The College Sports Forum

At the beginning of this year, Florida State University added a class which could teach students about the history of the Seminole Indian tribe.  The Seminole history class that was launched this year partly in response to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s attempt to force Florida State to abandon its nickname and mascot, Chief Osceola.

Offering the course was one of several steps university and tribal officials had considered over the years to cement the Florida State-Seminole bond. They never did anything about it, though, until the NCAA last year deemed the nickname and mascot “hostile or abusive,” barring the university from using them when hosting championship events.

The NCAA withdrew its order after university President T.K. Wetherell threatened to sue and the Seminole Tribe of Florida reiterated its support for the school’s use of its name and symbols.

University administrators, jarred by the controversy, asked history department chairman Neil Jumonville to make the Seminole history course happen.

Jumonville and other faculty members met with three tribal representatives. The Seminoles urged that the class include discussion of other Southeastern tribes that predated theirs.

l think that the whole offensive nickname thing is a bit of a joke.  These teams do not have any intention of ruining the images of their mascots.  I think it’s kinda cool Florida State is showing its appreciation to the seminole, but I think it was probably just a ploy to get the NCAA off their back.