Mascot IssueTuesday, January 10, 2006Bradley, North Dakota Can Keep NicknamesBy CLIFF BRUNT .c The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Bradley and North Dakota will be able to keep their American Indian nicknames during NCAA postseason play this season, but still might lose them in the future. The NCAA's executive committee did not make a final decision regarding either school's appeal during a meeting Monday, allowing Bradley to remain the Braves and North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname at least until the panel's next meeting April 27. The ban on the postseason names, which was to take effect Feb. 1, also would have eliminated both schools from hosting postseason tournaments. Bradley and North Dakota were among 18 schools deemed by the NCAA in August to have nicknames, mascots or logos that are ``hostile or abusive'' to American Indians, and both schools appealed. An NCAA staff review committee rejected bids by both schools to be removed from the list, so they appealed to the executive committee. ``North Dakota will be held harmless through the April meeting, and the same approach will be taken to Bradley because there was an inability to complete the discussion and a decision wasn't reached,'' NCAA president Myles Brand said. Phil Harmeson, a senior associate to North Dakota's president, said the university was told last week by the NCAA that it would delay making a decision on the school's appeal after receiving a 35-page rebuttal from the school late last month. ``We'll just have to wait until April 27,'' Harmeson said. Bradley spokesman Bobby Parker declined to comment Monday. He said the school would release a statement Tuesday. Bradley and North Dakota had argued that their Indian nicknames symbolize attributes of bravery such as courage and honor. Bradley officials have said the NCAA was inconsistent when it applied the ban, allowing eight schools to keep the nickname ``Warriors'' because they have dropped mascots and logos. The Florida State Seminoles, Central Michigan Chippewas and Utah Utes appealed and were allowed to keep their names and imagery because of support from local American Indian tribes. Illinois also appealed the NCAA's decision and was told in November that its use of the Fighting Illini nickname was acceptable, but its tradition of a buckskin-clad Chief Illiniwek dancing at home sporting events was not. 01/09/06 22:33 EST posted by: Webmaster@ 8:52 AM
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