AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2005 > August > 15
Monday, August 15, 2005
NCAA begins backpedaling on misguided mascot ruling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some common sense will still have to prevail, but it looks like the NCAA will be able to backpedal and scramble its way out of what has become a huge public relations disaster. The problem began when its all-powerful Executive Committee told 18 schools they would be banned from post-season play unless they changed their use of Native American imagery.
Since the announcement on Aug. 5, the NCAA has hurriedly put together an appeals process for the individual schools. NCAA President Myles Brand now insists that the committees involved in the decision weren’t out to punish these schools but rather wanted to “take the high road” and begin a dialogue on an important issue.
This decision did neither. What it almost did, and still could do if not handled properly, is spark a revolution.
For a long time the 70-plus schools that compete at the highest level of college athletics have wondered if they should break off from the NCAA (which represents over 1,250 institutions) and form their own, more streamlined organization. The NCAA’s decision, if it stands, could raise that issue again.
“If that (Division I-A schools breaking off) ever happened, it would probably be over something as silly as this,” said T.K. Wetherell, the president at Florida State.
Many years ago the NCAA changed its governance structure in order to give Division I-A schools (those in the ACC, SEC, etc.) almost total autonomy over their affairs when it comes to legislation. But the Native American ruling came under the heading of “policy,” which applies to all levels of the NCAA.
Thus, Florida State’s right to use Native American imagery, which it has done since 1947, was decided by a 19-member committee that included representatives from St. Leo, Central Missouri State, and Plattsburgh State. Of the 19 members on the executive committee, only seven represent the major Division I-A conferences.
Of even greater concern, if you’re Florida State, is the makeup of the two committees that put together the actual policy that was eventually approved by the executive committee.
The Minority Opportunities and Issues Committee, which began the process, has 15 members. Only two represent Division I-A. The rest are from Division I-AA or lower.
The executive committee subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues has 11 members. There are no representatives from the major conferences. In fact, the largest school in the room when these recommendations were formed was Middle Tennessee State.
But here are the two biggest reasons that the NCAA is re-thinking the issue:
*The committees didn’t do their homework. When asked to explain their stance on Florida State, given the fact that the Seminole Tribe of Florida had given its blessing to the school, the NCAA’s response was that “other” Seminole tribes did not like the imagery. There is only one other Seminole tribe, in Oklahoma.
Yes, the committee did get some letters from David Narcomey, a member of the Oklahoma tribe’s General Council, who condemned the use of Native American imagery by sports teams. But if either of these committees had done its job, it would have discovered that the General Council voted 18-2 last month to uphold the use of such imagery. That fact never made it to the Executive Committee. Oops.
*There was never any finding of fact that Florida State’s use of Seminole imagery was “hostile and abusive,” which is how the committee labeled it. It never asked the Florida Seminole Tribe how it felt. It never picked up the phone and asked Florida State to give its point of view. It looked at a set of facts written on a piece of paper and made a call, a bad one.
These two NCAA committees have some very important work to do. The fact that there are only three black Division I-A football coaches is a national embarrassment. There are far too few people of color in athletic administration. These are real problems that need real solutions from thoughtful people.
But this decision has set back those noble goals and has made the NCAA the butt of too many jokes. Future efforts at inclusion and justice will be dismissed by some as just another round of “political correctness” because of this colossal misjudgment. And that’s sad.
These committees are made up of some very smart people. Unfortunately, their final decision showed a lack of common sense and fundamental fairness.
