NCAA DROPS THE MASCOT BOMB, FSU RESPONDS

For awhile now, there has been a debate within the collegtiate athletic family over the use of mascots and team names that some would consider ethnically hostile or insulting, especially those referencing Native Americans.

Today, the NCAA Executive Committee ruled that any school that uses a team name, mascot, or image it considered to be racially or ethnically "hostile" or "abusive" would be prohibited from using them in the organization's postseason events. The football bowl games for Division I-A schools would not be affected, as they are not official NCAA events.

The ban would include mascot performances at tournament games, and band members and cheerleaders will not be able to use Native American images or references on their uniforms beginning in 2008.

Florida State University announced that it would challenge the new guidelines, with President T.K. Wetherell noting in a statement that the school would pursue "all legal avenues" to insure that the rule is overturned.

Among the schools affected:

Braves: Alcorn State (MS), Bradley University (IL), Chowan College (NC)

Chippewas: Central Michigan

Choctaws: Mississippi College

Fighting Illini: Illinois

Fighting Sioux: North Dakota

Indians: Arkansas State, Catawba College, Indiana University (PA), Louisiana-Monroe, McMurray University (TX), Midwestern State University (TX), Newberry College (SC)

Redmen: Carthage College (WI)

Savages: Southeastern Oklahoma State

Seminoles: Florida State

Utes: Utah