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4/24/07

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Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

APR 16, 2007 09:07 AM



University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier is no idiot. He may be a loudmouthed, arrogant prick, but at least heÂ’s not completely moronic. And when he sees something that needs to be changed in his new home state, well dad gummit, the Old Ball Coach is going to tell it like it is, ya hear?

The Confederate flag shouldn't fly at the Statehouse, South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier said Saturday after the Gamecocks' spring game.

Spurrier's comments came in response to questions about something he said Friday night when he received an award from a volunteer organization. According to people at that event, Spurrier said the flag should come down.

"My opinion is we don't need the Confederate flag at our Capitol," Spurrier said Saturday. "I don't really know anybody that wants it there, but I guess there are a lot of South Carolinians that do want it there."


Unfortunately, Spurrier is right. Lots of South Carolinians do want to keep the flag flying in the statehouse. Though with such idiotic arguments for keeping it like “the Civil War wasn’t really about slavery so therefore the Confederate flag isn’t offensive” or “you know there were racists in the North too, don’t you!?!?!” it’s a bit tough to see why it’s taken so long to get this thing removed.

The flag was removed from the dome in 2000, but placed at the Confederate Soldier Monument on Statehouse grounds. The state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said that was not good enough and continued its boycott. The initial boycott drew wide support from inside and outside the state, but encouragement for the ongoing effort has waned in recent years.


SpurrierÂ’s words in protest of the existence of the flag were peppered with some of the typical down-home folksiness that has made him a favorite interview for sportswriters.

On a video of the banquet, Spurrier is heard saying the South Carolina-Tennessee game last year, which was featured on ESPN's "GameDay," was marred "by some clown ... waving that dang, damn Confederate flag behind the TV set. And it was embarrassing to me and I know embarrassing to our state.
"I realize I'm not supposed to get in the political arena as a football coach, but if anybody were ever to ask me about that damn Confederate flag, I would say we need to get rid of it. I've been told not to talk about that. But if anyone were ever to ask me about it, I certainly wish we could rid of it."


It makes sense why Spurrier would publicly push for having the Confederate Flag removed from statehouse grounds. Spurrier, about to enter into his third season of attempting to breathe life into perennial SEC football doormat South Carolina, knows what it takes to build a national powerhouse having formerly coached at perennial SEC ass-kicker (and current national champion) Florida. In order to win football games, you have to recruit better athletes than the other guy. And for small-state schools like South Carolina, that means recruiting out-of-state athletes. Specifically in football factory states like Florida, Texas, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The problem for Spurrier comes in when an African American kid from Pittsburgh or Houston or Orlando comes to visit his campus and sees the Confederate Flag flying all over the place. If that kid is also being recruited at other second-tier football schools like Illinois, UCLA or Boston College, itÂ’s going to be a tough sell. If Spurrier plans to compete for recruits with the first-tier Texas, USC or Michigans of the world itÂ’s going to be practically impossible.

This is not to say that Spurrier doesnÂ’t also have legitimate issues of conscious with a noxious reminder of the system of oppression being flown with pride at his employerÂ’s capitol building, but the recruiting issue is a notable one. Which is why heÂ’s willing to speak out when heÂ’s been asked not to, and why some of his contemporaries have done the same.

Spurrier's predecessor, Lou Holtz, joined Clemson's football coach Tommy Bowden and both schools' head basketball coaches in calling for the flag to be removed from the Capitol dome in 2000, when the NAACP started a boycott of the state.


The NCAA has imposed restrictions on the state of South Carolina for its use of the Confederate Flag. Until it is removed, the state is ineligible to host pre-determined championship events, like the menÂ’s or womenÂ’s Final Four.

tryphcycle

tryphcycle

Beaverton, OR
December 2002

APR 16, 2007 10:08 AM

While they are at it, they should remove it from the history books too!

pudgebunny

pudgebunny

Haughton, LA
January 2007

APR 16, 2007 10:11 AM

Kudos to this guy.
I claim my southern heritage proudly, but it's assholes that try to reason away the hatred behind the confederate flag that really stick a burr in my bum.
South Carolina may be bad, but Louisiana's even worse.

