NCAA trying to ban messages on eye black under the 'Tebow Ru

[kuntryboimike]

I absolutely, 100% love the fact that Biblical scripture was read on air to millions of people

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[jd of de]

Don't forget, this is the same spineless origination (NCAA) that would not stand up to the American Indian lobby and could not see two schools had a long tradition of honoring the American Indian heritage. Until bans on Chief Illiniwik and the UND Fighting Sioux figure (sorry I don't know the name) are lifted what makes you think they would stand up to the larger and more organized separation of church/state lobby?

[Clayton]

I do have a feeling that the NCAA wanted to do this before/during the Tebow era but, knew it'd cause more controversy. This has been happening for a long time and has grown exponentially in the past few years. From Bible verses to area codes (App fans, remember Jim Bob Norman's 828 hats?), it seems like everybody is doing it. Maybe its distracting. I don't know. I've never played linebacker against Florida.

When Tebow is in the NFL, he'll have to wear the right socks, tape, chin strap, jock strap, etc. They almost certainly already have this rule in place.

Also, do any of you know Tebow personally? If you don't, exactly how do you know he "walks the walk?" Tiger Woods was 13 years into his pro career before anybody realized he bleeped half the night clubbers in the country. Ted Haggard was 50 before anybody knew he snorted meth off of man hoes (or however you do meth, I'm not sure).

Now, Tebow isn't Woods or Haggard but, he definitely isn't perfect. I understand respecting him but, you may want to ease up on having a role model you don't personally know (not that I'm telling anybody how to live their life, aka: pulling a Tebow).

[catbob]

What's the big deal. It's not like a player is going to put anything offensive or outrageous on them. I think your coach might have a say about that.

I completely agree that if you can't even put the area code of your hometown on these, then how come you get get any kind of tattoo, anywhere you want in public view? Do not tattoos have more of a negative connotation than someone putting 3:16 under their eye?

[SuperJon]

Tattoos, especially on black athletes, are nowhere near as easy to recognize and decipher what they are during the game. It's much easier to figure out the advertisement on someone's eye black than it is to see what a tattoo is.

[JMU DJ]

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[SuperJon]

At the risk of taking this completely off topic, I think this aspect is overblown as a tool of conversion. However, it may have had "value" (defining value as in bringing people to faith) in reaffirming or strengthening the faith of those who already had it.
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But I don't think many of the atheists, nontheists, antitheists, humanists, etc. in America are that way due to a lack of knowledge about faith or the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is, frankly, everywhere. Most came to the realization that they didn't believe through a period of study, reflection and discussion. Personally, I've read the Bible. Multiple times. I've also read the Torah, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the teachings of Buddha and Confuscius, and other religious texts. I would say that, in America, those that are ignorant of the Bible are few and far between. References to scripture aren't likely to win hearts and minds.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. While there are people who are as educated are you, there is a large majority of people who simply never cared. They've never read the Bible. They've heard the popular verses but they've never truly read it and know what it says.

Also, I think there is just as large of a group of people that have been in church and for one reason or another, they turned away from the church and are living a lifestyle that isn't necessarily a Christian one. At the risk of sounding like a superstitious nutjob, I fully believe that there are people out there dealing with things and wrestling internally about religion that are "looking for a sign" (we've heard that played out way too much) and quite frankly, I don't put anything past God.

In my opinion, and I believe this strongly, if merely one person across America who was not a Christian was "touched" or encouraged to read more or whatever by Tebow's eye black then it was worth it.

With all of this being said, I have absolutely no problem with the NCAA banning it.

[clenz]

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[ccd494]

What's the big deal. It's not like a player is going to put anything offensive or outrageous on them. I think your coach might have a say about that.

That is the problem, though. I kind of wish an atheist or Muslim player had attempted to write something on their eye black, just to see if it was allowed. There are many quarters that would have absolutely found it offensive. Especially in an environment where things like this still happen: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2564489

[SuperJon]

What's the big deal. It's not like a player is going to put anything offensive or outrageous on them. I think your coach might have a say about that.

That is the problem, though. I kind of wish an atheist or Muslim player had attempted to write something on their eye black, just to see if it was allowed. There are many quarters that would have absolutely found it offensive. Especially in an environment where things like this still happen: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2564489

Christians would've flipped out and would've had absolutely no basis to do so. I say that as a Christian who is in seminary studying to go into full-time ministry.

[Herky]

All players on the field should look the same while in uniform, that's why they wear them. However, something that small isnt that big of a deal to most people. Honestly, I see the whole writing stuff on your equipment thing disrespectful.

I think it should be up to the coach, either he wants his players to have no individuality and be part of the team, or he wants them to be individuals.

Why have uniforms at all? Why not just tell everyone to wear the same color on the field? I have never liked personal messages on equipment

[89Hen]

Be religious all you want, just don't proselytize to me, and don't put it right in my face. Let me watch a football game without accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and personal savior.

