ASU INDIANS SEE YOUR CHIEF AND RAISE YOU A TEEPEE: Today’s NCAA hoops Cinderella story is brought to you by the Arkansas State Indians, who after struggling most of the season are playing for a berth in the Big Dance against North Texas in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Final.
That’s right, the Indians. And they do mean plural.
Unlike the University of Illinois, which recently mothballed longtime mascot Chief Illiniwek, Arkansas State has no plans to drop its Native American nickname and actually features three such mascots, calling them the “Indian Family.”:
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From the school website: “The Indian Family consists the Chief, the Brave and the Princess. The princess is a person with internal and external beauty. Through the eyes of the young Princess, we see the beauty of the campus and its people.
“Next is the Brave, through the eyes of the Brave, we see a willingness to forge bravely ahead to our future, succeeding with grit and determination. Finally, the head of the Indian Family – Chief Big Track, with great wisdom and patience. He quietly maintains pride within the family and keeps ASU traditions alive.”
Uh, OK. So I guess you call “Brave” if you have a dorm dispute over change with the pizza delivery guy.
The school did introduce an alternative mascot three years ago, a cartoon character questionably called “Red”, but school officials have indicated there are no plans to discontinue the ASU Native American mascots, including their teepee and tom tom.
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The NCAA currently bans schools (including ASU) that use Native American mascots from “hosting postseason games and bars the use of Indian nicknames and images by everyone from coaches and players to cheerleaders and band members.”
Well since I don’t expect too many Final Fours or BCS Title Games to be scheduled in Jonesboro, AR, safe to say nothing will change any time soon.
