NCAA Ruling Sparks PC Controversy
Wednesday, August 17, 2005




MIAMI — The recent decision by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (search) to ban American Indian nicknames, logos and mascots from its postseason tournaments was intended to eliminate offensive or racist images from major college sports.

But the NCAA's ruling has left some college administrators furious.

“Well, the NCAA, in our minds, has made a stupid decision,” said Florida State University (search) President T.K. Wetherell, whose school is one of 18 affected by the ruling.

Florida State’s teams are nicknamed the Seminoles. Their mascot, Chief Osceola, has charged to midfield before every Florida State home football game for the last 27 years.

The NCAA ban doesn’t force schools to change mascots, but it does limit their use. In addition to the immediate postseason ban, school band members and cheerleaders would be prohibited from using war paint and other Indian images on their uniforms by 2008.

The NCAA took the action after two Seminole Indians from Oklahoma demanded the ban.

“It's completely offensive and I think it’s something that needs to go away,” said Dave Narcomey, a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (search). “This is certainly along the lines of racism; it’s demeaning to native peoples.”

But others are saying this is a case of political correctness run amok. The Seminole Tribes of Florida and Oklahoma have said that they support Florida State.

And so does Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (search).

“God, I mean how politically correct can we get?” asked Bush. “To me, I don’t know. Those folks that make those decisions need to get out more often.”

The NCAA, which has taken a public relations beating and is no longer talking publicly about the decision, has admitted that it underestimated the support for Florida State and the other schools, which now have six months to appeal the mascot ban.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,166057,00.html
So 2 people complain and now the NCAA is going to jump. This is going way to far in the name of political correctness. I guess the professional teams will soon have to change, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, etc, etc.....
Then the teams named after animals will have to change because some members of the SPCA will complain, right. Stupidity at its fullest evolution.

OMG..what's so offensive about Indian names? How can they do something like that?

i could understand if the mascot/insignia is a stereotype (Atlanta Braves), but
otherwise it doesn't make sense.

but hey, if it's the Native Americans themselves who want the ban, the have the right to do that. when i first heard about this, i thought it was just the NCAA being overly PC.

Um... what the hell? Lol honestly, why is there even a politically correct world for other races other than white people? You ever notice only white people seem to care about politically correctness and making the world politically correct? The only thing that should be a no no is derogatory terms

I think political correctness is a bunch of bull. As long as someone isn't putting someone down intentionally or offend someone in a great way, who cares. People need to lighten up n' chillax a little.

I live in Oklahoma where we count more Indians(Native Americans) than other states. Our local paper did a survey and found that the majority of Indians were not hurt nor insulted by Sports teams using Indians as mascots. I guess that doesn't mean anything to the politically connected who are trying to enlarge their voter base. The Indians are expected to be grategul to these people for their political corrections and vote Republican.

You've got to be frigging kidding me. These aren't insults, these team names celebrate the Indian's heritage as brave warriors.

I don't get it... our school mascot is a Spartan. Will that upset the Greeks?

BTW, I always always always say 'actor'.

Well.. I can see thier point. It's taking their once proud culture and reducing it to a sports mascot... With stupid war cries and such that is NOWHERE near celebrating their culture or respecting it. (Tomahawk chop and whooping like an idiot anyone?)

But yes... it's taking PC a might to far.. but then again, I see no college teams named after african tribes or such...

Don't see fellow irish folk getting upset with the Celtics and Norta Dame...

Or animals rights people getting upset over the Bears, Tigers, Lions, Cubs, Marlins, Diamond Backs, Sea Hawks, Blue Jays, Bull Dogs, Eagles, Colts, Panthers, Bengals, Terrapins, ETC, ETC.