The NCAA has decided to let schools decide for themselves
if Native American-based nicknames are offensive. Some pretty clearly
are, or were, anyway: pretty much anything with Red in it, for
example. In the case of Florida State, the Seminoles have said they don't
mind the nickname. If it were up to us, we might draw the line at factual
names, like the Seminoles, the Utes, the Illlini, or the Chippewas. And we
would probably recommend that the schools ask the tribes if they object, and
maybe give them a cut of the licensing revenues, too.
Certainly in the case of the Seminoles, if they are okay with it, it's hard
to argue that it demeans them.