Seminole tribe still supports Florida State use of nickname

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Posted 6:14PM on Friday, June 17, 2005

MIAMI (AP) The Seminole Tribe of Florida said it still backs Florida State University's use of the Seminoles nickname, just a week before the NCAA meets on the appropriateness of American Indian nicknames. At its regular Friday meeting, the Tribal Council voted unanimously on a resolution in support of Florida State's nickname, the first time the Tribe has taken an official public step to show support for the Tallahassee school's mascot. ``The resolution is a formal document that puts into black and white the sentiment of the Tribe, because we feel that it is an honor and a reflection of the university to represent the spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida,'' said Max Osceola, a Tribal councilman. ``Any other organization, people or Tribes should respect our wishes as we would respect their wishes.'' Florida State President T.K. Wetherell flew down to the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation for the meeting and met with council members on the subject. ``It makes us feel very good, and it's not just about the NCAA and athletics,'' Wetherell said. ``They want this relationship as much as we do. They're proud of us and what we've done. This transcends the university. It's been very positive and we want to see it continued.'' The Tribe's move comes as the NCAA completes a study on the use of American Indian names by their member institutions. Florida State was one of about 30 schools asked by the NCAA to review and report on their usage of American Indian nicknames. The NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee will hold a two-day meeting starting Tuesday in Boston to review the reports, said Gail Dent, associate director of media relations for the NCAA. The NCAA's executive committee will review any findings and suggestions during an Aug. 4 meeting in Indianapolis. ``It didn't worry us directly,'' Wetherell said. ``We believe and the Tribe believes that it's our business. We believe (the NCAA) should stay where they are and leave it up to the individual schools.'' Osceola and the council agreed. ``One of the other councilmen said the NCAA should be worried with graduation rates, not this,'' Osceola said. Florida State has used the Seminoles nickname since the school went coed in the late 1940's. The Tribe has had a running dialogue with FSU since the 1970's, when the council expressed concern over some representations the school used. Florida State worked with the Tribe to fix those problems, Osceola said. ``We have 250,000 alums that have gone to FSU and they consider themselves Seminoles,'' Wetherell said. ``(Council member) Moses Osceola said he was born a Seminole, but we chose to become Seminoles, and that's important to him. When you have that many people spread around the state, the world, it's part of our tradition, and it's part of theirs.'' On the Net: The Seminole Tribe of Florida: http://www.seminoletribe.com/ Florida State University: http://www.fsu.edu/ Florida State Seminoles Athletics: http://seminoles.collegesports.com/ NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee: http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/membership/governance/assoc-wide/mo ic/index .html (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)