A tumultuous offseason for Texas football continued on Thursday, as linebacker DeMarvion Overshown tweeted that he will sit out all team activities “until real action is taken and changes are made” relating to racial inequality.
The message comes less than three weeks after dozens of Texas student-athletes published a lengthy memo requesting that the school make changes, including dropping “The Eyes of Texas” as the school song, renaming buildings that are currently named in honor of people associated with the Confederacy or racism, and setting up a permanent exhibit dedicated to black athletes as part of the athletic Hall of Honor.
Two weeks ago, fellow Longhorns linebacker Juwan Mitchell stated he does not “feel comfortable representing the University of Texas.”
Around that same time, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said he, Texas president Jay Hartzell and the football team had a “tremendous” dialogue in a meeting.
On Thursday, Overshown tweeted:
“First off, I will like to start by saying that I have a lot of love for my teammates, coaches and The University of Texas. As most of you know, the Student-Athletes put out a statement three weeks ago demanding some changes that are long over due. We have been told that things are being done behind closed doors but have yet to see any changes. We are constantly preached urgency throughout the program and I feel that the university should be held to the same standard. I watched WNBA All-Star Maya Moore sit out a whole year because of something that meant so much to her. With that being said, until real action is taken and changes are made I will be sitting out of all team activities. I will support my team in whatever they do but this is something I’m very passionate about and I can not continue to perform for a program that doesn’t show me the same and support I do for them.”
Overshown, a junior from Arp, Texas, has 19 tackles and two sacks in 17 career games at Texas, playing safety or a hybrid safety/linebacker known as the “joker.”
New defensive coordinator Chris Ash said of Overshown back in February: “I love the way he runs, I love the way he hits. I think he’s got great position versatility that he could do a lot of different things.
“At the end of the day, we’ll figure out what position fits his skill set best and will give him the opportunity to play on game day the most. Whether that’s it DB, at linebacker, whatever it is, we’ll probably take a look at him in a few different spots.”
