Rumblings and Stumblings

NCAA President Mark Emmert has some big fish to fry especially what has happened concerning the U. of Miami football program. Amongst other items of importance, Mark Emmert wants to meet with the NFL hierarchy soon. One area he should discuss with Goddell and company is the NFL starting a minor league format along the lines of baseball's minor leagues. A minor league format would assist college football in regards to an ALTERNATIVE for high school seniors that go to college for the sole purpose of playing football and not being a true student athletes. Another issue that the NCAA focused on recently was the U. of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname. The NCAA wants all institutions of higher learning with Native American nicknames to change them. For example, Marquette University's nickname before 1994 was the Warriors and their logo was supposedly disrespectful to Native Americans. Marquette changed it's nickname to the Golden Eagles. Recently, the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe held a referendum vote to either approve or deny continued use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo of the U. of North Dakota. The Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe voted giving overwhelming support for North Dakota to continue use of the name and logo. The NCAA has not recognized the Spirit Lake Tribe vote and continues to hold their position on the NCAA policy ruling not allowing North Dakota to utilize the Fighting Sioux nickname. NCAA president Mark Emmert and the NCAA officials have bigger fish to fry than worrying about the U. of North Dakota nickname and logo, especially when the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe overwhelmingly felt it was an honor for UND to utilize it's name and logo.