Conference USA also followed suit. Conference USA also supported the cause. Six days later, Mississippi State football star Kylin hill reacted to Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted that he wouldn’t play his senior season if it wasn’t changed. “… I’m tired,” Hill wrote. Hill was supported by his teammates, coaches, and school administrators. Athletes from other schools also supported him. The push for flag change had momentum again, and many legislators began to change and hedge their positions. Flag change has been supported by the NAACP, Legislative Black Caucus and many left-leaning Mississippi leaders for years. Others were joining the rapidly growing ranks. Some of the top CEOs of state-owned businesses spoke out in support of change. The Baptists also joined the movement. Walmart. The Republican Party. There are many, many more. The sports world then chimed in. Last Thursday, all of the state’s athletic directors and coaches gathered at Capitol to send a powerful message: Change the flag. Now. “I can tell you from personal experience what it’s like to see the Confederate Flag and pretend that it doesn’t have any racist, violent, or oppressive overtones. It screams hatred,” Nikki McCray Penson, Mississippi State’s women’s basketball coach, stated. “There is no place in society for symbols of discrimination, hatred, and oppression,” Kermit Davis, Ole Miss’ men’s basketball coach, said. He said, “We are here for change.” They needed a flag that represented all Mississippians. Sunday they got it. The new flag will eventually be adopted by Mississippi. The best part is that the old flag is now in museums. Last week I mentioned that sports has shown Mississippians how to integrate and manage race relations. This is not a new phenomenon. This is not a new phenomenon. Sports were also a catalyst for change. The change was triggered by sports. I think Medgar Evers (a former Alcorn State football halfback) would approve. I also know that William Winter, a former college sport writer and editor, and a lifelong Mississippi sports fan, would approve.