August 23, 2005
NCAA Says Florida State Can Use Seminole Mascot
Per Bloomberg:
Florida State University can keep its Seminoles nickname and Chief Osceola mascot after the National Collegiate Athletic Association ruled that the Seminole Tribe of Florida approved their usage.Today's decision is the first reversal since the governing body for U.S. college sports this month imposed a ban at its tournaments on American Indian nicknames and mascots that are ``hostile or abusive.''
UPDATE: Posted by Kevin Donahue
Statement by NCAA SVP for Governance and Membership Bernard Franklin"The NCAA staff review committee has removed Florida State University from the list of colleges and universities subject to restrictions on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA championships.
"The NCAA Executive Committee continues to believe the stereotyping of Native Americans is wrong. However, in its review of the particular circumstances regarding Florida State, the staff review committee noted the unique relationship between the university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida as a significant factor. The NCAA recognizes the many different points of view on this matter, particularly within the Native American community. The decision of a namesake sovereign tribe, regarding when and how its name and imagery can be used, must be respected even when others may not agree.
"The NCAA position on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery has not changed, and the NCAA remains committed to ensuring an atmosphere of respect and sensitivity for all who participate in and attend our championships. This decision applies to the unique relationship Florida State University has with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Requests for reviews from other institutions will be handled on a case-by-case basis."
Statement from Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell on Today's NCAA Ruling:
I was pleased to be informed today by the National College Athletic Association of its decision to accept Florida State University's use of the Seminole name, related symbols and imagery. We understand this decision means that as long as the university has the support of our "namesake" tribe, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, our display of the Seminole name and related symbols on student-athletes' uniforms will be permanently accepted in NCAA national and regional championship competitions.
We also understand that this acceptance applies to the uniforms of Florida State University band members, cheerleaders or dance-team members and "performance" paraphernalia they might use at NCAA national and regional championship competitions or other NCAA- sponsored events.
And finally, it is our understanding that the NCAA's amended policy now allows for the use of Native American names and symbols by those universities that have received the express support of their "namesake" tribes. I am happy that the will of these namesake tribes now will be respected.
For nearly 60 years, this university has proudly identified itself with the indomitable spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and we look forward to continuing our close relationship with this courageous tribe for many years to come.
Florida State University now is prepared to begin its academic year and put this issue behind us once and for all.
I would like to extend my personal thanks to the members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their continued support, as well as their recent public efforts to create better understanding of our relationship. I also appreciate the good communication from members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma on this matter, and look forward to continuing our positive relationship with them.
Finally, we are thankful for the overwhelming support of our FSU family, including students, alumni and friends, government and civic leaders and the public at large.
STATEMENT FROM DAVE HART DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AT FLORIDA STATE
This is an outcome one would expect reasonable people to reach. This is the right thing to do in this instance and I am happy this was the end result of our appeal being heard. I now hope that other universities will benefit in similar fashion from the appeal we submitted.
Comments:
Blake said:
posted on August 24, 2005 8:33 PM — 65.8.71.107 — link — abuse?
Every Cane fan in the country knew the NCAA would overlook Bowden & his creminoles. Not only did they overlook the creminoles, but they were first. Imagine that! They overlook everything else like Janikowski & his X problem, Warrick & his Dillard's problem, Sexton & his Lyhme disease "with no drug tests" problem, Simms with his beating his girl problem "no suspension?", Nicholson & his resisting arrest with a tazer problem "no suspension?". Daggumit Bobby, maybe the NCAA should slap you with 4 yrs ineligibility to bowl games and 30+ scholarships lost for 5 yrs. I don't agree with this whole Indian fiasco with the NCAA, but then again the NCAA is always on the wrong side of the issue. I bet they didn't fixed that whole BCS "Bowden Championship System" problem. Nope, still no playoff... Looks like teams like OU and USC will still be going to National Championships???
Andrew said:
posted on August 25, 2005 11:00 AM — 205.188.116.199 — link — abuse?
Hey Blake! You have no reason to talk. The Miami Hurricane football team is the worst team (behaviorally) in the history of college sports. The excessive celebration rule is even nicknamed the "Miami rule." Miami has produced some of the worst citizens in the U.S. This includes that murderer Ray Lewis, and the following egocentric bastards: Jeremy Shockey, Warren Sapp, and Kellen Winslow. So don't even open your mouth when it comes to accusing other programs of behavior problems.
dogman said:
posted on August 25, 2005 5:00 PM — 63.164.145.198 — link — abuse?
