UTSA President comes and takes home game tradition

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — A tradition at UTSA football games will not be returning this year.

For the past 6 years, a giant flag with the phrase “Come and Take It” would be unfurled at the start of the 4th quarter and a cannon would be fired.

But some found the reference to the historic battle cry offensive and wanted the tradition stopped.

Former UTSA Professor Ellen Clark wanted the slogan removed from UTSA’s sports facility so she started a petition with the claim that the phrase “embodies both anti-Mexican and pro-slavery sentiments.”

After gathering enough signatures, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy launched a task force to further examine the tradition. The end result is that the flag and the cannon will no longer be a part of UTSA home football games.

Eighmy released the following statement  to faculty, staff students and alumni when announcing the change:

“Over the last decade, the phrase has become increasingly affiliated with cultural and political issues beyond its traditional historical context.

In the time since it was last used at a home game on November 23, 2019, the phrase has been adopted by organizations and movements across the political spectrum.

A simple online search of webpages, articles and images involving this phrase reveals the myriad of ways numerous organizations have adopted it for their particular cause.

Many of these organizations have values and agendas that differ significantly from ours and our clear focus on excellence in intercollegiate athletics and higher education.”

The email goes on to state that the phrase has “increasingly become incongruent with UTSA Athletics and the institution’s core values” and that they will look for new ways to rally fans at the start of the fourth quarter.