Jerrell Powe: Leader of the Band

by Ivory Tower on Sep 30, 2008 11:36 AM EDT

(HT: Friends of the Program)

I've been accused by people who know me (not you all, I'm anonymous, right?) of a sort of gentile social progressivism. It's where the name comes from. Perhaps I betray my secret identity by admitting that I proclaim the variant "The South is a nice place to live" at the end of "Slow Dixie," instead of the dominant "...will rise again!"

This high-minded moralism is where the name Ivory Tower comes from. Thanks for visiting, now let me head on over to the restroom and drop off a little change we can believe in.

But for The New York Times and everyone else who felt the need to note with disdain in their pre-debate articles that Ole Miss still played "Dixie" at football games, I give you Jerrell Powe leading the band. This 300+ poor black man from Waynesboro, MS got a rush out of "Dixie" this weekend for the same reason most other Ole Miss fans do - because it's a fight song, not a political statement.

Hey, Langston, in case it's still flying under your radar: Powe. On the 'tron. Are you ready? Do it.

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Comments

IT,
I also don't like the "South will rise again" so prominently screamed after Slow Dixie.Rise to what? WTF are they talking about? Are you idiots gonna secede again? However, those idiots at the New York Times view anything to do with flyover country with disdain.They don't like anything about Mississippi except white guilt Mississippians who will bash their home state in lockstep with the editorial position of that fishwrap.GTH NYT .

by rightwingconspirator on Sep 30, 2008 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

I like the "South Will Rise Again" at the end of Slow Dixie, but no one is advocating secession. It's more a reference to a cultural, academic, economic, and idealistic "rise" that has steadily occurred in the South since the end of the Reconstruction era in 1877. Some people may take offense to it, but few things today are totally unoffensive. If you do not agree with it, do not yell it at football games. That does not mean, however, that those whom disagree with you are "idiots". Be more tolerant, and keep an open mind. However, we do agree on our feelings towards the New York Times.

by Tom on Sep 30, 2008 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

Tom,
I'm not offended by it at all,but I would sincerely doubt that most of the folks yelling that take your nuanced position of it.Let me put it another way, if that kept UM from getting a blue chip football or basketball recruit that was desperately needed would it be worth it? Like it or not, the law school,pharmacy school, or medical school aren't the most nationally visible part of the university, it's athletics.
I probably shouldn't have called them idiots,but it seems to me they aren't thinking this through very well.

by rightwingconspirator on Sep 30, 2008 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

I just wonder if any of the yahoos screaming it understand its historical context. Screw what it might do for recruiting.

This is straight out of Strom Thurmond wanting to bring back slavery days -- "glory, glory segregation! the south will rise again!"

Lord have mercy. This is the shit that inspired some folks to hang others...to shoot them...to drag them behind their cars...to rape their wives and bomb their children...

Ole Miss students need a lesson in historical reality. I guaran-goddamn-tee you anyone with half a brain understands its context and meaning -- despite what the teetotalers in the south endzone say

by Anonymous on Sep 30, 2008 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

We're the cover of the new sports illustrated

by Patridge for Heisman on Sep 30, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Anon,
I completely agree with you but recruiting is the life blood of athletics as well as the law school etc.Nobody HAS to go to Ole Miss ,they can go anywhere.They have to want to go there and they do so for a myriad of reasons.And one of the reasons would be success in athletics.Just look at enrollment figures during the Eli years.

by rightwingconspirator on Sep 30, 2008 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

"Ole Miss students need a lesson in historical reality."

MOST Ole Miss student's don't dig the shouting of TSWRA. I can promise you this.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Sep 30, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

I think it's pretty lame. I think this fad will fade away like so many others have...

by Dirty Flip on Sep 30, 2008 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

If most Ole Miss students don't dig TSWRA, they need to come up with something different and try to drown out the idiots. It's embarrassing. It's redneck. And, it could end up being the death knell of "From Dixie With Love".

To hell with LSU.

by ssmund on Sep 30, 2008 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

Meanwhile, to underline my original point, Jerrell Powe is the gal-darn Batman.

by Ivory Tower on Sep 30, 2008 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

You know, we always talk about tradition... aren't the actual 150-year-old words to the song "His truth is marching on!"?

Hey, if it's good enough for The King, baby, then it's good enough for me! Anyways, that's what I shout at the end. And every time. Because I always stay.

*sigh* Misplaced some dates that way...

by Rh0d3$+@r on Sep 30, 2008 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

I always wanna yell "ole miss will rise again." But until recently have felt...foolish doing so

by Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

can we please start standing up against the guys and girls who want to say TSWRA. Just google that phrase and see if that's the people we want to be associated with......

by Walt on Oct 1, 2008 11:35 AM EDT reply actions