http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGB9CFZG5CE.html

Aug 9, 2005
Nickname Ruling Lacks Common Sense

JOEY JOHNSTON

TAMPA - From its headquarters in Indianapolis -- no pun intended -- the
NCAA last week handed down a ruling that smacks of political correctness
gone haywire.

So what do you think?

The Florida State Bulldogs?

The Florida State Tigers?

The Florida State Gold?

The Florida State Bowdens?

No, they are the Florida State Seminoles. Always have been. Always should
be.

Not according to the NCAA's executive committee, which pointed to 18
schools using Indian mascots or nicknames that it deemed "hostile or
abusive." The NCAA said those schools wouldn't be allowed to host NCAA-run
championship events unless changes were made.

What's more, teams "must take reasonable steps" to cover up the "offensive"
logos at championship events. (Like an NCAA Tournament basketball game,
when media members are prohibited from going to press row with a drink,
unless the cup carries the logo of an NCAA-sponsored beverage.)

Rendered irrelevant, at least in the NCAA's eyes, is this: The Seminole
Tribe of Florida finds the Florida State Seminoles to be neither hostile
nor abusive. The tribe has encouraged and endorsed FSU's use of
"Seminoles."

In fact, tribe members have worked with FSU in designing the clothing of
Chief Osceola and the staging of his pregame ride aboard the horse,
Renegade. Does that sound hostile or abusive?

Seminoles: Not A Stereotype

Here's the problem: The NCAA ruling actually lacks sensitivity -- and
common sense.

It fails to differentiate between the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages
and FSU Seminoles.

Savages? An ugly-sounding stereotype, downright offensive to an entire
race.

Seminoles? It's a lesson in Florida history. The Seminole Tribe was
unconquered, never losing a war, never signing a treaty. Seminoles? Not a
derogatory term. It's the actual name of the tribe.

Seminoles. Not to be confused for Redskins. Or Redmen. And certainly not
Savages.

Here's a mixed message. Earlier this year, the Seminole Tribe of Florida
spoke to a lower NCAA committee, which decided against an outright ban of
Indian mascots.

But the executive committee has handed down this overruling ultimatum,
saying the Oklahoma Seminole Nation, the largest group of Seminoles outside
Florida, was not supportive.

Sensitivity Gone Overboard

Immediate reaction to the NCAA ruling was borderline comical. Would Notre
Dame dispense with its "Fighting Irish" leprechaun because it offended
Irish people? Do the Miami Hurricanes offend the hurricane-ravaged
residents of Florida?

Coming soon to Gainesville, just before the fourth quarter: "We Are The
Persons Of Old Florida."

When Chief Osceola (an FSU student) rides into Doak Campbell Stadium and
plants his flaming spear at midfield, it continues a popular pregame
tradition that began in 1978.

From an outsider's perspective, maybe that could be toned down. Is it
offensive? Not according to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which had a hand
in the development of that tradition. I'll trust its judgment over the
NCAA's.

"It's only a name," FSU free safety Pat Watkins said. "We don't walk around
outside of football saying 'We're Seminoles!' or trying to be Native
Americans."

You know where this is headed. To the courts. Who has the best lawyers?
Meanwhile, common sense -- and the Seminole Tribe of Florida -- is being
ignored.