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Bradley, North Dakota Can Keep Nicknames

By 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