Is The Chief about to do his last “dance”?
Unless a judge stops them, University of Illinois officials will announce Friday that Chief Illiniwek, the controversial and storied mascot who has performed for 81 years, is to dance for the last time next week.Other sources seem to be more certain of The Chief’s imminent demise. If this is true, I can say I won’t miss The Chief but I especially won’t miss the controversy. Sheesh, please make it be over.
University officials had made extensive preparations for Friday's announcement. But according to a source familiar with the university's plan, the process took a turn Thursday when the two students who portray the chief filed a lawsuit against the university and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The students are seeking a restraining order that would prevent the university from dumping the chief and would lift the NCAA's sanctions against the university's sports teams. A Champaign County judge will hear their application Friday morning in Urbana.
The university will decide how to proceed after that hearing, the source said.
HT to Rich Miller
Update: It’s official, The Chief is history. Inaccurate history but history nonetheless.
1 comment:
Saluki sounds better every time I see one of these stories.
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