New score: NCAA Football beats Mississippi.

[Ilsa]

When the NCAA said no championship events would be held in Mississippi until they changed their Confederate state flag, that got some attention.

But I suspect it was the football coaches telling the legislators that the stupid flag prevents them from successfully recruiting the best players that got them to rethink their loyalty to the stars and bars.

Discuss.

[Jeebo]

1. I never have understood black players who play as "Rebels".

If I were a black college-age athlete, the University of Mississippi would be one of the LAST places I would consider going to school. I think they still have that mascot who looks like a gray-clad Confederate general. Yet, they do have black players playing as "Rebels". I just don't understand it. They should change not only their flag, but also their team nickname and mascot.

-- Ron

[Ilsa]

2. Admiral Akbar is my rebel leader!

The student body should have changed their mascot ten years ago when they had the chance.

[GulfCoast66]

3. I think the Southern Baptist played a role as well.

Both give the republicans cover to make the change.

My family has been southern for over 300 years. The playbook has not changed. The people running the show are educated and rich. They use race to control their white voters. But they don’t really care about them. All those Mansions you see in the south? Their owners spent summers in Northern states to escape the heat and Malaria. Even Faulkner wrote about kids going to Harvard.

Nothing has changed except until 68-80 they were democrats. As long as they can convince their voters they are better than the black folks they get their vote. No matter that the whites are the poorest whites in America. Not as poor as the black folks.

But now that flag might cost them money and it is embarrassing to them. Football and religion may give them the cover to lake the change.

If they change the flag it is a cynical move. No idealism involved.

[Ilsa]

4. Thank you for the thoughtful explanation.

The deep background is always more base (the greed and power) than they would have us believe.