The Greatest Atrocity

I’ve been livid over countless boneheaded decisions of the monopoly called the NCAA, but none has been more absurd and ill founded than the NCAA’s decision to ban “hostile” and “abusive” Indian nicknames.

Yes, some nicknames should go. Redskins is “hostile” and maybe even “abusive,” but Seminoles most certainly is not.Yet, come February of 2006, all such nicknames and logos will be banned from postseason play and come 2008 they will be banned from cheerleading and band uniforms also.

And as I said, in theory this is a good idea.

But why is everything considered “hostile” or “abusive” with the exception of the University of North Carolina – Pembroke (which was founded as the North Carolina state school for Indians, if that is not “hostile” itself). How is Seminole “hostile” or “abusive” or even unwanted?

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has not just “given the university permission to continue using it (the nickname)” as the Associated Press says off-hand. Rather, the Tribe fully endorses the move, designing the uniforms and supplying a real Seminole Indian to the home football games. It is not some moron dressed up like they have at Illinois; no, it is a real Seminole Indian you see.

How is that “hostile” or “abusive” or even questionably wrong?

“Other Seminole tribes are not supportive,” says Vice-President of the NCAA’s latest debacle, Charlotte Westerhaus.

“So?” asks Burton DeWitt, trying to figure out what out-of-state tribes have to do with the hostility of the nickname directed at the Seminole Tribe of the state of Florida? This is an issue between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, not the Seminole Tribe of Georgia or anywhere else in the world. If they have a problem with it, tough. This has nothing to do with Georgia or any other state.

Yet, despite the fact that this name is endorsed and supported by the Seminole tribe and is not “hostile” or “abusive” to the other Seminole Tribes who do not endorse the name, the NCAA still wants to rip it down and tear it apart.

 Which is wrong.

But additionally, why are they only going after nicknames that are derogatory towards Native Americans? There are other races of human affected by such nicknames.

What about James Madison University, which proudly dons the nickname, Dukes? That is blatant use of royalty in a nickname by a school named after someone who fought against royalty in the War of 1812! That nickname was never approved by England and Wales and Scotland. Maybe one of the three, but it is “hostile” and “abusive” to the others.

And just staying in the CAA you get George Washington University, the Colonials. How is that not derogatory against anyone of European decent of before 1776? Sure, some may accept it, but has every such group been asked and accepted the nickname? NO!!! That definitely is “hostile” and “abusive.”
And the worst of all is the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Sure, cornhuskers in Nebraska love it, but what about the same cornhuskers in Kansas or Colorado or Saskatchewan? They want to send their wildcats and buffalo and roughriders out to stop such a “hostile” and “abusive” nickname from tarnishing their image.

Do not these nicknames need to go?

So before you nitpick and kill off the good names like Andrew Jackson killed off the Cherokee 170 years ago, do some research and select more closely the names that need to go.

I’m not commenting on all the other nicknames because most of them I know little or nothing about, but Seminoles is perfectly fine for Florida State to use in athletic events, including postseason, and it is perfectly alright to put that image on every television screen whenever the major networks feel it appropriate.

Hopefully Florida State will win this lawsuit and hopefully Miles Brand will burn in hell alongside the NCAA.

But as long as Florida State can rightfully keep and use the nickname Seminoles, this Gator fan will be happy. For once I am rooting for Florida State. The school deserves it.