Thank God this has been put to bed. Can you imagine what would have been next.
Beavers- Oregon State- slang for a women's part of the anatomy. N.O.W. would be on the march
Sun Devils- Arizona State- Christian right would go wacko- about satan worshippers who like heat
Longhorns- Little Mack Brown U.- Veggans protest this.
any military school- Move on dot org. crowd pickets outside Texas A & M, Navy, army, Air Force, Colorado State ( big-ROTC), the Citadel etc...
This whole mascot thing is crazy, can you imagine if Clinton was still in the White House, he would have signed the ban by executive order,
schmed said:
posted on August 25, 2005 5:43 PM — 208.248.231.58 — link — abuse?
You can say that again, Dave.
Further bearing out my prediction that the Waffen-NCAA Mascot Masking Squad would sieze the unique circumstances of FSU's relationship with the Seminole Tribe as the key exemption criteria...
Now comes U.L.-Monroe planning to appeal under similar, if not late-breaking, tribal approved circumstances. (link)
The funniest part is this bit:
"Obviously there are numerous Indian tribes in Louisiana," (UL-M AD Bobby) Staub said Wednesday. "We're going to be in contact with those organizations to get -- hopefully -- a letter of affirmation. ..."
Why's that so funny? Well, imagine the conversation between the fine upstanding, ca$ino-running indigenous Tribal Leaders and the equally inscrutable and eminently ethical ULM adminstrators, state and local politicians and (especially) boosters.
When *I* imagine it, it's in b/w grainy video like they show in the courtrooms after the sting operations garner multiple count indictmnents.
Blake said:
posted on August 25, 2005 6:17 PM — 70.149.16.119 — link — abuse?
Hey Andrew I do know about the "Miami Rule" and it's the stupidest rule in COLLEGE FOOTBALL! Student Atheletes unable to celebrate after spectacular plays. Great Penalty!
Keith when your expectations are let down once again in Doak, don't feel bad Bobby has the votes in his pocket!
a real indian said:
posted on October 3, 2005 4:08 PM — 64.19.112.53 — link — abuse?
Lets get back to the issue of mascots. People are not mascots. But It seems like a few sellout seminoles are giving you the right to make fun of our culture and religion. Your so called chants, to our people are religious hymns, most talk of our creator. Your feathers you wear are symbols of our spirituality, we honor these like you honor your bible. Your tomahawk chop, is just embarrising, the tomahawk is a french invention used against our people to scalp and butcher us. But, your sellout seminoles tribe is kissing your arrogant butts and saying thankyou for degrading our religion and history. Speaking of history, Osceola, hated the whiteman with his dying breath. look it up. And while your researching your honors to the seminoles, look at the way they dressed. The men wore skirts, and wore headwraps, just like the talibane. They did not use horses the way plains tribes did. they had boats and dogs. So your portrayal of Osceola riding out on a horse, dressed like a plains indian, is false. If the seminole tribe gives you permission to use their culture, GET IT RIGHT!! Since the ncaa agrees with the seminoles to give you the right, We as the plains indians will have to take issue with the seminole tribes of florida, They are disrespecting my heritage, not just their own. So F>S>seminoles, the courts are not over with yet, you will go down, and you may as well take the fake indians of the seminole tribes with you.
posted on October 3, 2005 5:15 PM — link — abuse?Jeff Quinton said:
Dave,
Actually there was a rift sometime in the 70s or 80s with some groups preferring American Indians (like the American Indian Movement (AIM)) and others sticking with Native Americans. I may be on a limb here but I think non-Indian academics were the main ones who stuck with Native American even after many of the groups themselves expressed a preference for Indian.a real indian said:
posted on October 5, 2005 11:51 AM — 64.19.112.53 — link — abuse?
Indian, as we all know was the mistaken name columbus gave us, thinking he was in india. The name was what we were given so we run with it to show the brilliance of columbus the man. We as individual tribes have our own language and terms for our own people, usually the name transfers as "The People". I am arapaho which is a french name. But we call ourselves "Blue Sky People" since we come from the north, wyoming, black hills area of south dakota. We could question the term "indian" but why don't blacks question "BLACK" They are not all the same black color. White is not even a race, there are irish, german, etc...So the answer to the "indian question" is no we do not mind the term since we call ourselves the same. Good question dave. Thats what it will take to settle the mascot issue. Just ask if it will disrespect another, before proceeding with so called "honors".
