Novak: Death of the Chief (Illiniwek)

Creator's Syndicate ^ | Februrary 22, 2007 | Robert Novak

[RWR8189]

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 10, 1942, was up to then the best day of my life. I had talked my father, University of Illinois class of '22, into taking me at age 11 along with him to homecoming weekend. On a golden autumn afternoon, lowly Illinois upset Minnesota, the Midwest football powerhouse. And, for the first time, I was privileged to watch Chief Illiniwek proudly dance down the field to Indian war music.

The last time I watched the Chief was Sept. 16, 2006. It will be the last time I ever see this 81-year-old symbol of my alma mater. The board of trustees last week eliminated Chief Illiniwek, bowing to years of pressure from Native American activists, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and liberal politicians.

This is a melancholy moment for me, many other Illinois alumni and university officials (including President B. Joseph White). The university has been forced to yield to blackmail. The death of the Chief epitomizes some unsavory aspects of contemporary American public life: political correctness, hypocrisy and bureaucratic tyranny.

Only a small minority of Native Americans is shown by polls to oppose Indian nicknames in sports. The campaign against them gained momentum only when the NCAA, which can hardly cope with policing athlete misconduct and illegal payments in college sports, crusaded against dozens of colleges in the name of political correctness. The NCAA, under Myles Brand's presidency, labeled Chief Illiniwek one of the "hostile and abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots."

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

They only get away with what we allow.

[Cheapskate]

Looks like the alleged WHITE FATHERS finally hauled the Chief off to the reservation!!

[Frwy]

Absolutely. And the more we bow under the pressure the more it appears we agree with the PC mess. We've become gutless.

[Thorin]

The irony is, if the drive to kill all Indian mascots succeeds, Americans will no longer think of American Indians as the descendants of brave warriors. They will think of them--if they think of them at all--only as casino operators or welfare dependents.

[The FIGHTIN Illini]

I agree completely. The history rewrite continues.

The next onslaught will be the continued use of the curently 'allowed' FIGHTIN ILLINI.

As my tagline says SCREW THE NCAA

[proud American in Canada]

I'm a U of I alum. This is a real shame.

[redgolum]

My only question through all of this is when they will attack Florida State.

Notice how they go after small programs, but not the big ones.

[KEVLAR]

I agree.

This mascot honored their traditions and helped preserve their heritage.

Perhaps we should begin removing Indian names from states and cities as well. We could start with Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Kansas.

[jaydubya2]

My understanding is that Florida State purchased the use of the Seminole name from the tribe. Probably to help promote their casino. Maybe the NCAA makes an exception for this?

[Western Phil]

"Maybe the NCAA makes an exception for this?"

You will have to go somewhere else for the details, but the NCAA is ok with this since the Seminoles put their seal of approval on it.

The demise of Chief Illinwek is due to the pc steamrollering of a small vocal minority who do not have the best interest of the Indians in mind.

[ladyjane]

The irony is, if the drive to kill all Indian mascots succeeds, Americans will no longer think of American Indians as the descendants of brave warriors. They will think of them--if they think of them at all--only as casino operators or welfare dependents.

True.

[Ditto]

To turn it around, I'd say that it's obvious that the NCAA hates Indians and seeks to eradicate all memory of them.

[CORedneck]

Time for Myles Brand to go, in the same fashion as how he fired legendary Coach Bobby Knight ! If I were a student at U. Illinois, I would make my own Chief Illiniwek costume and go around the stands.

How come the American People don't get fed up enough with P.C. to do something about it ? It is getting worse and worse. I has permeated from academia such as the ivy league schools in life in general such as the workplace for example.

[fish hawk]

I am surprised that the chief lasted this long. Stanford dumped Price Lightfoot about twenty years ago and replaced him with a red bird. He was there for twenty one years and was a real Indian (Yurok, N. Calif.) He was also my uncle and was killed in an accident in 1988.

[fish hawk]

The only reason they do not succeed with Florida State is that the Indians down there are backing the name and the team.

[fish hawk]

Try again. They backed the name BEFORE there was a Casino.

[fish hawk]

Brilliant idea!! Wouldn't it be funny if on the first football game of this year, thousands turned up in the stands wearing Indian costumes and head dresses! LOL

[jaydubya2]

And made it official:

"On June 17, 2005, the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida voted unanimously in favor of a written resolution to reaffirm its ongoing support of the university's use of its name and symbols. The significance of putting this resolution in writing is enhanced by the fact that traditionally the Seminole Tribe of Florida has not seen the need to commit these kinds of relationships or agreements to writing."

[Yossarian]

I am surprised that the chief lasted this long. Stanford dumped Price Lightfoot about twenty years ago and replaced him with a red bird.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but they're the Stanford "Cardinal" - with no "s" at the end. That's right... their team nickname is... a... COLOR!

To give them some kind of anthropomorphic mascot, they have a tree, who was fired last year for getting drunk at a basketball game.