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ESPN issues apology for using ‘Dixie’ as background music for Andrew Luck graphic
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ESPN has issued an apology for using the song “Dixie” while displaying a graphic of Andrew Luck during the Colts-Texas NFL Playoff game on Saturday.
The graphic appeared to be a play off the popular and comedic Twitter account “Capt. Andrew Luck,” in which the Indianapolis quarterback is depicted as a Civil War officer. The graphic showed the Colts’ pass protection and had Luck dodging cannon balls while outfitted in Union military attire.
I was hoping we had moved on from the Captain Andrew Luck thing like four years ago. https://t.co/a5ZbEruVO4
— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) January 7, 2019
“Dixie” is widely considered a song with pro-Confederacy sentiment and some found its use odd and offensive.
“It was a mistake to use the song,” ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told Sporting News. “We regret having done so and we apologize.”
This isn’t the first time the song has been used around football. At Ole Miss, the marching band used to play “Dixie” at home football games regularly, but moved away from the song in 2016.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB