Grunts: The South "Won't" Rise Again?
MONTICELLO, ARK. — Arkansas plays Ole Miss this weekend following “Ref-gate” at Florida.
In case you’ve been in a cave with no reception bars, I’ll make this quick: three horrible calls changed the momentum of the game, leading to a kick made after the play clock expired. The SEC apologized for the most egregious call , suspended the repeat offenders and reprimanded the Arkansas coach for commenting on the mess.
Drama? At least it kept the Houston Nutt haters too busy to provide that drama. But just when you think it’s going to be a drama-free game off the field, the Ole Miss student government suggests the band use the phrase “To Hell with LSU” to end a medley played at the beginning and end of football games.
I personally don’t have a problem with the “To Hell with LSU” reference. My Cajun friends would wear it as a badge of honor, noting they’ve been very, very, very, very good compared to Ole Miss, which must love the fact it’s got a little brother in Starkville that at least makes it look good sometimes. ;0)
But I get a little riled learning the intent is to remove the phrase “The South Will Rise Again” in the chant at the end of the song, “From Dixie With Love.” This song mixes the Confederate Army’s fight song – “Dixie” – with the Union Army’s fight song: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a song found in my Baptist Hymnal as a child, presumably for the initial lead of “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord” or the refrain, “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!” … I digress.
Anyway, I think they got the whole thing wrong. Look at the money in the SEC compared to other conferences: the South HAS risen again! The SEC commissioner should send out a mandate to every conference school MANDATING the teams no longer wear white jerseys, the band plays “From Dixie With Love” at every game and every fan be required to chant “The South Will Rise Again” followed by five short blasts of “SEC! SEC! SEC! SEC! SEC!” to be allowed entrance or exit into the games.
Yes, some will say this smacks of the plantation mentality exhibited during The South’s agrarian years. I disagree; The plantation mentality never disappeared from the football fields. We watch as young men give the best years of their minds and bodies without compensation.
If they hit the lottery, they get to go pro and we complain about the outlandish salaries they receive. Considering the recent information on the effects of the game, you’ve got to wonder: are they making enough? And what about those who suffered from the effects but never got the payday?
That’s where the real drama is (and Ani chants “That’s where the truth is at; that’s where the truth is at”).
And yet, even though I now know this, I cannot say, “I won’t watch SEC football.” Am I evil?
