May 1, 2005
W&M reassessing use of 'Tribe' nickname (updated)
Following pressure from the NCAA's Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, William & Mary (of the Atlantic 10) is reassessing the use of its "Tribe" nickname and the W&M logo. Leaders of Indian tribes in the state of Virginia say they don't object to the nickname.
Illinois was most recently in the news about this subject prior to the Final Four in men's basketball.
Press coverage of the latest news mentions the schools that have changed mascots or symbols since the 1970s and points out that 11 Division I schools (including W&M) uses a logo, mascot or nickname associated with American Indians.
Southwestern Athletic Conference commissioner Robert Vowels, Jr. wants to put "more teeth" into the committeee's initiative and there have been hints about financial penalties and post-season ineligibility for teams who keep Indian mascots or nicknames.
William & Mary's mascot Colonel Ebirt (Tribe spelled backwards) is apparently not on the chopping block since he's a green furry thing wearing a tri-cornered hat.
UPDATE
Steve of SW Virginia Law Blog discussed this issue earlier this week:
Perhaps if enrollment is boosted a little bit, instead of the Tribe, they can be known as the 10,000 Maniacs, if that name were not already taken. (A full house at William & Mary Hall is 10,000, which would also be a mostly full house at Zable Stadium.)
Comments:
jon33 said:
posted on May 20, 2005 12:46 AM — 63.25.189.211 — link — abuse?
THANK GOD FOR THE SEMINOLES! I BELIEVE ALL THE NATIONS SUPPORT AND ARE PROUG OF THE NAMES THAT ARE USED IN A DIGNIFIED WAY! IT IS THE SOCIALISTS LIBERAL PEOPLE THAT CAUSE ALL THE TROUBLE, THEY HATE CHRISTIANS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOOD! THEY DON'T REALLY EVEN LIKE EACH OTHER!!! MARANATHA!!! JON33 WWW.ETEAMZ.COM/JM FOR PICTURES COVIT YOUR PRAYERS FOR MY WIFE WITH PICKS, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY MY TOMBSTONE, TENNESSEE PICTURES, THE BOTTOM WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG, THE TOP TODAY! WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FROM WHEN PEARLEY WAS 13 TO TODAY, I AM HER ONLY CARETAKER, I PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL KEEP ME STRONG AND HEALTHY TO ALWAYS TAKE CARE FOR MY LITTLE PEARLEY, I LOVE HER AS MUCH TODAY AS I DID WHEN SHE WAS THIRTEEN, PLEASE PRAY FOR US! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS! MARANATHA!!! JON33 THE OLD CHOCTAW!!!
jon33 said:
posted on May 20, 2005 10:23 PM — 63.25.128.189 — link — abuse?
I wish that there was a way that we can edit our comments after even a day or so, but I see no way that we can edit at all. I do mispell, hit the wrong keys, etc,. I wish that we had a spell checker also, again I do hit the wrong keys and sometimes I do not even reread for a day or two, since I am so busy, i catch my self going around corners...LSU should win the sec west if the QB position is as it should be, they are loaded in every position! They have backs that could beat out most backs on every team in the country. I would not trade our backs for anything that USC has. that is cal, that I am talking about. I am not a South Carolina fan, but I do love STEVE SPURRIOR, I should adopt him as a son, the age difference is about the same. Steve is going to give FLORIDA a run for its money this year! STEVE is giving PHIL a few barbs again. People do not realize that STEVE and PHIL are good friends. i WANTED steve TO COME TO LSU, BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE, DO YOU REALIZE THAT STEVE WOULD HAVE WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT LSU THE FIRST YEAR? wONDER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AT QB??? WILL VINCENT WIN HIS JOB BACK THIS YEAR, OR WILL HE WASTE AWAY ON THE BENCH??? iF IT WERE ME I WOULD PLAY ALL THREE OF THE BACKS IN THE GAME GIVING THEM ABOUT EVEN TIME! i BELIEVE THAT JMARCUS SEEMS TO BE THE CHOSEN QB! MORE...
jon33 said:
posted on May 20, 2005 10:29 PM — 63.25.128.189 — link — abuse?
PLEASE STOP THE BLANK NATIVE AMERICIAN STUFF!!! IT IS DEGRADING TO THE NATIONS! CALL US AMERICAN INDIANS IF YOU LIKE BUT NOT NATIVE AMERICANS, EVERY ONE THAT IS BORN IN THE USA IS A NATIVE AMERICAN!!! COME ON STOP THESE CRAZY LIBERALS WHO REALLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE SUBJECT!!! MARANATHA!!! JON33 (JOHNEY CHOCTAW)
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Jeff said:
posted on May 1, 2005 2:57 PM — 66.82.9.69 — link — abuse?What a waste of energy. Nicknames and mascots are traditions, not much else. The people who are trying to wipe out native american mascots should probably be "reassessing" their careers and their priorities. The most important part of all of this is where it was stated: "Leaders of Indian tribes in the state of Virginia say they don't object to the nickname."
So basically, to everyone involved, just let it go.