Momentum is building quickly in Columbia for the State House to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from its grounds following a tragic week in South Carolina history.

University of South Carolina president Harris Pastides and athletic director Ray Tanner both called for the removal of the flag in the wake of the racially motivated Charleston murders.

Steve Spurrier mentioned the flag removal in 2007, but he hasn’t said anything since that time. Here’s what Spurrier said in ’07, via the AP:

“My opinion is we don’t need the Confederate flag at our Capitol,” Spurrier said Saturday. “I don’t really know anybody that wants it there, but I guess there are a lot of South Carolinians that do want it there.”

[…] Spurrier is heard saying the South Carolina-Tennessee game last year, which was featured on ESPN’s “GameDay,” was marred “by some clown … waving that dang, damn Confederate flag behind the TV set. And it was embarrassing to me and I know embarrassing to our state.

“I realize I’m not supposed to get in the political arena as a football coach, but if anybody were ever to ask me about that damn Confederate flag, I would say we need to get rid of it. I’ve been told not to talk about that. But if anyone were ever to ask me about it, I certainly wish we could get rid of it.”

Former South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw also added his thoughts on the flag: