Jackson Free Press

SEC media days had a slightly political feel to them a couple of weeks ago. Both SEC coaches from the state of Mississippi were asked about changing the state flag.

Dan Mullen of Mississippi State University didn't take a strong stance on changing the flag. The Bulldogs head coach tried to avoid controversy, but in his avoidance, he unwittingly made himself controversial.

Mullen isn't the first coach to try to dodge a hot-button subject to avoid upsetting either side of a fan base, and he certainly won't be the last.

University of Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze, on the other hand, was vocal in his opposition to the current flag.

"I'm sure that's something I'm going to get criticized for either way, but at the end of the day, you do what you feel is right, and you handle whatever comes your way," Freeze said while meeting with ESPN.com
reporters. "Man, there is no one ... who understands the heritage, the pride of the Mississippi people (more than I do). I get all of that, but our university moved away from the flag in the late '90s, and that symbol has been hijacked by some groups that use it for ill will toward others, and I can't support that. ... I'm not a political figure, nor do I want to be, but when you ask me where I stand on it, I think it's time to move in another direction."

Meanwhile, both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi have released statements saying the flag needs to be changed.

But before we go handing Freeze awards or throwing Mullen to the wolves, let's mention some other things. "Ole Miss" is a term that slaves used for the wife of the plantation owner. Rebels, the school's official nickname, came from when students left the university to fight for the South in the Civil War. UM has distanced itself from the phrase "Ole Miss" in all but the athletic department but won't let it go completely. At some point this fall, "Rebels" and "Ole Miss" will be seen on the uniforms or the football field.

Freeze hinted that the nickname Rebels could go when speaking at SEC media days.

"We could get into the name of the Rebels and everything, and if that's something that is troublesome to others, I'm sure we would address that. I haven't heard that," he said.

Freeze didn't take a hard stance on Rebels or bring up "Ole Miss." He gets credit for saying he wants to change the state flag, but until the University of Mississippi gets rid of Rebels and Ole Miss, we shouldn't be quick to praise the university's progressive mindset.

It is too easy to slam Mullen and praise Freeze if all that matters is the state flag. Both coaches could do more.