Brand says NCAA will keep ban on Indian nicknames, mascots

OMAHA, Neb. -- Myles Brand says the NCAA will hold firm on its ban of American Indian mascots and images in postseason competition despite resistance from institutions deemed to be offenders.

The NCAA president, who spoke at a Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday, said part of the NCAA's mission is to protect values.

"One of the values we hold dear is respect for everyone," Brand said in an interview. "Some of the mascots, names, costumes and other acting out about Native Americans is very hostile and uncomfortable -- mostly for Native Americans but others as well."

The University of Illinois this week filed its second appeal of an NCAA decision that would require the school to drop its Chief Illiniwek mascot and logo before it could host any postseason competition. The school is allowed to keep its Illini and Fighting Illini nicknames.

Last August, Illinois and 17 other schools were deemed by the NCAA executive committee to be using improper imagery or mascots. The organization decreed that any school continuing to use the images after Wednesday would be barred from hosting postseason competition and could not display the image at any postseason tournament.

Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., which calls its teams "Braves" but uses no Indian images, and the University of North Dakota, with its "Fighting Sioux" nickname, also have second appeals pending.

Three schools -- the Florida State Seminoles, Central Michigan Chippewas and Utah Utes -- were allowed to keep their names and imagery because of support from local American Indian tribes.

Asked why "Fighting Irish" is acceptable at Notre Dame, Brand said, "We've never had any Irish people come to us and say we find that offensive. The American Psychological Association said it's harmful to Native Americans to have these images. The U.S. Civil Rights Commission has said the same thing. We have cases where real people are being offended, not make-believe leprechauns."

On the academic front, Brand said institutions are anxiously awaiting the NCAA's release of its Academic Progress Report late this month or in early March.

The report will trigger the first penalties under the NCAA's new academic reform package.

The NCAA is using a points formula that rewards long-term eligibility and graduation, with a perfect score being 1,000. Any team with lower than 925 points will be assessed a penalty of losing scholarships. Repeat offenders risk facing recruiting restrictions and postseason bans.

"I assure you, when I go to campuses now, that is on the top of minds for coaches and athletic directors," Brand said. "In one month we're going to release the APR scores for every team in the country, and there are going to be some very disappointed athletic directors and coaches."

Other comments:

* Brand said he likes the current bowl structure and doesn't foresee a Division I-A football playoff system for a few years. The Bowl Championship Series' new television agreement with Fox calls for the two top-ranked teams to meet in a national championship game after the four BCS bowls.

That extra game, plus the addition of a 12th regular-season game beginning this year, works against a playoff system starting any time soon, Brand said.

* Brand said the NCAA enjoys a special relationship with Omaha that goes back to 1950, when the city began hosting the College World Series. He said he would be amenable to the NCAA considering Omaha as permanent home for the volleyball final four. The 2006 volleyball championship in Omaha already is sold out.

"It works well for us to spread it around the country. That way each community makes that special effort (to support the event). But most communities can's sustain it," Brand said. "Omaha has managed to sustain it over a long period of time. We can talk with Omaha in a way we may not talk to anyone else."