On Saturday, September 29, Ole Miss met the University of Kentucky in a football game played in Jackson.
Before the game began, Ole Miss students had displayed what was billed as “the largest Confederate flag in the world.” At halftime, Ole Miss was ahead 7-0, and hysteria was reaching a new peak.
When the crowd began to chant, “We want Ross! We want Ross!” Barnett could not resist. He stepped from his box onto the field and approached the microphone. When the cheering finally died, he raised a clenched fist and cried, “I love Mississippi! I love her people! I love her customs! And I love and respect her heritage!”
That was all he said, but in response, the crowd went wild, waving a sea of Confederate flags….