Bowling Ball: NCAA Extends Nickname Ban To Include Bowls

Univ. Of Illinois Only Division I-A Program Affected By NCAA’s Ban

NCAA Managing Dir of Public & Media Relations Bob Williams said that the NCAA is extending its ban on “hostile” and “abusive” Native American mascots after the BCS “sought a ruling after determining it could not impose the prohibition,” according to the AP. Williams said, “We received a written request from the BCS to take appropriate action as it related to bowl games. The BCS didn’t feel it had the governance structure to do what was necessary.” The AP noted while the NCAA “does not run bowl games, it does sanction them,” so it “agreed to add the mascot ban to its list of requirements to be licensed.” The ban will encompass all bowls including the five BCS games. Illinois is the only Division I-A school that “will be affected” because Florida State, Central Michigan and Utah won appeals to keep their mascots (AP, 9/20).