NCAA Reprimands Stanford's Tree Mascot Mascot Suspended for Next NCAA Women's Tourney
STANFORD, Calif. (Aug. 25) - The Division I women's basketball committee reprimanded and fined Stanford on Friday for the antics of its tree mascot during the NCAA tournament last March.
The tree refused to leave the court at halftime of Stanford's victory over Florida State on March 20 in Denver, and the NCAA also cited "violation of multiple tournament policies regarding bands, cheerleaders and mascots" in its announcement, giving no more details. At the time, the tree reportedly was suspended for Stanford's next game in the regional semifinals.
"The committee was very disappointed in this disturbing pattern of behavior and strongly believes that these acts compromised the integrity of the championship," said Joni Comstock, the committee chair and the athletic director at American University.
The previous student to wear the tree costume was fired in February when she performed while drunk at Stanford's men's basketball game against California. The NCAA cited policy violations in previous years as a factor in the suspension.
The tree refused to leave the court at halftime of Stanford's victory over Florida State on March 20 in Denver, and the NCAA also cited "violation of multiple tournament policies regarding bands, cheerleaders and mascots" in its announcement, giving no more details. At the time, the tree reportedly was suspended for Stanford's next game in the regional semifinals.
"The committee was very disappointed in this disturbing pattern of behavior and strongly believes that these acts compromised the integrity of the championship," said Joni Comstock, the committee chair and the athletic director at American University.
The previous student to wear the tree costume was fired in February when she performed while drunk at Stanford's men's basketball game against California. The NCAA cited policy violations in previous years as a factor in the suspension.
5 comments:
The moral of the story?
Never drink and tree....
Pretty minor infraction when compared to the notorious Stanford band that has been known to march into phallic symbol formations and for the drum major to dawn a nuns habit and beat a drum with a cross at Notre Dame.
This is a classic example of what happens when a mascot has nothing in common with the school nickname. The mascot has feelings of inadequacy similiar to an unwanted stepchild and this often manifests itself in violent or embarrassing behavior to draw attention.
DU take note!!!
From Stanford's website:
There is no official mascot at Stanford University. The "Tree," which is a member of the Stanford Band, is representative of El Palo Alto, the Redwood tree which is the logo of the city of Palo Alto. Since Stanford University and Palo Alto are almost inextricably intertwined in interests and location, it is a natural outgrowth of this relationship. The tree still exists and stands by the railroad bridge beside San Francisquito Creek – it is the site where early explorers first camped when settling the area.
Good research CO14ers. I just home some Cal Students don't try to kidnap the rree beside San Francisquito Creek.
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