Davis said, “We are here to make change.” A flag that represents all Mississippians is needed. There are a few things we can all agree on: that we all take pride in Mississippi, that we want it to be a great place to do business, and that Ole Miss and its other great universities should attract both the top players from our state and the best from across the nation. “We can change the flag now.” This has been a central issue in the ongoing Mississippi flag debate. The pleas made by Mississippi’s college administrators and coaches over the past few days have clearly helped. Mississippi Today was told Thursday afternoon by lawmakers that they were only “one or two votes away” from legislative changes in both chambers. This is a remarkable reality considering the lack of legislative support for the effort just a week ago. After the coaches, Philip Gunn, House Speaker, took to the podium and spoke loudly about the importance of changing the flag. Gunn stated, “This whole state is crying for change.” This is a problem that must be addressed quickly. It will get worse the longer it lingers and the more difficult it will be to resolve. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a critical moment for the image of Mississippi. The nation is watching. Last week, Conference USA, the Southeastern Conference, and NCAA announced that championship events from Mississippi would be prohibited as long as Confederate emblems are included on the flag. McCray-Penson stated that the rulings of the NCAA and SEC have a significant impact on us. “We can’t be an elite team without hosting postseason events,” McCray Penson added. This symbol of hate could adversely affect our entire student body. This symbol of hatred is much more than athletics. However, no one seemed to be able to tell if the legislative votes were available to make the change. For the change to take place, it is necessary that the House and Senate have a two-thirds majority. One legislator stated, “We are so close.” Another said, “Almost there.” Another said, “I believe it will happen Friday or Saturday.” McCray-Penson seemed optimistic. She said, “As a Black woman who coaches at one of America’s most diverse universities, I am excited to see change that unites us all and accurately represents our great community.” “Changing the flag is a significant step towards inclusivity and ending racial injustice. It is time for our society to reassess its values and remove this symbol of hate.” Davis ended by talking about a recent family discussion at the dinner table at Davis’ house. Davis stated, “I have a daughter Ally, she is 32 years old and she has Down’s Syndome.” Ally helps us stay grounded and simplified at all times in our home. “Ally keeps us grounded and simplified at all times in our house, including when we were discussing social injustices and the flag change.