NCAA allowing championship bids from South Carolina after flag's removal

Published Jul. 11, 2015 1:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Jason Parker

One of the most controversial symbols in our country over the last century (if not longer) has been the Confederate battle flag. Recently, the debate over that flag has been amplified by the horrific killing of nine members of a South Carolina church by a man who admitted he did so because they were black, while taking pictures of himself with that flag.

The state of South Carolina, for years one of the biggest defenders of the flag, voted Thursday to remove it from the grounds of the state capitol in Columbia. The flag was removed on Friday.

Since 2001, as a result of the flag flying, the NCAA has banned the state from hosting any championship games or tournaments. With this move, the governing body is opening its doors back to the Palmetto State, according to its leader Mark Emmert:

“The NCAA strongly supports today’s removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House grounds. This step sends an important message of respect for and dignity of every person. As a national association, the NCAA opposes this symbol of racism, and since 2001 we have demonstrated our opposition by not playing pre-selected championships in states where the flag was flown prominently. The removal of the Confederate flag now means that South Carolina can bid to host future NCAA championships.”

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