September 21, 2005
NCAA expands Indian names ban to bowl games
The NCAA ban on Indian mascot names has now been extended to bowl games. As a result, the NCAA will no longer sanction any bowl game that does not agree to abide by the restriction.
"Effective with the 2006-07 season, the policy restricting the use of Native American mascots and imagery will apply to the bowl licensing process in Division I-A football in the same way the policy applies for NCAA championships."NCAA bylaws require that all licensed bowls must "comply with the NCAA’s principles for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics," as set forth in the NCAA Constitution, which contains basic principles for the value of cultural diversity and forms the basis for the mascot policy."
The only team that could actually be affected by the bowl ban is Illinois. Florida State, Utah and Central Michigan have all received exemptions from the policy.
The NCAA will also uphold the ban in DI-AA, II, and III playoffs, beginning with the 2006 season.
Comments:
I'm a Realist said:
posted on September 21, 2005 8:37 AM — 69.55.162.50 — link — abuse?
Not that Illinois is in any danger of playing in a bowl game, but the state of Illinois is named after the tribe that the mascot of the state university represents. It's almost like having the Georgia Georgians or the California Californians or the New York New Yorkers. Maybe we should change the name of the state to compensate, eh?
There are so few things not named for upper-class white guys in America. Why can't we just be happy that there are a few things that are named after minorities instead of finding a way to stop the heinous practice?
matt said:
posted on September 21, 2005 9:11 AM — 24.96.20.219 — link — abuse?
Doesn't the NCAA have better things to worry about than mascots?!?!?!? Like maybe the screwed up bowl system itself? Or how about players only getting slaps on the hand for being arrested on charges ranging from bar fights to DUI's all the way up to theft and rape? The NCAA is starting to look more like the UN now-a-days.
posted on September 21, 2005 9:13 AM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
To say that something like, "can't we just be happy that there are a few things that are named after minorities" might be one of the more offensive things I've seen in a long, long, long time. Not sure if you meant it that way, but...wow.
I think part of the problem for Illinois is that there is no Illini tribe - never was. The suggestion that the state of Illinois was named after a tribe called the Illini is false. The Illiniwek union of the Algonquin tribes is what the French used to name Illinois.
Chief Illiniwek is a characterization that lacks a historical basis (there was no Chief Illiniwek). So, the NCAA has a problem with Illinois inventing an Indian "chief" and then having him perform a dance that was never sanctioned & has no basis in Algonquin history.
Illiniwek (pronounced "ill-EYE-nih-wek") was the name of the loose confederation of Algonquin tribes that once lived in the region. The French changed the ending to "ois" in naming what became the state of Illinois. Illiniwek means "they are men" and former Illinois football coach Robert Zuppke is believed to have suggested calling the UI symbol Chief Illiniwek. In 1926, Ray Dvorak conceived the idea of performing an American Indian dance during halftime of the football game in Philadelphia. It was received so well that he was asked to continue his dance through the 1928 season. Webber Borchers was the first to appear in authentic American Indian regalia. On Nov. 8, 1930, Borchers made the first appearance of Chief Illiniwek in that outfit. Since then, Chief Illiniwek has used five different authentic outfits. The one used in performances now was purchased in 1983 from Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow, and is topped by a headdress of turkey feathers.
Now, if Illinois could get the Algonquin tribe to approve of Chief Illiniwek, I think the NCAA would issue an exception, as was the case with FSU, Utah & Central Michigan.
Bryan Hathaway said:
posted on September 21, 2005 11:26 PM — 65.0.152.152 — link — abuse?
You guys just need to do what we did and appeal. We (the Noles) took care of everything for you guys and look at Utah and Central Michigan, they followed suit.. just get it taken care of and screw the four people that have a problem with it. Am I the only one sick of the silent MAJORITY?
William Fijolek said:
posted on September 23, 2005 8:28 PM — 68.74.159.78 — link — abuse?
I believe the only surviving member group from the Illini Nation is the Peoria tribe that now resides in Oklahoma. I'm not sure the NCAA is interested in what they have to say or what any Native Americans themselves have to say.
