SEC Commissioner Speaks Out Against Mississippi State Flag

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey last night indicated that until the Confederate emblem “is removed from Mississippi's state flag, the conference will consider precluding SEC championship events from being conducted” in the state. Mississippi State AD John Cohen and university President Mark Keenum “publicly supported Sankey's stance” less than a half-hour after Sankey’s statement, while Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn Boyce and AD Keith Carter also “released a statement shortly after Sankey.” Starkville hosted the ‘16 SEC softball tournament, while Oxford hosted the tourney in ’11 (Jackson CLARION LEDGER, 6/19).

Conference USA also said that it “will review its championship hosting policies.” C-USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod “didn't specify Mississippi or the flag but did note ‘symbols and individuals that represent horrific injustices of the past.’" Southern Miss is “slated to host the 2022 conference baseball tournament” (ESPN.com, 6/18).