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Texas hires Cliff Croomes as first Black director of Longhorn marching band

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas has hired the first Black director of the Longhorn marching band one month after it announced the band will be required to perform "The Eyes of Texas" school song that has drawn sharp criticism over racist elements in its past.

Cliff Croomes, assistant director of bands at LSU, will take over the Longhorn Band at his alma mater starting June 1, Texas announced Wednesday. He replaces Scott Hanna, who had been in the role since 2015. Croomes is the 15th director of the band that was founded in 1900.

Croomes inherits an ongoing controversy over the decision to keep playing the school song.