Both recent surveys of Native Americans show they not only don't do the majority not find these nicknames offensive but many actually like them. Of course the NCAA and the guilt-ridden protestors know better than the Native Americans themselves.
http://www.proteinwisdom.com/index.php/weblog/trackbacks/18781Glenn Craven said:
posted on October 27, 2005 10:05 AM — 65.41.165.142 — link — abuse?
What about Fightin' Irish? ... I don't feel like MY ancestry nor my personhood has been besmirched.
On "Redskins," you have a point. But to bellyache about calling a team the "Fighting" anythings is silly.
Would you rather they were the "Lay Down And Quit Illini?"
SCott said:
posted on November 9, 2005 12:17 PM — 216.124.224.224 — link — abuse?
There si nothing but repesct for indains as a whole in the minds of true Illinois fans. When the Chief performs, the fact that he's doing dances that might not have been done by the tribe doesn't make us think less of it. You must accomidate toyour audience. An example is this: the "foreign" foods we eat at authentic restaurants is not truly authentic, even if run by people of that foreign country. They must adapt their cooking, preparation, and serving style to accomodate to American tastes, i.e., Mexican food in Mexico is served on separte plate for every different food in th meal, no mixed all together with added gravy for us Americans. But we still feel the foreign taste, and many times, there are people from that country cooking the food.
Bottom line: just because things aren't done according to how they were done does not mean that what you're seeing is just a cheap, offensive, replication.
cleveland said:
posted on November 30, 2005 1:04 AM — 68.2.153.62 — link — abuse?
I'm full blooded Ponca(One of the last), Native American from a tribe that was escorted from it's native land in Dakotas'.
I've played college football, served in the armed forces and served in many communites as a law enforcment officer.
I seen over the years on television, small college div.II and even and even at a high school level, mascot and names given Native Amercan Tribes or the names like warriors, braves or indians; ex. like Illini.
For centuries the native people have been proud people, strong and we fought to the death for our lands and as in many wars; a since of respect has always been a tribute to many that have fought agianst us because of our fierceness and mental toughness.
I can only since a proud that many higher education schools have given names like the Florida State Seminoles.
The way many tribes are vanishing and losing our traditional ways, language, songs and spiritual insight of the land, sky and the four winds, we as poeple should been proud that maybe a young student will say what is a Seminole and their mother or father will say it was a Native Indian tribe that lived here many centuries ago!
Oklahoma Bubba said:
posted on December 2, 2005 12:44 PM — 164.58.68.3 — link — abuse?
I think that it is about time to quit bowing to the minority just to aviod affending very few very sensitive people. Living in Oklahoma just about every high school mascot has some Native American conatations. No one really cares and in fact i think it glorifies Native Americans a little. People admire the Native American image enough to try and emulate it in schools. Screw yall politically correct liberal weiners. Boomer Sooner
Indian Fan said:
posted on January 1, 2006 7:45 PM — 24.9.95.4 — link — abuse?
There are many other schools fighting the same battle with the Indian mascot. It is unfair to think that it is only Illinois that has the problem. The University of Louisiana at Monroe are affected by the new policy as well. It is unfair to think that our sister school, University of Louisiana at Lafayette isn't under any scrutiny for the use of the "ragin cajuns." I find this a lot more offensive then the "fighting illini" or the simple "indian" mascot.
blackstingray said:
posted on April 8, 2006 10:43 PM — 68.77.137.44 — link — abuse?
Ragin Cajun is more offensive than Illini. Heck, all of Illinois is named after the Illini. This should be considered an honor. I think the NCAA is missing the point. Instead of banning Native American names, they should promote colleges to use these names to raise awarness for Native American causes. Think about it. The NCAA has no intent on helping Indians. For years, Natives have turned to the Indian Casino to raise money for their reservations. If the NCAA actually harnessed the power of these native symbols for what they actually represent, they could direct this energy into actually helping people in need and help promote diversity. Instead the NCAA is just shaking their fist and using useless apeasment tactics that will ultimately accomplish nothing to help Native Americans.
Scrub said:
posted on September 21, 2005 7:58 AM — 165.251.12.36 — link — abuse?Is it my imagination, or are a lot of people calling Illinois the "Fighting Zooks" lately?