Texas Longhorns band will not play ‘Eyes of Texas’ during football team’s’ final two home games

The Texas Longhorns band will not play the school’s spirit song during the football team’s final two home games of the season over the controversy surrounding the music.

The University of Texas’ Longhorn Band will not perform at either of the school’s remaining home football games, according to a report from the Austin American-Statesman’s Brian Davis.

Per the Statesman, Doug Dempster, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said the alma mater will continue to be played over loudspeakers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for the remainder of the season.

This decision comes after the Longhorn Band did not perform in Texas’ win over Baylor on Oct. 24, when around half of the band’s members said they would not be comfortable performing the alma mater because of its roots to racist minstrel shows.

The song’s controversy extended to the team during the first several weeks of the season, when most Texas football players left the field immediately after games and did not participate in the playing of “The Eyes.” After athletic director Chris Del Conte met with the team before Texas’ win over Baylor, all players have remained on the field for the song after each of the past two games.

The Longhorns take on West Virginia in their second-to-last home game Saturday.

— FOX News