The NCAA extended its ban on American Indian mascots, logos and nicknames last week to include Bowl Championship Series football games. Illinois football is the only program affected by the policy change.

The NCAA previously said it could not rule on bowl games because those events are run by the Bowl Championship Series, a separate governing body. However, at their Sept. 20 meeting, the BCS governing board decided it did not have the governance structure necessary to enforce a policy similar to that adapted by the NCAA. The BCS asked the NCAA to handle the issue.

“The BCS came back to the NCAA and said it didn’t have the governance structure in place to enforce the regulations and for the NCAA to make a decision and regulate, which is what is taking place now,” said Gail Dent, NCAA associate director of public and media relations.

On Aug. 5, the NCAA issued a policy change banning the use of “hostile and abusive” American Indian mascots, logos and nicknames from the post-season events it governs. The ban included Division I-AA, II and III football programs, which have postseason playoffs run by the NCAA. Division I-A football programs, like Illinois, can be invited to play in post-season bowl games. The BCS governs the four most prestigious bowl games: the Rose Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

When the NCAA released its initial decision, 18 schools were on the list of those with “hostile or abusive” imagery. Four of those schools – Illinois, Utah, Florida State and Central Michigan – play I-A football. Utah, Florida State and Central Michigan, however, have all appealed their inclusion on the “hostile and abusive” list and won, narrowing the list to 15 schools and leaving Illinois as the only program affected by the BCS ban.

Chief Illiniwek generally does not travel to away events, and the “Illini” and “Fighting Illini” nicknames do not appear on football uniforms. University spokesman Tom Hardy said this could mean that the ruling has no impact at all.

“We’re examining that decision by the NCAA,” Hardy said. “Our athletic staff, our legal council and other people at the University and campus level are taking a look at what effect that would have.”

Dent said that while Illinois is the only I-A school currently affected by the decision, it could change as the NCAA continues to monitor the use of American Indian imagery among its member institutions.

“There may be schools that get added or removed based on their appeal as we look in the future,” Dent said. “No specific NCAA school was targeted in regard to this decision.”

The NCAA licenses BCS games, so it added its mascots, logos and nicknames policy to its list of requirements to be licensed.

Illinois last competed in a BCS bowl game after the 2001 season, when the Illini played LSU in the 2002 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. Chief Illiniwek performed at that game.

That was the most recent bowl game in which Illinois played.

The BCS ban goes into effect for the 2006 football season. The NCAA’s policy for all other post-season competitions goes into effect Feb. 1, 2006.

Hardy said the University is still considering whether it will appeal Illinois’ inclusion on the list.

“We haven’t made any final decisions yet regarding an appeal, so that option remains open,” Hardy said.