the song’s meaning today should not stop us from seeing its complicated past, and acknowledging the many ways that people see the song. The University responded July 13 when it announced that it would acknowledge the origins of “The Eyes of Texas,” but keep it as the school song. Texas Fight, Yea Texas Fight! In fact, white elites maintained their control over education until 1950 — more than a half century after Prather’s speech and 87 years after the Emancipation Proclamation — until prospective law student Herman Sweatt, who was refused admission into the University of Texas, won his case in the Supreme Court to overturn the “separate but equal doctrine” established by Plessy v. Ferguson three years before Prather’s speech. Could the University of Texas ditch “The Eyes of Texas” fight song? UT to keep ‘The Eyes of Texas,' but make other changes supporting Black athletes. While The Eyes of Texas will still be sung as the school song … “We never would have envisioned this historic site would one day bear our names,” Campbell said in a statement. As popular as the phrase “The Eyes of Texas are upon you” remains in 2020 as the foundation of the alma mater and an expression of so much athletic success, it was equally popular on campus after Prather introduced it and then continued to use it. The university initially said the fight song would remain. According to young college aged activists, the official fight song of the University of Texas, is racist and problematic. Back to: My All American Lyrics. Band refuses to play ‘Eyes of Texas’ song. And Julius Whittier, the first Black football letterman at the school, will be getting a long-overdue statue at the stadium. They will forever be known for being responsible for tangible, positive change on our great campus. The Eyes of Texas was once the fight song of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). AUSTIN, TX - A controversy is growing at the University of Texas over a school song that dates back more than 100 years. Consider the way that black athletes and black students interpret that as an implicit reference to slaveholding and the treatment of slaves who tried to escape. “The Eyes of Texas” is the university’s alma mater song, and is often regarded as its “unofficial” fight song. That's what dozens of current Longhorn athletes are demanding. Interim UT President Jay Hartzell, who met with football players and campus groups as part of a listening tour the last several weeks, addressed controversy surrounding The Eyes of Texas and its history. Not signing the Eyes of Texas with teammates is notable enough that when linebacker Juwan Mitchell left the field early following the regular season finale against Texas Tech without doing so, it was a comment-worthy development for beat writers waiting for post-game access. Baltimore Buzz: A Former University Of Maryland Terrapin Is On The Front Cover Of ESPN The Magazine! All rights reserved. Texas Fight! The Eyes of Texas was once the fight song of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Do not think you can escape them, At night, or early in the morn. So far, it looks like those “racist investors” and their supporters throughout the university and in the fan base are still winning. Without the band present, UT officials are likely to keep playing recorded fight songs and “The Eyes” from the stadium speakers. 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. In 1920, UTEP was known as College of Mines and Metallurgy of the University of Texas (sometimes referred to as "Texas College of Mines," or "TCM"). In the 1860s, Prather had been … “Taps” is the official fight song of The University of Texas and was written by Colonel Walter S. Hunnicutt in collaboration with James E. King, then director of the Marlin High School Band. One student interviewed in 2009 by ABC News said that he’d stopped singing it completely after learning of its history. Texas Fight! Even to this day, that type of implicit white supremacy remains insidious, disguised ever so gently in less explicit forms that are nonetheless easily identifiable for white supremacists and people of color. I do think it’s important that those who partake are informed and educated of the roots of the song and how it came about. Copyright © 2021 The Dallas Morning News. In an emailed statement, the university said Ferentz received a regularly scheduled rapid antigen test Thursday and PCR test to confirm the diagnosis. Against that backdrop, a 1899 white elite’s reference to Lost Cause mythology that persists to this day was a reference that the white students of the time surely understood — it was at least adjacent to white supremacy, even if it wasn’t necessarily about white supremacy explicitly. The eyes of Texas Are upon you. The 'Eyes of Texas' are upon you, You cannot get away! Its removal was always going to be a difficult sell. Texas Fight! The song "The Eyes of Texas" was written in the early 20th century, and it's set to the famed "I've Been Working on the Railroad." “ (‘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 … Texas Fight, Texas Fight, For it's Texas that we love best. And out of the engine Came the flame with a name It burned up my mind It made me insane. Do not think you can escape them At night or early in the morn The Eyes of Texas are upon you 'Till Gabriel blows his horn. Still love though!”, I’m not disappointed, I’m understanding on people’s perspectives on what the song means to them and I get it both sides. “We were required to. AP. The statement on Friday from current players and the discussion by former players have centered a topic also emerging from the student-led elements of the burgeoning movement, as acknowledged by a UT page on the subject. “I’m not disappointed, I’m understanding on people’s perspectives on what the song means to them, and I get it both sides,” tweeted junior defensive back Caden Sterns, among those who had publicly called for change. Removing "The Eyes of Texas" song was not the student's only demand this past summer. Sing me a song of Prexy, Of days long since gone by. Hail, Hail, the gang's all here! The South won it.”. “The symbolism of this honor transcends the recognition of the Heisman Trophies we received.”, Said Williams: “A new consciousness is rising, and we are honored to be a part of it.”. 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, Children and women are being sold on Harry Hines, and it’s past time to apply pressure on their pimps, D-FW Christian TV network reportedly returned $3.9 million PPP loan after investigation into jet purchase, North Texas Food Bank, local pantries prepare to lose millions of pounds of food in 2021. 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