As the controversy over University of Texas school songs subsides, one player said he was threatened by college alumni for his refusal to participate.
“The Eyes of Texas,” which is traditionally sung after games at home, has been burned in recent months over concern that the song and tradition behind it are imbued with racism. In recent days, controversy has re-emerged after a report in the Texas Tribune revealed that alumni threatened to withhold college donations if students did not participate, calling them “snowflakes,” among other things. .
Caden Sterns, who started for three years in the safety of the Longhorns, added the controversy of revealing to Twitter that he was also threatened by the alumni by the song.
“Some alumni threatened us with my teammates that we would have to find work outside of Texas if we didn’t participate,” Sterns wrote.
The song has links to Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the minstrel shows, which are the comic recreation of racial stereotypes. The University of Texas band did not play the song from the last two home games of the football team.
Sterns was a member of the All-Big 12 first team in 2018 and will enter the 2021 NFL Draft. It is expected to be a late pick.