Florida State University trustee Richard McFarlain apologized to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma for remarks he made about the tribe not being "real Seminoles."

At a board of trustees meeting to consider the NCAA's policy on Indian mascots, McFarlain said he "care less about what the Seminoles in Oklahoma think." "They got run out of here by, who was it, Andrew Jackson? The Trail of Tears. The real Seminoles stayed here," he said, according to news reports.

McFarlain now says his comments were "insensitive" and that he apologizes for them. He had made them because he thought the tribe opposed FSU's "Seminoles" mascot. Tribal leaders say they don't have a problem with it.

Get the Story:
FSU trustee apologizes to tribe (The St. Petersburg Times 8/16)

NCAA Announcement:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm
Florida State University - http://www.fsu.edu
FSU Seminoles - http://seminoles.collegesports.com
Seminole Tribe of Florida - http://www.seminoletribe.com

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