Oregon and Oregon Point out have agreed to drop the title “Civil War” for their rivalry games.
The move Friday was designed right after discussions among officials at each faculties and existing and former university student-athletes. The modify also arrives amid ongoing protests subsequent the demise of George Floyd when in police custody.
Oregon Condition President Ed Ray mentioned the Civil War identify “represents a relationship to a war fought to perpetuate slavery.”
“While not intended as reference to the true Civil War, OSU sports activities opposition should not offer any misconstrued reference to this divisive episode in American historical past,” Ray claimed in a statement. “That we did not act before to transform the name was a error. We do so now, alongside with other important actions to advance equivalent chance and justice for all and in recognition that Black Lives Make a difference.”
Oregon athletic director Rob Mullins mentioned former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon raised the problem of the name.
“We will have to all realize the electricity of words and phrases and the symbolism connected with the Civil War,” Mullins mentioned in a statement.
Oregon Condition athletic director Scott Barnes said the faculties would collectively get to out to athletes and alumni, as perfectly as the college communities, to contemplate a new name for the rivalry.
The soccer sequence concerning Oregon and Oregon Condition has been played 123 situations and is the fifth-most contested rivalry in the region. This season’s game is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 28 in Corvallis.
The men’s basketball sequence involving the two teams has been contested 354 situations.