"One thing is clear after last week's commentary about the University of Utah's "Ute" nickname: After all these years, people still really care.

I know, e-mail responses aren't necessarily representative of society at large. Many are written by the same people who call in to talk radio.

But I was surprised by the volume of e-mail on this much-discussed subject and the passion they reflected.

Mess with Utes at your peril.

To recap, I suggested it's time to lose the nickname if the Ute Tribe can't get along with the university � as recent comments by some people affiliated with the tribe have indicated. I also suggested there should be no special treatment for the Ute Tribe in the form of scholarships. If that's a condition for use of the nickname, drop the nickname."

Get the Story:
Lee Benson: Fans strongly attached to Ute moniker (The Deseret Morning News 10/2)

NCAA Update:
Status of Indian Mascot Policy (April 28, 2006)

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