Name Game: North Dakota's Nickname Change Ignited Fighting Words

Relatively new NCAA Division I member North Dakota, relinquishing its most notable characteristic, began a re-branding process after shedding the school's Fighting Sioux nickname for Fighting Hawks. The initiative stemmed from the state Board of Higher Education yielding to the NCAA's meddling progressive policy police following an extended battle over the nickname and logo allegedly being hostile to American Indians.

At one point, the school chose to respect the state's referendum process and resumed using the nickname in mid-season after an intense debate spurred supporters to file petitions demanding a statewide vote on the issue. But the end result became clear when the heavy-handed NCAA responded by saying the school risked forfeiting postseason games if it failed to "take measures to minimize or eliminate the presence of the imagery."

Previous schools failing to show sufficient spunk and making politically-correct decisions by switching their supposedly demeaning and highly-insensitive nicknames were Arkansas State (changed from Indians to Red Wolves), Colgate (Red Raiders to Raiders), Eastern Michigan (Hurons to Eagles), Louisiana-Monroe (Indians to Warhawks), Marquette (Warriors to Golden Eagles), Miami of Ohio (Redskins to RedHawks), Oklahoma City (Chiefs to Stars), Quinnipiac (Braves to Bobcats), St. John's (Redmen to Red Storm), Seattle (Chieftains to Redhawks), Siena (Indians to Saints), Southeast Missouri State (Indians to Redhawks) and Stanford (Indians to Cardinal). What is the infatuation with Redhawks, anyway?

For those insensitive louts non-pulsed by an offensive holier-than-thou victimization obsession, are they to feel shame at the extent of the alleged discrimination? Rather than bow to pressure, many traditional observers hope the following "Last of the Mohegans" remain steadfast and retain their time-honored monikers: Alcorn State (Braves), Bradley (Braves), Central Michigan (Chippewas), Florida State (Seminoles), Illinois (Fighting Illini), Utah (Utes) and William & Mary (Tribe).

If not, you run the risk of left-wing zealots from PETA (unless they are card-carrying members of the parallel universe People for Eating Tasty Animals) and the Bird Lovers International crowd possibly feeling empowered to capitalize on this catalyst for constructive social change by making it a heartless foul to have any nickname referencing a precious animal or fowl. What was the cumulative cost for nickname changes (more than $250,000 for North Dakota) and how many mental midgets did it take at the NCAA to concoct this colossal caricature intervention? No wonder it's so easy to ridicule the governing body with a name-calling barrage. In the aftermath of authentic turmoil across the country at so-called elite institutions, many think there are more significant issues in intercollegiate athletics requiring correction from the NCAA rather than where transgenders go to bathroom and giving a selective outrage forum to pious pinheads manufacturing a mascot/nickname problem that really didn't exist to any meaningful degree.

CollegeHoopedia.com has conducted significant research on DI school nickname changes over the years and the origin of unusual DI school nicknames. Check the summaries and decide how critical the issue is for yourself as we strive to survive in Obamaland's weak-kneed Fantasy World fond of the Muslim morning call to prayer and full of "green" gestapos. Many misplaced monologues might be akin to a petty fundamentally-transforming POTUS consumed with climate-change collective salvation mockingly hiding behind widows and orphans while pointedly picking on concerned bible-clinging Christians rather than marauding Muslims. Don't you think right-thinking Americans, seeking terrorist control; not gun control or climate control, need to turn up the heat to find a brave "warrior" to combat or even "contain" authentic savages? They already realize the country "did stupid stuff" twice electing an Audacity-of-Hype "chief" apparently too busy to take care of vital business in Iraq and surrounding nations by instead nanny-state helping his wife with her "cool" rap video appealing to segment of their constituency with IQ of a rock.