Where have you gone, Chief Illiniwek?
That's the refrain they'll be singing in Urbana and Champaign if the NCAA has its way. Indian names (i.e. Illini) and mascots (i.e. the Chief) have been banned from the postseason by the NCAA, a move that will go a long way toward forcing schools to change longstanding names deemed offensive to Native Americans.
Think about it: These nicknames can't appear on uniforms in the postseason, and schools with these nicknames can't host postseason NCAA events. That means Illinois can't host NCAA gymnastics, as they apparently have in the past. And Florida State's Seminoles can't host baseball regionals, as they do often. And what will Dee Brown wear in March? Well, "Illinois" doesn't offend anyone, as far as I know, so maybe he'll be fine.
Those two schools' mascots are considered "hostile and abusive" -- which seems a bit harsh to N&R summer intern Lindsey Reu, an Illinois grad who does count herself in the anti-Illiniwek camp -- along with 16 other schools not named in the AP story. UNC Pembroke's Braves are exempted from sanctions because of the school's history and 20 percent-plus enrollment of Native Americans.
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An update from AP:
Florida State President T.K. Wetherell threatened to take legal action after the ruling.
"That the NCAA would now label our close bond with the Seminole people as culturally 'hostile and abusive' is both outrageous and insulting," Wetherell said in a written statement.
"I intend to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that this unacceptable decision is overturned, and that this university will forever be associated with the 'unconquered' spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida."
Posted on August 5, 2005 5:31 PM
It is interesting to me that the policy apparently applies to schools whose mascots are offensive to Native Americans....as viewed through the eyes of the NCAA.
"Illinois" has been mispronounced by the state and university for many years. I doubt the NCAA will require the university to pronounce its name correctly so the end sounds like "Noah".
Posted on August 5, 2005 9:24 PM
I could see forcing a team to rename itself if it were *truly* "hostile and abusive." Example? Maybe Washington's NFL franchise "Redskins". I could also see asking folks to alter sterotyped icons like that which represents the Cleveland Indians. But "Seminoles" is neither hostile or abusive--it merely pays tribute to a nation of people. It certainly isn't any more hostile than calling a team the "Vikings" or "Celtics." And Braves is a term meant to honor a warrior, which seemingly is no different from naming a team the "Generals" or "Colonels."
Posted on August 9, 2005 5:20 PM