Would you ban signs at a game that had verses on them?

[SuperHornet]

Personally, I don't have a problem with a Moslem referencing the Koran or a Jew referencing the Old Testament, etc. I do see where other Christians might have a problem with it: if they're allowed to do it, but Christians are singled out for shutdown. That doesn't seem to apply in this case, but it certainly does in the public schools, particularly in Cali. There was one Bay Area school district a couple of years ago that forced students to take part in Moslem worship, even to the point of taking an assumed Moslem name, and gave parents no warning, much less right to opt out. If THAT starts happening, I'd have a problem with it. I think the THREAT of it may rile up some Christians, but I've seen no credible threat of that in THIS situation because I've seen no member of another religion try to do this.

The blanket ban does serve to prevent unauthorized advertising of Mickey D's or other businesses (as one might see on professional soccer jerseys). But the problem with the blanket ban (other than impingeing on Constitutionally guaranteed free-speech rights as in Tebow's case) is that one runs the risk of a "Rozelle" headband just to spite the system. Perhaps that's innocuous. But some kid is going to get the full force of the almighty NCAA pouncing on his chest for a mere joke.

[pantherrob82]

I think it's more of an issue that Pryor supported Vick than the Bible verses.

[Evolution Prime]

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[catbob]

Tattoos, especially on black athletes, are nowhere near as easy to recognize and decipher what they are during the game. It's much easier to figure out the advertisement on someone's eye black than it is to see what a tattoo is.

So you consider writing something under your eye an advertisement, but permanently writing on your skin isn't?

[OSBF]

Don't forget, this is the same spineless origination (NCAA) that would not stand up to the American Indian lobby and could not see two schools had a long tradition of honoring the American Indian heritage. Until bans on Chief Illiniwik and the UND Fighting Sioux figure (sorry I don't know the name) are lifted what makes you think they would stand up to the larger and more organized separation of church/state lobby?

Chieffy was banned because it was a racist characture. Once you come to understand and appreciate everything that was either inacurate or wrong with the portrayal as it was, you also reach understand doing away with it was the right thing to do.

[SuperJon]

Tattoos, especially on black athletes, are nowhere near as easy to recognize and decipher what they are during the game. It's much easier to figure out the advertisement on someone's eye black than it is to see what a tattoo is.

So you consider writing something under your eye an advertisement, but permanently writing on your skin isn't?

Is it an advertisement if no one can tell what it is? Don't tell me you can read what the tattoos are on your favorite players while the game is going on. You can read the eye black on every close up.

[jd of de]

K 8:012

[catbob]

So you consider writing something under your eye an advertisement, but permanently writing on your skin isn't?

Is it an advertisement if no one can tell what it is? Don't tell me you can read what the tattoos are on your favorite players while the game is going on. You can read the eye black on every close up.

It doesn't have to be words to be an advertisement... so a picture (tattoo) of a cross is better than 3:16 under your eyes?

[SuperJon]

Nobody's getting facial tattoos of crosses. When you do something of two contrasting colors (white text on eye black) it is much easier to see than a tattoo on someone's arms. That's why it's completely ridiculous to try and compare the two.

[CID1990]

For the NCAA it's two things:

1. Anti-Christion: Funny how the concern for this didn't pop up until a Heisman winner has references to Bible versus on his eye black, whereas before they never even cared to notice it.

2. Greed: It's all about the Benjamins. NCAA wants to provide "sanctioned" eye black messages down the road sold to the highest bidder..."Drink Coke" anyone?

Man, you beat me to it. Personally I could care less about the issue, but I couldn't help thinking that the NCAA won't ban corporate logos on the eye blacks. I also couldn't help thinking that if the first player to customize his eye patch had ddone it with Free Tibet or Free Mumia we wouldn't be hearing about this.

[ccd494]

Be religious all you want, just don't proselytize to me, and don't put it right in my face. Let me watch a football game without accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and personal savior.

Would you ban signs at a game that had verses on them?

In what context? Like a fan holding the sign in the stands? It's certainly the NCAA's prerogative to do so, and I would like them to, but I understand that there is less of an impetus. That fan holding a "JOHN 3:16" sign is less likely to be seen as a legitimate representative and more like a lone nut.

Like the John 3:16 dude was, who once choked his wife for standing in the wrong spot with a sign at a game, and is currently doing three consecutive life sentences in Cali for kidnapping.

[WildCat In The Hat]

This whole thread is the reason it should be banned. It takes away from the game. Next thing you know all of the players will have their own causes under their eyes. I for one don't want to see it. I tune in to watch a fooball game, not have someone push a bible passage on me, or tell me what area code they're from. All I care about is what you are going o do o make your team win. What's next..Chicos Bail Bonds?

[JayJ79]

I tune in to watch a fooball game

I pity the fooball game!