PETA strikes...

[SouthernMustang]

From the Birmingham News...

PETA asks NCAA to ban Gamecocks nickname

Friday, August 12, 2005

MIKE PERRIN

News staff writer

Jacksonville State and the University of South Carolina have ruffled some feathers at PETA and the animal rights advocacy group is asking Myles Brand to do something about it.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the NCAA president on Wednesday asking him to extend the recent ban on nicknames considered hostile or abusive to ethnic groups so that it would outlaw the Gamecocks.

"Our position is that since cockfighting is illegal in 48 states in this country and a felony in South Carolina - you go to jail, period - we don't think schools should be promoting this illegal act with their mascots," said Dan Shannon, PETA manager of campaigns.

"Our problem with Gamecocks is it promotes cockfighting. That's not only illegal, but tremendously cruel to the animals involved.

"We've been in contact with the presidents of these universities for several years," Shannon said. "We've exchanged polite letters back and forth, very polite and respectful, but they have chosen not to change their names.

"With the NCAA decision about Native American nicknames, we hope that might spur them on - no pun intended - to adopt a nickname more respectful to animals."

The president's office at JSU had no comment on Thursday and efforts to reach Athletics Director Jimmy Fuller were unsuccessful. In October of 2001, however, JSU President Bill Meehan told The State of Columbia, S.C., "We have no plans to change at this time, and there is no movement in the study body to change."

PETA campaign coordinator Allison Ezell told Brand in Wednesday's letter saying the ban on nicknames offensive to Native Americans "sends a message that old-fashioned and offensive representations are not appropriate, and we would like to ask that you extend this sensitivity to animals by banning team names and logos that suggest hostility or abuse toward animals."

Ezell said the group supported nicknames that "highlight the power and beauty in the natural world" like the Oregon Ducks and Baylor Bears. Shannon extended the group's respect to the Southeastern Conference.

"We don't have a problem with names like the LSU Tigers," he said, "those that are respectful to animals and show that they are worthy of respect. You'd be proud to be a tiger. We have no problem with that."

Ezell said Jax State and South Carolina glorified "a hideous `blood sport' that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in both South Carolina and Alabama."

"It's a safe bet that officials at South Carolina and Jacksonville would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters or Road-Ragers! By calling them the Gamecocks, USC sends a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about."

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

The can of worms has been opened.... (or Pandoras box)

sic em MEAN GREEN BEANS!!!... we are all going have fruits or veggies for Mascots---[please no endangered species of plants.]

Game: of the year: The Texas A&M Veggies vs the SMU Horse Parsley!!

Weren't Sooners actually crooks, they "stole" land. Maybe Alabama is safe unless the enironmentalists remember Tide is harmful to lakes and rivers.

Edited August 15, 2005 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[MootPoint]

The can of worms has been opened.... (or Pandoras box)

sic em  MEAN GREEN BEANS!!!... we are all going have fruits or veggies for Mascots---[please no endangered species of plants.]

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Yes, but please no North Texas Mashed Potatoes. It is a crime to mash potatoes; they don't deserve such abuse!

[Arkstfan]

Yes, but please no North Texas Mashed Potatoes.  It is a crime to mash potatoes; they don't deserve such abuse!  

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Everyone knows that taters love gravy and consider there to be no higher honor that getting mashed and covered in gravy.

[meangreendork]

'Cuz you know...I'm gonna want to take two chickens and make them fight because South Carolina calls themselves the gamecocks.

Come on, PETA- have some self-respect. You gotta know that this more of a bandwagon/press hype attempt than an actual and substantial stand!

Man...the ethnic thing for the NCAA is tolerable since I understand both ends. BUT- this animal part...come on, I don't think anyone thinks, "South Carolina gamecocks...I'm gonna watch some chicken fighting!"

I'm not a fan of that school but the name gamecocks isn't even in the same realm as wife-beaters. The PETA is just looking for some media attention.

North Mean (Collared or Mustard) Greens! Hahaha

[tonyhuntoon]

haha, only a matter of time.

[bigrobdsp]

as a founding memeber of PETA (people for the eating of tasty animals) I can assure you that no such movement against the Gamecocks has been started. I dont know where you get off digging up these Rumors about us loving animals but I am not scared to file a lawsuit for slander.

Edited August 15, 2005 by bigrobdsp

[Green92]

MMMMM... Meat is good.

[bigrobdsp]

MMMMM... Meat is good. 

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if we werent made to eat animals.... they wouldnt be made of meat.

[SouthernMustang]

Well ... I have problems with a lot of other schools.

(Saw some of these on another message board I was browsing)

1. Pirates -- Anyone who hears this name will want to pillage women and steal riches!

2. Crimson Tide -- Not only offensive b/c this type of tide is bad, but think about the poor girls who have to deal with this "issue" once a month. Hearing about it every Saturday might cause them to want to avoid this issue, and therefore take up an eating disorder or work out excessively so they don't have to deal with that "time of month." Clearly Bama should change their name.

3. Mean Green Eagles -- Eagles are not green, and they are not mean. The North Texas Bald Eagles.

4. Cubs -- How dare you never allow these bear children to grow up? Chicago has permanently made these innocent animals trapped in a young animals body for life!

Oh, the horrors of these atrocious mascots.

Next time I see USC playing; I am going to have to go buy a chicken and want it to fight. Weird how that hasn't ever happened before...

Now next time (the other USC) Trojans start penetrating the (Oregon State) Beavers -- I want to hear an uproar. Especially when Reggie Bush does the Beaver pentetrating -- that's "alternative lifestyle" innuendos right there. How dare them! Where is the ACLU now?? Bring 'em all on now!

[Trojanman]

If PETA makes Jack State or South Carolina change their mascots, I think they should change it to veal. The Jacksonville State Fighting Veal. That has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Just for spite, dress the fat baby cow mascot (let's call him Jerky) in a mink coat and let Ted Nuget shoot a flaming arrow through it on the 50 yard line before every game.

[res1dg16]

Nugent has the right idea

[NT_Mean_Green_Fan]

ugh too many soft fruity people in this country I'm offended by them so can we get rid of them too while were at it

Edited August 15, 2005 by NT_Mean_Green_Fan

[UNTFan23]

I can think of a horse that needs to be put to pasture.