Michael Bonner

The Clarion-Ledger

Mississippi remains as the only state banned from hosting pre-determined NCAA postseason events after South Carolina governor Nikki Haley signed a bill to remove the Confederate flag from its capitol grounds on Thursday.

Since 2001, the NCAA has banned Mississippi and South Carolina from hosting pre-selected NCAA Championships because of the presence of the Confederate flag in each state's capitol grounds.

Thursday the NCAA released a statement after South Carolina's decision to remove the flag.

"We commend South Carolina lawmakers for taking this action to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds. For nearly 15 years we have specifically protested the flag by not allowing states like South Carolina to host pre-selected NCAA championships. With this impending change, and consistent with our policy, South Carolina may bid to host future NCAA championships once the flag no longer flies at the State House grounds."

The statement was credited to Kirk Schulz, the NCAA Board of Governors chair and Kansas State's president.

Mississippi State's president Mark Keenum responded with a statement, supporting a change to the state flag that would bring the NCAA postseason to the Magnolia State.

"Flags should unite us and bring us together, not divide us. The tragic events in South Carolina and the evolving national debate over the state flag is a debate that should take place today in Mississippi. In 2001, the Mississippi State University Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of changing the state flag of Mississippi prior to the failed statewide voter referendum on that question. I have seen no indication that attitudes have changed on that question on our campus.

"As the university with the highest percentage African American enrollment in the Southeastern Conference, this debate is relevant and important to us. Finally, MSU would certainly prefer the opportunity to host NCAA championships on behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and university community. Since 1963 and the 'Game of Change' with Loyola in the NCAA basketball tournament, MSU has been unequivocal in our support for fair and inclusive competition."

Mississippi can host NCAA postseason events that are not pre-selected such as baseball or softball regionals, but sports such as basketball and golf are off limits.

Ole Miss acting Chancellor Morris H. Stocks said in part of a released statement, "We join other leaders our state who are calling for change in the state flag."

The Southeastern Conference has also come out in support of removing the Confederate flag. New SEC commissioner Greg Sankey made it clear that he doesn't want to govern a conference associated with an unwelcoming symbol in some of its states.

"I issued a statement (in June) supporting the calls that have been made to remove the Confederate battle flag from a prominent displays that have been noted," Sankey said. "We've seen some progress on that front, obviously in the state of Alabama.

"It's an important conversation because our athletic programs provide a key rallying point for our state and our region and we want to make sure that they are a welcoming circumstance as much as that's possible when you're a visiting team in our arenas and stadium and make our campuses welcoming places for all who are on our teams and populating our campuses."

Debate regarding Mississippi's flag has resurfaced recently. There's been support from groups to change the state flag, but there's also a group of Mississippians who believe the flag should remain unchanged.

Mississippi voted on the issue the same year the NCAA implemented the postseason ban. Voters elected to keep the current flag.

Both Mississippi State and Ole Miss have released statements regarding the Confederate flag.

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.