Vikes Caught In Redskins Flap

The home of the Golden Gophers has also asked that no Washington merch be sold onsite; that the word “Redskins” not be used by the game’s PA announcer, and that the moniker and logo appear nowhere that can be connected to the university, including pre-game print or digital material like media guides.

According to Katrice Albert, the school’s VP in the office of equity and diversity, the Vikings seemed receptive to the idea when approached at a July meeting.

“They said they’d make that request of the Washington team, but were not sure how it would be received,” she told to Post. “The two Vikings officials said they are part of the NFL and don’t have the authority to force the hand to change the Washington name but understand it’s offensive to some members of our community. “The Vikings have a great working relationship with the tribal nations of Minnesota, and they’re very understanding of how this team name and logo impacts our community.”

And that community spends money on the university. TCF Bank Stadium sports a Tribal Nations Plaza dedicated in honor of the 11 First Nations tribes in Minnesota.

It was built with a $10 million donation from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community – the largest private gift ever to the university’s athletic programs. A Washington spokesman said the team disagrees with UM’s position. “We have met many Native Americans from Minnesota who agree with our position and feel we are using the term correctly and honorably,” spokesman Tony Wyllie told the Post.