Flyer

Flyer

USA
August 2005

APR 16, 2007 10:26 AM

degthelegend

degthelegend

Nederland, TX
January 2007

APR 16, 2007 10:29 AM

I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.

PointBlank

PointBlank

New York, NY
November 2004

APR 16, 2007 10:31 AM

^^^ Too funny.

mingol

mingol

Singapore
July 2005

APR 16, 2007 10:33 AM

Oh Christ, this is going to be another one of those threads, isn't it?

mingol

mingol

Singapore
July 2005

APR 16, 2007 10:36 AM

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.


Yeah, exactly - it's history. Which means it doesn't need to still be flying up there more than 140 years later.

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.


Your naiveté is touching.

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

APR 16, 2007 10:43 AM

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.



Just because it's history doesn't make it good or even acceptable. News flash: A lot of history is full of shitty people, shitty actions and generally pisses people off. It's not even THAT long ago...

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.



And if the Fairy Princess makes a wish on a shooting star... whatever

mingol

mingol

Singapore
July 2005

APR 16, 2007 10:46 AM

FreakPirate said:
And if the Fairy Princess makes a wish on a shooting star... whatever


... butterflies fly out of her ass.

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

APR 16, 2007 10:49 AM

mingol said:

FreakPirate said:
And if the Fairy Princess makes a wish on a shooting star... whatever


... butterflies fly out of her ass.



Interesting side note: Ass butterflies... notorious bigots.

Squire

Squire

I'm lost
November 2003

APR 16, 2007 10:55 AM

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.



Totally. And while we're on the subject of history, why doesn't Germany fly the swastika over the Bundestag?

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.



Gee whillikers. That'd be super-keen! But just one thing: how exactly has the NAACP killed your freedom of speech?

phrogg

phrogg

Greenville, SC
August 2005

APR 16, 2007 11:04 AM

flyer said:



Thank you for posting this image.

This was the flag that flew over the first Confederate capitol in Montgomery Ala., in 1861. Notice the 7 stars, representing the first 7 states to secede. The "official" flag of the Confederate States went through several revisions,
none of which included the "Southern Cross" design so familiar on Pontiac license tags. The Southern Cross was originally the flag of the Confederate Navy, and as the war continued it became more and more popular as a battle flag for many (not all) Army regiments. After the war, it was used primarliy for two reasons: as an emblem for those nostalgic over the "Lost Cause", and as a symbol of terror against African-Americans, Jews and Catholics in the South. You want history? Have some history.

RileyStClair

RileyStClair

Los Angeles, CA
September 2006

APR 16, 2007 11:10 AM

Solid_Jackson said:

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.



Totally. And while we're on the subject of history, why doesn't Germany fly the swastika over the Bundestag?

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.



Gee whillikers. That'd be super-keen! But just one thing: how exactly has the NAACP killed your freedom of speech?



the NAACP put sugar in my gas tank last week, dude.
they're totally taking this country down the crapper.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

APR 16, 2007 11:11 AM

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.




Damned NAACP, and all those uppity, trouble causin' negroes.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

APR 16, 2007 11:17 AM

flyer said:




Thanks for reminding everyone that the Confederates never wanted to be part of this country, anyway. It blends so smoothly with the idiomatic hyper-patriotism.

Ravnos

ravnos

Edmonton, AB
OLD SKOOL

APR 16, 2007 11:23 AM

I don't know that I would consider the Confederate flag racist in and of itself. It's certainly been used by racist organizations over the years, and I can understand the perception of it as a racist symbol, but context is important. At any rate, I think it's ridiculous to fly it at the state legislature. It's not the state's official flag, it's not the country's official flag, it's the flag of a separatist nation. To have it waving outside the centre of the state's government suggests separatist and anti-American sentiments within.

