Army football removes motto from spirit flag

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

The United States Military Academy at West Point removed a motto from a spirit flag used by the school's football team because of its connection to hate groups.

The letters GFBD, which stand for “God Forgives, Brothers Don’t,” were emblazoned on a skull and crossbones flag the academy says had been used since the mid-1990s to emphasize teamwork, loyalty and toughness.

The administration at the academy was made aware that the phrase also is associated with extremist groups. The change was made in early September after an internal investigation.

“The U.S. Military Academy is fully committed to developing leaders of character who embody the Army values," Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, said in a statement. “Ideology, actions, and associations of hate groups directly conflict with our values and have no place at this institution."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/army-football-removes-motto-spirit-flag-67570855?cid=clicksource_4380645_null_headlines_hed

[strongermessage]

1. This will be reversed ....

when the idiot in the White House hears about it.

[marble falls]

2. Let alone the fact that brothers can and need to forgive.

[rickyhall]

3. IMO: Stupid statement. My late brother forgave me a lot as I did him.

Now my sister, not so much.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. A Fundamental Question

Why are the military academies using taxpayer $ to fund athletic programs?
Many small(ish) colleges lose $ on athletics, but find them useful extracurricular activities.
That's debatable, but there's no debate if it's taxpayers footing the bill.

[ManiacJoe]

6. You answered your own question.

The military academies are competing at a high enough level that their sports programs are probably not losing money.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. You Think So

I've seen highlights of those games, and except for Army/Navy, the stands are only somewhat filled, and majority cadets or midshipmen.
Hard to believe they charge those students for tickets.
And, to your point about high level: other than when David Robinson was at Annapolis, when has a military academy been in the NCAA basketball tournament?
I'm not at all convinced those schools' athletic programs are truly self-funded.

[RhodeIslandOne]

8. Air Force was in the tourney not that long ago.

And in some of the minor post season tourney's more recently.

[LanternWaste]

9. Televised games brings in advertising revenue regardless of seats filled in the stadium

The Army-Navy game is steadily in the top ten revenue generating games televised every year. CBS's coverage of the 2019 Army-Navy football game delivered the second-highest-rated college game in the last 24 years.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. One Game

Nice statistical background you have there.

[JCMach1]

11. For the same reason I support the NEA, and other government supported Arts and Cultural Activities

Sports/College Football is part of our culture...