As the discussion about racial equality continues to sweep the nation, the NCAA is doubling down on its Confederate symbol ban first introduced in 2001.
The NCAA announced, in a press release on Friday, it will expand the current policy banning states with prominent Confederate symbols from hosting its championship events.
The policy previously barred the awarding of sites determined in advance of a championship in states that displayed the Confederate flag. However, if a college or university team earned the right to host a championship game based on its tournament seeding or ranking -- considered a nonpredetermined award -- the team could host on its college campus or in its home territory.
The current ban, in place since 2001, prevents states from hosting what the NCAA calls predetermined championship sites, such as men’s basketball tournament games.
“Competing in an NCAA championship is a special experience for college athletes who compete at the highest level and we are grateful for the college athlete voice leading to this decision,” said Mark Emmert, NCAA president. “We must do all we can to ensure that NCAA actions reflect our commitment to inclusion and support all our student-athletes. There can be no place within college sports where any student-athlete is demeaned or unwelcome.”
Mississippi is the only state currently affected by the policy.
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, in a statement Thursday evening, said he is calling on the Mississippi Legislature to make changes to the current state flag, which embodies the Confederate flag in its design.
“It is past time for change to be made to the Flag of the State of Mississippi,” Sankey said. “Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all.
“In the event there is no change, there will be consideration of precluding Southeastern Conference championship events from being conducted in the State of Mississippi until the state flag is changed.”
The expanded policy means that even when sites of NCAA events are determined by performance, as they are in sports such as baseball, women’s basketball and lacrosse, Mississippi schools will not be permitted to host.
SEC schools have followed suit, with the University of Georgia Red Coat Band eliminating Tara's Theme, a song from the 1939 film, "Gone with the Wind." The band played the song after every football game. They will, instead, play "Georgia on My Mind" going forward.
The University of Florida marching band will discontinue the long tradition of the "Gator Bait" chant, -- a band intro followed by fans chomping twice with their arms and chanting "Gator Bait."
"I am personally committed to removing any monuments or namings that UF can control that celebrate the Confederacy or its leaders," UF President Kent Fuchs said. "While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our “Gator Bait” cheer at UF sporting events, there is horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase. Accordingly, university athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer."
AP contributed to this story.
