Posted on 08/19/2005 5:10:46 AM PDT by presidio9
Count Gov. Jeb Bush among the Floridians outraged at the NCAA's recent announcement that it is banning the use of 18 Indian mascots and nicknames -- including the Florida State Seminoles -- during NCAA-sanctioned events beginning next February.
''I think it's offensive to Native Americans . . . the Seminole Indian tribe who support the traditions of FSU,'' Bush said Tuesday. 'I think they insult those people by telling them, `No, no, you're not smart enough to understand this. You should be feeling really horrible about this.' It's ridiculous. How politically correct can we get? The folks that make these decisions need to get out more often.''
The FSU Board of Trustees called an ''emergency'' meeting for 1 p.m. today to discuss the issue and plan their appeal. Attorney Barry Richard, who represented George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential recount, has agreed to represent FSU in a lawsuit against the NCAA, if it comes to that.
FSU president T.K. Wetherall said he will ''pursue all legal avenues'' to get the ruling overturned. The Seminole Tribe of Florida in June passed a resolution supporting FSU's use of their name and mascot Chief Osceola. ''It is unconscionable that the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been ignored,'' Wetherall said.
FSU, Illinois (Illini) and Utah (Utes) are among the schools that would be prohibited from displaying their name and logo at postseason tournaments.
Haggard said forcing FSU to change its name would be like asking Notre Dame to ditch Fighting Irish and the leprechaun mascot because they might offend Irish people.
''You've got a little green guy in a hat, who looks like he's in a drunken stupor, hitting people with his cane,'' Haggard said. ``Should we assume Irish people are offended?''
Bush suggested the NCAA focus on more pressing issues.
''You know what they ought to be worried about? The graduation rates of most college athletes,'' Bush said. ``Maybe if they had some suggestions on that, that universities could apply and could implement, they could be doing a service to all of us.''
Being of Irish and Greek heritage, you have no idea the trauma I endure when the Michigan State Spartans play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
I wonder what new names North and South Dakota are going to have. Indiana has to go too, I suppose.
New to the Constitution: The right not to be offended.
Go Jeb!
I hadn't reallized how politically correct college football has become. I don't watch it anyway, but here's another reason to continue not watching.
Good for Jeb!
BTW, who's Haggard, as in, "Haggard said..."? He/she was not identified.
Some flunkie wrote me back, thanking me for my support. You would think someone associated with higher education would have a better understanding of, and appreciation for, satire and irony.
So I wrote back, and suggested that Florida State University, instead of calling themselves the Seminoles, should name themselves after a group that NOONE could admire. My suggestion: The Florida State University NCAA Executive Committees. Instead of the tomahawk chop, they could all lie supinely on their backs. Their hard core fans could simply have their spines removed.
I haven't heard back yet.
The NCAA made itself an easy target. I'd like to know specifically who with the NCAA made this decision. I'm betting that they have affiliation with a particular political party.
It is a total mystery to me how he got the job.
If all of the major colleges decided to dump the NCAA, and played in their own bowls, would they miss a beat?
This is really the tail wagging the dog.
If the NCAA disappeared, other than idiotic rulings like this, would anyone notice?
LOL!
Excellent.
Well, unfortunately this does not apply to bowl games, and the NCAA just purchased the only basketball competitor (the NIT). The rest of the sports don't matter.
You don't know the anguish I have when the Irish and Purdue play... I don't know who to root for.. :(
Now, I would bet there are more descendants of cavaliers in the US then there are descendents of Seminole injuns.
I'm starting to get offended.
Miles Brand is replicating the damage he did to Indiana University on the whole NCAA. The Peter principle is alive and well.
:D
Screw the NCAA. Don't bother with "appeals", just ignore them. If they try to DQ the teams, play anyway. If the member schools stand together, the NCAA will be de-fanged.
"It's ridiculous. How politically correct can we get? The folks that make these decisions need to get out more often.''
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.