Report finds ‘no racist intent’ behind ‘Eyes of Texas’ song
The University AUSTIN, TEXAS — of Texas’ long-awaited report on “The Eyes of Texas” has found that the school song has “no racist intent,” but the school president said athletes and band members will not be required to sing or participate when the song is played at games and campus events.
The 58-page report, released Tuesday, was commissioned last year by school President Jay Hartzell after a group of Texas athletes, most notably football players, demanded the school drop the song as part of racial injustice protests.
Football players sparked outrage among alumni when they chose to leave the field instead of taking part in the traditional sing-along with fans after several games. Some fans sent emails to Hartzell warning the school would lose financial donors.
A 24-person panel charged with studying the song’s origins, lyrics and history determined it was rooted in a message of accountability and striving toward excellence. The report also noted the song was first performed at a minstrel show, most likely with performers in blackface.
“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,” the report states in its executive summary. “‘The Eyes of Texas’ should not only unite us, but hold all of us accountable to our institution’s core values.”
Written in 1903 and sung to the tune of “I’ve Been
Working on the Railroad,” the song is an old standard in Longhorns country. For decades, it has been sung after games and graduation ceremonies, and is a popular sing-along at weddings and even funerals
It has also been a sore subject for decades for some minority students. The title was taken from a favored saying of a former school president who had reportedly mimicked remarks by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The song was routinely performed by musicians in blackface.
The panel was not charged with making a decision on the song’s future. Hartzell, with the strong backing of the school’s Board of Regents, had already decided the song would stay and insisted that did not undermine the report’s credibility.
Hartzell reiterated the song will continue to be played at games and events.
“This report gives us a common set of facts for more conversations,” Hartzell said. “It’s possible the committee could have uncovered something that could have caused us to reconsider. It did not.”
One of the few issues still to be determined was campus participation, particularly among Longhorns athletes. New football coach Steve Sarkisian has said his team will sing the song “proudly” after games but the report included a recommendation that students not be required to sing it.
Hartzell said he planned to meet Tuesday with the football team and other athletes.
“They started this, they should get to hear about the report first,” Hartzell said. “I hope we’ll get more to a point of mutual respect.”
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. —
The moment stands out as among the most famous at The Players Championship. Twenty years ago this week, Tiger Woods made a 60-foot birdie putt from the back of the island green on the par-3 17th to a front pin in the third round.
Woods went on to win on Monday, and then two weeks later won the Masters to hold all four majors at the same time.
The video, replayed endlessly in the weeks leading up to the tournament, features NBC analyst Gary Koch saying, “Better than most,” his voice rising each of the three times he uttered the phrase until the ball disappeared in the cup.About an hour earlier, Robert Allenby made one from even longer.
“I was standing just off the green,” Allenby said. “It went out about 15 feet to the left, curled all the way down and went into the hole.”
Call it the best shot hardly anyone saw, and even fewer people remember.
This was before the PGA Tour began its “Live at 17” in which it showed every player on the most notorious hole at the TPC Sawgrass.
A PGA Tour digital media specialist recently reviewed the entire broadcast and said it was never shown.
One person who saw it was PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who had been paused to watch the putt.
“Finchem told me my putt was about 10 feet longer,” Allenby said with a laugh.
There were a few differences, of course. Woods shot 66 that day to get into the final group. Allenby needed that birdie to shoot 71 and was nine shots behind. Plus, Allenby is not Tiger Woods.
This was a year before the tour began using ShotLink lasers to record each shot. Video has yet to surface of Allenby’s putt.
Allenby could only smile when he saw the video promoting The Players.
“They don’t give out awards for that,” he said. “And at the end of the day, he’s Tiger Woods.”
Bryson rules
After taking on most of the water on the par-5 sixth hole at Bay Hill, leaving only 88 yards to the pin on a 565yard hole, Bryson DeChambeau was asked what bold play he might try at The Players Championship.
He mentioned the idea of playing the 18th hole from the ninth fairway, meaning a massive drive over the water, which DeChambeau said would leave a better angle to the green.
He didn’t sound too serious, and now it’s not an issue.
The PGA Tour rules staff issued a statement that internal out-of-bounds would be left of the lake for the 18th hole “in the interest of safety.”
Mickelson 101
Phil Mickelson, who has earned ranking points in only two of his last 10 events, slipped to No. 101 in the world rankings this week. That ends a streak of 1,425 consecutive weeks inside the top 100.
Whether that record can ever can be broken depends on health and motivation. The most likely candidate would be Rory McIlroy, mainly because he cracked the top 100 when he was 19.
That’s four years ahead of Mickelson.