Michael said:
posted on October 9, 2005 11:06 AM — 66.119.127.90 — link — abuse?
I truly appreciate your comments, real indian. However, it is a shame that you do not see the good that is created by the publicity involved with Seminole sports. Florida State works extremely hard to protect the indian heritage, and strongly supports the Seminole tribe. While I agree with you that the horse, and costume are not particularly authentic, (although this season it has become much more authentic) and the real Chief Osceola may not have like white people, we support his heritage becuase of his will and strength. Chief Osceola died in jail with his dignity intact. He stood by his people and refused to move from Florida as the white people demanded. He was willing to die rather than give in. That is the spirit behind our football team. If we change our name to the Florida State Wart Hogs, the Seminole tribe loses more than Florida State ever will. In addition to the numerous scholarships we provide to the tribe, and the millions of dollars in supprt, we keep their heritage in the publics eye. Would you rather be forgotten? If you would, I think you are being particularly shortsighted.
real indian said:
posted on October 17, 2005 12:52 PM — 64.19.118.2 — link — abuse?
Well michael, the seminole nation has been around for longer than your little college game. I think the general population of the world, when they here Seminole, think of the indian tribe, not your team. Florida state makes millions maybe billions on using the native american image on your jerseys, hats, posters, flags, car plates, pillows, cups, dishes, towels, rugs, videos, music, pajamas, toilet paper, tampons, etc....... and you say these things bring in money to the native people, and keep us in the public eye??? So are you trying to educate the public on indian issues, our you trying to educate the public on how seminoles actually dressed and lived? How many native americans does your college graduate? The university of Oklahoma has the largest native grad, rate, without degrading the indian students who attend the school. Florida state takes more from the native people, than they give. FACT!!!! And also on your qoute of you honor the spirit of Osceola for not giving in to the white man, really makes me laugh..You are fighting the Indians of today, and when we say No mascots, thats our fighting spirit. Why can't you honor the seminole of today, and give us back our self respect???
Da Playa Hater said:
posted on February 28, 2006 2:08 PM — 205.202.240.107 — link — abuse?
i think that the Native American should stop complaining, the names arent meant to be offensive
Cacho Craft said:
posted on February 28, 2006 2:12 PM — 205.202.240.107 — link — abuse?
I love football on tv, watching gina lee, hanging with my friends, and twins, and I love native americans too.
billy osceola said:
posted on July 12, 2006 11:17 PM — 71.52.102.113 — link — abuse?
this is more less an argument over the last word i think. iam a seminole tribal member. my sister carla gopher also a tribal member graduated from fsu.we are proud of her just as we are proud the university having our tribal namesake. coming from the source of the namesake the only tribe unconquerd florida state seminoles now and forever.
Tampa Hurricane said:
posted on July 13, 2006 2:42 PM — 24.96.199.254 — link — abuse?
billy osceola with your grammer and spelling, I would think that you are an FSU graduate also.
The Source said:
posted on August 24, 2006 5:15 PM — 69.246.161.229 — link — abuse?
Everyone here is stupid except for Billy. Real Indian, you need to be worried about a lot of other schools before FSU. Can you name any college with as close a ties to its mascot? You will never find a Seminole fan degrading the Seminole tribe. Look, no one here is trying to be completely authentic, it is a game. Buy honestly, I could see your point if we were the Indians, but we are not. This is exactly the same as me being upset about the trojan mascot or the irish mascots. I am not a trojan or an irish person, and you sir are not a seminole.
Clark said:
posted on September 15, 2006 9:52 AM — 198.81.129.194 — link — abuse?
A Real Indian,
Boo hoo Effing Hoo. Thats the fighting spirit. Whaaaa They are hurting my feelings. Whaaaa The only let us run a 300 million a year casino. Whaaaaa Whitey is mean. So please, don't go to any modern hospitals that may use anything developed at FSU. Don't drive a car. Don't invest in the stock market. Don't use American money. These are all symbols of my heritage and I don't aprove of you using them.
Here is the difference. We welcome you today to join in with everything that is American. We welcome you to join our religions. We welcome you to proudly call yourself an American. YOU don't let me join your tribe. YOU don't let me partake in your religous dances. YOU won't let me help run your casino. Because of my race. Good luck dead ending.
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Bryan Hathaway said:
posted on August 24, 2005 2:27 PM — 68.157.249.30 — link — abuse?Bout time, that's all I have to say. With the backpeddling the NCAA is doing now, they'd make one hell of a defensive back.