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After 13 years, South Carolina will once again be allowed to host National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournaments and other championship games after state lawmakers voted Thursday to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds.
Since 2001, the NCAA has barred any state that flies the Confederate flag from bidding to host NCAA championships where host sites are preselected. That includes sports like men's and women's basketball, but not baseball. South Carolina last hosted an NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2002, before the ban went into effect.
"We commend South Carolina lawmakers for taking this action to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds," Kirk Schulz, chair of the NCAA board of governors and president of Kansas State University, said in a statement. "For nearly 15 years we have specifically protested the flag by not allowing states like South Carolina to host preselected 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 flag is expected to come down Friday. Mississippi is now the sole remaining state that cannot host NCAA championships under the rule.
