‘Eyes’ debate turns ugly
Hartzell insists ‘extremist views’ don’t represent alumni community
AUSTIN — The controversy over the “Eyes of Texas” does not appear to be going away anytime soon.
After an article published by the Texas Tribune highlighted the backlash University of Texas President Jay Hartzell’s office received after student-athletes called for the university's fight song to be replaced, several current and former Longhorn football players spoke out.
Texas senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown also tweeted about receiving “death threats” last summer.
“When we put out the statement, I received many hateful things including death threats!” Overshown tweeted. “But that never bothered me ... it was the promises that were broken and the fact that they TRIED to strip us of our freedom. Nowhere ... does it say ‘you have to sing’ to play here.”
On Tuesday, Hartzell released a statement stating, “People who target our students with hateful views do not represent the values of the Longhorn community.
“A few extremist views in the sample of emails the Texas Tribune reported on do not speak for the 540,000 proud Longhorn alumni who actively support our students and university. Out of the many emails I received this fall, a very small number included comments that were truly abhorrent and hateful. I categorically reject them, and they bear no influence on any aspect of our decision-making.”
Several of the emails — some from prominent boosters — included racist language and threats to cease their donations to the athletic department if players continued any form of protest against the song, which has ties to campus minstrel shows and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
The song traditionally is performed at all Longhorns athletic events, and players are expected to stand and perform the song along with the fans. But over the past year that tradition has become a lightning rod within the Texas community.
Last November, Hartzell announced the formation of “The Eyes of Texas” History Committee, led by Richard Reddick, associate dean for Equity, Community Engagement and Outreach in the College of Education.
The 23-person academic group, charged with examining the history of the song, is expected to release its findings and recommendations next week.
“The fact that we don’t all agree on our school song doesn’t mean that we don’t all belong,” Hartzell wrote. “Next week, the Eyes of Texas History Committee will release its report. Equipped with a common set of facts, we will then continue the conversation about our song. Having spoken to students and faculty on the committee, I truly believe we can be a model for how communities address complex problems and move forward together.”
But the committee’s report likely won’t end the controversy.
Former Texas football player Caden Sterns, who played at Texas from 2018 to 2020, tweeted, “My teammates and I got threatened by some alumni that we would have to find jobs outside of Texas if we didn’t participate.”
In one email sent to Hartzell obtained by the Tribune through an open records request, a graduate commented on the image of white quarterback Sam Ehlinger standing alone for the alma mater after a loss to Oklahoma last October.
“It is symbolic of the disarray of this football program which you inherited,” the email read. “The critical race theory garbage that has been embraced by the football program and the university is doing massive irreparable damage.”
Another email to Hartzell from a donor who graduated in 1986 read: “It’s time for you to put the foot down and make it perfectly clear that the heritage of Texas will not be lost. It is sad that it is offending the blacks. As I said before the blacks are free and it’s time for them to move on to another state where everything is in their favor.”
Despite the fervent backlash over the song’s history, the school has remained firm that it will not remove or replace the song. New football coach Steve Sarkisian reflected the university’s rigid stance during his introductory news conference Jan. 12.
“Well, I know this much,” Sarkisian began, “‘The Eyes of Texas’ is our school song and we support that song. We’re gonna sing that song, we’re song sing it proudly.”