South Carolina officials, coaches and players call for Confederate flag to come down

South Carolina was thrust into the spotlight last week when a gunman opened fire in a historically black church and killed nine of its members in a racially motivated act of terrorism.

The act has put the Confederate flag that flies over the statehouse in Charleston at the forefront of a major debate that as prompted officials from the University of South Carolina to weigh in.

	U of South Carolina @UofSC
#UofSC President @HarrisPastides calls for the removal of the Confederate Battle flag from State House grounds. #CharlestonStrong 9:43 AM - 22 Jun 2015
Ray Tanner @RayTannerSC It is time to remove the flag. We are ONE !!#CharlestonStrong#Gamecocks 10:16 AM - 22 Jun 2015 Frank Martin @FrankMartin_SC I am on vacation out of the country but I applaud and support @RayTannerSC @HarrisPastides @nikkihaley @SteveBenjaminSC proud 2 stand with u 11:15 AM - 22 Jun 2015 from Anguilla

Coach Steve Spurrier has yet to comment, but he did make his feelings about the Confederate flag well known in 2007 when he said it should be taken down from the statehouse.

"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," Spurrier said. "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 Conner Shaw agreed with his coach’s earlier sentiments.

	Connor Shaw @cmshaw9
Any flag that contradicts everything our Country flag represents, it shouldn't fly. We ALL stand united. 11:00 AM - 22 Jun 2015

Gov. Nikki Haley has a press conference scheduled for 4 p.m. ET Monday afternoon and she’s expected to call for the flag to come down.