StarBelliedBoy

StarBelliedBoy

Philadelphia, PA
December 2003

APR 16, 2007 11:24 AM

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history.



There's a reason you don't see many of these:



anymore.

And just for fun, here's a related image just for the lolz:

st_even

st_even

Milwaukee, WI
September 2006

APR 16, 2007 11:36 AM

tryphcycle said:
While they are at it, they should remove it from the history books too!



That makes COMPLETE sense. And while they're at THAT, Germany should hang Swastikas all over Berlin! That would be fantastic!

EDIT: Solid_Jackson beat me to it, the cunt. =(

phrogg

phrogg

Greenville, SC
August 2005

APR 16, 2007 11:37 AM

And while we're on history, I hope that Spurrier is aware that every coach that has come to SC, all their achievements and National Championships notwithstanding, have seen their careers destroyed. No exceptions. Yeah, he's probably saying "It won't happen to me!" Whatever you say, Steve. Actually, it's not even history - it's more like fate, of the Sophoclean variety. It's inescapable.

st_even

st_even

Milwaukee, WI
September 2006

APR 16, 2007 11:39 AM

PhroggamResurgam said:
And while we're on history, I hope that Spurrier is aware that every coach that has come to SC, all their achievements and National Championships notwithstanding, have seen their careers destroyed. No exceptions. Yeah, he's probably saying "It won't happen to me!" Whatever you say, Steve. Actually, it's not even history - it's more like fate, of the Sophoclean variety. It's inescapable.



No one would deserve it more than Steve Spurrier.

EDIT: Maybe Lord Voldemort cursed the position...

tryphcycle

tryphcycle

Beaverton, OR
December 2002

APR 16, 2007 11:42 AM

Solid_Jackson said:
Gee whillikers. That'd be super-keen! But just one thing: how exactly has the NAACP killed your freedom of speech?



Any organization that wants to ban the use of a word is tring to kill our freedom of speech!

first it will be the "N" word... then what? the "C" word, the "W" word... how about the other "C" word. or the "M" word... or the "F" word.... or the "A" word....



tryphcycle

tryphcycle

Beaverton, OR
December 2002

APR 16, 2007 11:46 AM

Ravnos said:
I don't know that I would consider the Confederate flag racist in and of itself. It's certainly been used by racist organizations over the years, and I can understand the perception of it as a racist symbol, but context is important. At any rate, I think it's ridiculous to fly it at the state legislature. It's not the state's official flag, it's not the country's official flag, it's the flag of a separatist nation. To have it waving outside the centre of the state's government suggests separatist and anti-American sentiments within.



now that is a reason to remove the confederate flag! not because it is racest! hell... the US flag has been used by racest groups every bit as much as the conf. flag!

Bastardo

Bastardo

Boston, MA
January 2005

APR 16, 2007 11:52 AM

degthelegend said:
I think this guy is a dumbass! No matter what this flag may represent for some people, it is still a part of history. Not only for South Carolina, but for the rest of the states that left the union.



So then put it in a museum, with the rest of the historical artifacts.

In my opinion, it is organizations like the NAACP that are killing our freedom of speech, yet everyone just goes along with it. The only reason racism exists anymore is because people allow it to. If people would just let things go and not show how much things upset them, then the racists would have no reason to say anything to you any more.


Wha?

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

APR 16, 2007 11:55 AM

tryphcycle said:

Solid_Jackson said:
Gee whillikers. That'd be super-keen! But just one thing: how exactly has the NAACP killed your freedom of speech?



Any organization that wants to ban the use of a word is tring to kill our freedom of speech!

first it will be the "N" word... then what? the "C" word, the "W" word... how about the other "C" word. or the "M" word... or the "F" word.... or the "A" word....



Dude, nobody's killing your ability to say nigger - something you seem to be really concerned about.

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