Posted on 08/09/2005 6:12:09 PM PDT by Crackingham
Gov. Jeb Bush criticized NCAA officials on Tuesday for their decision to penalize Florida State for using an American Indian nickname and symbols, saying they instead insulted the university and a proud Seminole Tribe of Florida. The NCAA's finding that the school's Seminoles nickname is "hostile and offensive," instead of honoring American Indians has the opposite effect, the governor said, because the tribe supports the school's use of its name.
"I think it's offensive to native Americans ... the Seminole Indian tribe who support the traditions of FSU," Bush said on his way into a Cabinet meeting. "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."
Meanwhile, attorney Barry Richard, who successfully led the legal challenge on behalf of Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential recount in Florida, has agreed to represent the school in its case against the NCAA, Florida State President T.K. Wetherell said Wednesday.
"We recognize this is an emotional issue in Florida, and in other parts of the country there are people who feel just as strongly being opposed," NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said Tuesday. "We believe this decision was made on sound ground legally though as I said before there is an appeal process in place."
The school's board of trustees are scheduled to meet Wednesday in emergency session to discuss elements of its formal response to the NCAA.
The university has until Feb. 1 to make a formal appeal to the NCAA executive committee.
Florida State, Illinois and Utah are among 18 schools with an American Indian nickname or logo that will be prohibited by the NCAA from displaying them in postseason events, starting in February.
What ever happened to Patsy?
Don't forget Cadillac or Jeep Cherokee. i'm sure there must be others.
Congratulations. That means you're qualified to be a politcally correct member of the NCAA ruling committee.
The tribe *supports* FSU. Of course, that means nothing to a "feel good" liberal deciding what's good for other folks.
Excerpt:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In a pre-emptive move to thwart a possible NCAA mandate, Florida State recently received a formal resolution from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, supporting the school's continued use of "Seminoles" as a nickname and team logo. "We have been in dialogue with the university since the early 1970s and we feel it's a reflection of the Seminole spirit," said Max B. Osceola Jr., one of five members of the Seminole Tribal Council of Florida, who voted unanimously to approve the resolution. "We have many Seminoles (tribe members) who are (FSU) alumni, many Seminoles who are FSU fans. We feel it's an association that reflects the spirit of Seminoles and is not derogatory in any way."
The rest of the article and the offensive mascot are here
I still find the change from Baltimore Bullets repulsive...SSZ
Exactly, and the Ute Tribe is furious about this.
How about The Recounts.
Our local high school symbol is an Indian. In fact the local first aid squad has an ambulance with a huge Indian caricature on it. Usually drawn from the waist up, our Indian is bare-chested, very buff, scowling, and wears an enormous feather headdress. We are in Pennsylvania and no such Indian has ever lived here, I am certain. Are we...politically offending?
Just another step in the feminization of our country.
I know it will cost big bucks, but the schools should just say No. Talk about diluted bowl games & NCAA tournaments.
Look what happened to Syracuse--went from the Saltine Warriors to a damned Orange.
You and me both.
Earl "The Pearl", Wes Unseld I can still remember. Went to a few of the games.
The Tomahawk chop is actually an FSU cheer. I don't think it was happening in Atlanta until Deion Sanders, a former FSU football player, was playing baseball there.
At sunset, on October 10, 2003, "Unconquered" sprang to life. The bronze sculpture by Fritz White depicts a spear-brandishing Seminole astride a rearing horse, designed to capture the indomitable spirit of the Seminole people and those who have adopted that spirit as a symbol for their university. The massive structure, including its granite-covered pedestal-base, will stand approximately 31 feet from ground level to the tip of the spear, about the height of a three-story building. At sunset the night before each home game, the spear will be ignited and burn until sunrise on the morning after the game.
“Unconquered” rises above the Williams Family Plaza at the north end of Langford Green outside the south entrance to Doak S. Campbell Stadium. While casual observers probably will identify the image with FSU’s living symbols, Renegade and Chief Osceola, the statue embraces and represents a much broader concept, according to Stephen Reilly, the Tallahassee attorney and FSU graduate who has spearheaded the decade-long project from conception to fruition. “Bill Durham’s creation of Renegade and Osceola, which adds such an impact to our home football games, was obviously the inspiration behind this statue,” Reilly said. “However, the ‘Unconquered’ statue more broadly celebrates the human spirit that will not be defeated. This statue does not depict any particular person or event. Rather, it symbolically portrays the unconquered spirit of the Seminole people of the nineteenth century and the timeless legacy of that spirit that continues to burn bright into the future.”
This is PC version of NCAA try get Indians activist off their back
BTW yeah HELLO NCAA how about raising graduation rate of student athetlics
Wonder what would happen if enough of the schools got together and said to the NCAA, "Thanks, but we're not going to participate in the NCAA this year. We'll re-evaluate our position again next year."
Then cooperate among themselves to schedule all the normal games as usual, just without the NCAA or its sactions- and without paying for membership.
I have a feeling once the word got out, the NCAA funds would dry up quickly from sponsors or benefactors, and they'd be whimpering and crawling back to the schools, asking to please reconsider their membership.
Well, I can dream can't I?? I know, how many liberal school admins would do something so un-PC? None, I suspect.
Nice Pics! I always enjoyed having the Chief Osceola as the university symbol - riding out to midfield and planting the flaming spear while the team and crowd goes nuts with pride & adoration. Beats the hell out of some guy in a cartoonish suit with an oversided bobblehead running around the sideline.
And yes, we claim the tomahawk chop as our own as you said - others have 'borrowed' it, because it is an extremely effective rally cry. It's intimidating and frusterating for opponents because it's damn near impossible to tune it out. Even at away games when FSU fans only have a small number in attendance the chant can be hear all through out the stadium.
I know. I looked up Illinois and it translates as "superior men" or "warrior" (from the Algonquin).
fwiw,i talked to an ENROLLED member of the Seminole Nation last evening at a club meeting. she said that the NATION & the TRIBAL COUNCIL say that they are FLATTERED by the use of their tribe's NAME by FSU!
the ONLY sports club name that most of us Indians find DEROGATORY is the Washington NFL franchise name.
THAT WORD has ALWAYS been a racial epithet.
What symbol.. a slot machine.?... or card table.?. or bingo card.?. maybe a lit cigarette on their jersys.. Them Florida "redskins" sell a buttload of tobacco..
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