NCAA Adopts “Tim Tebow Rule”: No More Eye Black Messages

Yeah, but you know if they made the new rule while Tebow was still there, it would’ve been “persecution” and Tebow would’ve become a martyr or something.

no-glare? So that’s why they put that junk under their eyes? I wondered why. See Hemant your blog is educational. Of course, I don’t really think it would have mattered if I’d gone my whole life without knowing that. (In case you can’t tell, I’m no football fan.)

Better late than never, I guess, on the Tebow rule. Actually, I’m surprised they’re having the guts even now. And fully expect to hear howls of persecution from the hypocrites anyway.

this is all well and good, but what happens when a player writes a message directly on their skin? is that any different from having a tattoo?

certainly the NCAA has a right to regulate any articles of clothing that are worn during a game (eye black, wrist bands, shoes, etc), but can they tell a player that they can’t have permanent or temporary tattoos that have a message similar to Tebow’s?

i can see a player subverting this rule by simply writing their message below their eyes.

as a matter of practical enforcement and of free speech, I think the rule should be that any skin and ink message should be fine (excluding defamation or libel, which would be covered by law anyway).

Great post. And I agree, the focus is not about sending your religious message to other players and the television audience. It’s about playing the game.

It’s a wise decision, though the RRRWers will still be howling. The NCAA has every right to institute what is essentially a “dress code”, but of course some people will always think it shouldn’t apply to them.

Reginald… that is funny!

Shannon, it’s Philippians 4:13 – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Shannon, it’s Phillippians 4:13, which makes a lot more sense 😛

I never really had a problem with Tebow’s stupid messages. Yeah, he played for a public school, but no reasonable person would assume that the messages written on his face were government endorsed. I still do think the NCAA was smart to nip this in the bud, though. Someone was bound to push the lines of mainstream offense at some point, and if the NCAA or a public university prohibits specific messages then they are endorsing the allowed messages. Also, what happens if an entire team “volunteers” to put the same religious message on their face? A case could definitely be made that that would violate the establishment clause.

I’m really uncomfortable with this. Like you said, we have no idea if any other message would have been censored. This seems like an utterly pointless rule that will just add more fuel to the fire of the “our rights are being oppressed!” Christians, as someone else pointed out. Who was he hurting by doing this? Why the hell do I care what he writes on his face? Oh, his Bible verses are just so darn offensive we have to ban all face-writing. What the heck?

Thanks everyone 😉 I couldn’t make it out in the picture and it was bugging me, lol!

Andrew – Re: Tattoos

Geno Auriemma, head coach of the UConn Women’s Basketball team has a rule against his players getting tattoos anywhere they will be visible while wearing the uniform. If a player/recruit has an existing tattoo, it must be covered at all times the player is in public as a representative of the team.

AFAIK the rule is content neutral.

An NCAA rule banning tattoos might run afoul of religious/cultural landmines when recruits from the Pacific Islands show up on campus or a Catholic kid with a crucifix on his forearm (or forehead) is a superstar.

It’s an interesting issue. Personally, I support all people having the right to proclaim whatever it is they wish to proclaim. As long as one has calculated the cost/benefit of displaying the message, go for it.

I wish a free thinking/atheist athlete had had the courage to “fly the flag” for our side.

Ditto to MikeTheInfidel. It seems mighty strange to invent a hypothetical situation, decide how the NCAA would have acted in that situation, and then condemn them for their imaginary decision. And further strange to argue in favor of a rule based on its consistency with their imaginary decision.

better late than never….

I have to say, I take issue calling the NCAA cowards based on speculation on what they might have done. They never had the opportunity.

I mean, unless there is some other reason they’re being called cowards that I – not being a sports aficionado – would be unaware of. Or a pattern of past behaviour that leads you to expect what their actions might have been had the opportunity presented itself. Or something like that.

Otherwise, I think it’s bad form to accuse them of cowardice for a double standard that they never had a chance to demonstrate in the first place.

I’m not referring to some hypothetical situation they didn’t react to.

The hypothetical situation is the Muslim/atheist eye message. You criticized them for applying a double standard, but the only evidence you have for a double standard is a hypothetical situation where you just decided what their reaction would have been. Without that hypothetical, I’m not sure what they did that was cowardly. Failing to enforce a rule that didn’t exist at the time?

The “no glare” eye black is nonsense anyway. Has anyone ever really noticed any difference? It’s just like warpaint. To make those lacking in confidence to feel tough and macho.

Did you notice in the Super Bowl which quarterback used it and which one didn’t? Which one won and was MVP?

Athletes are frequently as delusional as theists. When they are both, it becomes hysterical. Tebow is a jerk and an arrogant cement head/

Oh no! How will I know what zip code my favorite players are reppin’?

Stupid rules are meant to be broken/tested. I say someone gets a facial tattoo of John 3:16 under both eyes. What could the NCAA do then? The NCAA should at least admit this rule came about because of Tebow. The “this rule wasn’t because of any particular player or team” crap is a flat lie. This is America, and freedom of speech/religion is huge. Americans should be allowed to promote their individual religions in a subtle way. I doubt any true atheist ever felt alienated by Tebow’s eye black. No, probably more emboldened if anything. Just playing devil’s advocate.

I wonder at the arrogance of sports people who think that god is on their side, when they are really asking him to abandon all of their opponents (many of whom also may be praying fervently to the same god!).