AUSTIN, Texas The University of Texas at Austin announced sweeping changes on Monday to promote diversity, inclusion, equity and more fully support Black students on campus. Another key request student-athletes had was to discontinue the school song, The Eyes of Texas, which has ties to minstrel shows and was created during segregation. It will now be named in honor of Texas two Heisman trophy winners, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. The university will also erect a statue for San Antonio native Julius Whittier, the Longhorns first Black football letterman, at the stadium. RELATED: UT athletes want part of stadium renamed for San Antonio football legendAway from the field, Texas will permanently honor Heman M. Sweatt as the universitys first Black student.

SAN ANTONIO University of Texas Longhorns football players and other student athletes shared a statement on Friday requesting several changes geared toward supporting black students and one of the requests has a direct San Antonio connection. He was a San Antonio native and graduated from Highlands High School in 1969. He is considered to be one of the greatest football players ever from the San Antonio area. For those who do not know, Julius Whittier, the first black UT football letterman, is from @HighlandsOwls in San Antonio. Other calls to action include increasing outreach efforts to inner-city schools in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston.