Several college football programs are reckoning with school traditions and honorary namings of facilities that are problematic as protestors around the nation call for racial equality and justice.
The University of Florida announced this week that it will discontinue the use of the “Gator Bait” chant due to the “horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase,” according to Florida president Kent Fuchs, and the University of Georgia band will no longer play a song from “Gone With The Wind” at games.
In the Florida State community, two former Seminole players are among those calling for the school’s Doak S. Campbell Stadium to have its name changed. The stadium was opened in 1950 and named after then-president Doak S. Campbell, who served in that role until 1957. Campbell opposed the integration of Florida State, which did not occur until 1962. Six years later, Calvin Patterson became the first Black player on the Florida State football team.
Former Florida State linebacker Kendrick Scott launched an online Change.org petition to have the football stadium renamed Bobby Bowden Stadium, in recognition of the legendary coach, and in turn, have Bobby Bowden field renamed Charlie Ward field, in tribute to the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner.
Former Seminoles fullback Freddie Stevenson also pushed for the stadium to be renamed on Twitter, and shared an old newspaper clipping titled “FSU Head Is In Quandary Over How To Ban Student Support Of Integration,” which quotes Campbell.
Time to change the name of Doak Campbell Stadium. We can find way better representation than this! pic.twitter.com/1UkrclwspG
— freddie stevenson (@strugglemade105) June 18, 2020
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