LOCKED: What the Heck MSU!

[bull64]

It was determined today that the Air Force ROTC on campus will not be able to present the colors before the football game as they have always done! They were told that due to the controversy over the state flag, the United States flag would be left out as well. This is wrong MSU and we should be outraged. I don't want this comment to have anything to do with the state flag but for us to leave out American flag is unbelievable. Our ROTC deserve to present our colors since they sacrifice (or will sacrifice for those colors) on our behalf!

 

[57stratdawg]

Should be a fun thread. I look forward to reading all of the comments next Thursday when it's still on the front page.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

you have a link to this information, or did you get an email from crazy uncle?

edit to add: are you my batshit crazy uncle?

 

[bull64]

I do not have an article several of my ROTC buddies were talking about it in the union today.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

They're waiting for this flag.

 

[Shamoan]

i want to be outraged, but im not. we have a giant american flag flying, that is enough.

 

[ronpolk]

i want to be outraged, but im not. we have a giant american flag flying, that is enough.

I'm like you on this. The fact is I agree that the state flag needs to not be presented and it appears the U.S. Flag is now collateral damage.

 

[was21]

Just another reason to retire the damn thing

 

[bulldognation]

isnt this a bit premature?
Until there is a bill or public referendum to change it, let it fly.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Who, or whom decided this?

 

[bigiron.sixpack]

I do not have an article several of my ROTC buddies were talking about it in the union today.

I bet your ROTC buddies were supposed to keep this quiet, if true, and I'm not doubting you. I hope you haven't given them the old Blue Falcon.

 

[thatsbaseball]

There could be repercussions in the state legislature. I`ll bet our lobbyists are shitting bricks right about now. I can hear some of our beloved legislators now "well if them sumbitches are too good to fly our flag, they`re too good to spend our tainted money".

 

[ronpolk]

There could be repercussions in the state legislature. I`ll bet our lobbyists are shitting bricks right about now. I can hear some of our beloved legislators now "well if them sumbitches are too good to fly our flag, they`re too good to spend our tainted money".

I'm sure this is exactly the reason why they are not presenting any flag. That way the legislators can't say we excluded the state flag.

Like it or not, the flag is changing soon and its stuff like this that will eventually help facilitate that change.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I know many of the younger generation will disagree but we are living in a sad time.

 

[Resolved]

Let's have some verification of this, other than your ROTC buds talking about it in the Union.

 

[bull64]

I realize "ROTC buds" seems like the most unreliable source one could find, but what was said was any detail cannot present the american flag without the state flag along with it. So they are changing the pregame show, therefore eliminating any discord between those for/against the state flag.

 

[thatsbaseball]

I`ll be your huckleberry....why not get someone else who can present just the American flag to do so.

 

[Bulldogg31]

I was AFROTC at State and it was always a big honor to be part of the color guard presenting the colors in the stadium. Stinks that these students might miss out on that opportunity.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

It may be too late, but the local BSA should be able to perform as close as possible to the ROTC crew. Get a few Life or Eagle Scouts with experience. It'd be a thrill of a lifetime & they'd do it with as much decorum & aplomb as they'd be able.

 

[MaroonNation]

All the ones for our current state flag will be in Oxford Saturday. What difference does it make in Starkville. Just bring out Ole Glory alone or the Stars and Stripes along side a big bulldog flag.

 

[ShrubDog]

So what you are saying is this only effects us and not Ole Miss? If they didnt present the state flag last week it would have been news.

By doing something like this just starts controversy. Like I said months ago this crap is going to find its way into the pressbox.

 

[dickiedawg]

I just got what I consider to be solid confirmation of this.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

Is it a national ROTC rule that a state flag and the American flag must be flown together?

I 100% support never having the 1894 flag appear on campus in any way ever again, but the ROTC should just break the rules and fly the American flag alone. Surely it's not a court-martiable offense or anything?

 

[drt7891]

That's nothing but bullcrap. There are signs in front of 2 different houses on my way to work that say "Keep the Flag, Change the Speaker..." and one of those houses flies an MSU flag in front of it. Truth be told, Oxford and Ole Miss are doing a better job at leading this charge than MSU/Starkville are.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Until the state flag is changed, it's the state flag. Fly the damn thing.

 

[SwampDawg]

I agree. Fly it.

 

[GloryDawg]

This is probably a ROTC rule set by the Military. Until they vote to change it, it's the flag and let it fly.

 

[Dawgtini]

Until the state flag is changed, it's the state flag. Fly the damn thing.

Exactly. MSU has no control on what flag represents our state, Nor should it. It has been our flag for 121 years. Fly it.

 

[Connor Mead]

That's nothing but bullcrap. There are signs in front of 2 different houses on my way to work that say "Keep the Flag, Change the Speaker..." and one of those houses flies an MSU flag in front of it. Truth be told, Oxford and Ole Miss are doing a better job at leading this charge than MSU/Starkville are.

Starkville alderman voted not to fly the State Flag on any public property, prior to Oxford doing so. Thats about as strong of a stance as you can take. As for MSU, the president publicly denounced it. Think both Starkville and MSU have taken a solid stand.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

I could give a **** less about the State flag, but to not present the American flag is really sad. Nobody has given their life for the State flag, but we are lucky enough to be watching football because people gave their life for the American flag.

 

[hatfieldms]

I agree.

Pretty goofy rule

 

[thatsbaseball]

What`s goofy is it`s a rule we don`t have to adhere to. There will be 60,000 people there Saturday who would volunteer to carry our American flag on the field. If the ROTC can`t handle it we should handle it any way we have to.

 

[patdog]

We'll still have the American flag flying on the flagpole. Just salute it when the anthem is played. Not a huge deal.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

^^This. Old Glory should not become a casualty to politics.

 

[ArcherSPS]

Official statement from MSU:

There is a lot of erroneous information in this thread. The National Anthem and the traditional honoring of the colors will indeed take place Saturday night pre-game as it always has. The decision the university made was to improve the flow of pre-game activities and incorporate an innovative new patriotic performance by the MSU Maroon Band. The band has a new pre-game and national anthem routine that will include a “USA” spell-out and use of the song “Grand Old Flag” prior to playing the National Anthem. The focal point for the band and the crowd during the performance of the National Anthem will be the large permanent stadium flag, which eliminates the need for the ROTC color guard. The university sees this new routine as an appropriate display of patriotism and a better fan experience. MSU does not use a pre-game color guard in any other sport and hasn’t for several years – we use the new large venue American flags. MSU’s ROTC remains a high-profile part of our game day activities, particularly in leading the post-touchdown celebrations in the end zone. MSU has earned national recognition as a military-friendly campus and that remains a significant part of our university values.

 

[MSUCE99]

When did my alma mater become so chock full of hippies?

 

[00Dawg]

Black Helicopter me says that was a creative way to ditch the state flag.

 

[drt7891]

I completely agree.

 

[patdog]

Black Helicopter me says that was a creative way to ditch the state flag.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit. And I'm OK with that.

 

[bull64]

I am in full support of a new patriotic pre-game. But it still does not address the issue of taking away a tradition of the Air Force ROTC. There is a symbolic patriotism of having our armed forces display our colors at events. Allow for change to occur but do not forget about those who sacrifice.