Posted by NoleCC

By Bill Kristoph

The NCAA commitee investigating possible “offensive” American Indian nicknames has finished their investigation, and they have stopped short of recommending a ban on those nicknames. Perhaps they have the right intentions of ridding the teams of names like “Redmen” or “Redskins” but by being all-inclusive, they eliminate any good that can be done with actual tribe names, like Seminoles, Blackhawks or Illini. According to the commitee, the endorsement of Florida State University’s use of the Seminoles, by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, made an impression and influenced the final recommendations of the commitee. Thank you Seminole Tribe of Florida.

American Indian nicknames have been debated up and down, left and right for the better part of 20 years. Have we all become so politically correct, that places like FSU have to worry about losing their symbol, when a majority of people are not offended? Why is it, that the NCAA panel only looked into American Indian names? Florida battled four hurricanes last year, I guess the University of Miami had better change their nickname, to be sensitive to those residents that suffered. I am part Irish, perhaps Notre Dame’s nickname offends me!? That is a bit of a stretch, I know, but where does it end? Read on…’,'The NCAA should worry about fair play on the field, and butt out of university decisions like symbols and nicknames. What’s next for the NCAA, a panel on university lunch programs? Maybe the NCAA will want to specify the grass type allowed on campus, or that 300 thread count sheets are required in dorms. NCAA stands for National Collegiate Athletic Association, and they should stick with what they know, athletics.

If the day comes that FSU has to change symbols, however, I’m fully for being the Florida State Mosquitos! Imagine a raging, malaria infected skeeter on the gold helmet! Don’t like that? How about we steal UC Santa Cruz’s mascot, the Fighting Banana Slug! Those slugs could be in the national spotlight! Let’s go Slugs! Let’s go Slugs! Oh wait, is that an offended slug knocking on my door?