Arkansas State removing cross decal from football helmets

Dan Wolken

(RNS) Arkansas State is removing a Christian cross decal from the back of its football helmets after a complaint that it violated separation of church and state, the university said Wednesday (Sept. 10).

Athletics director Terry Mohajir said he wanted to fight the decision because the decal was intended to honor former player Markel Owens and equipment manager Barry Weyer, who both died this year. However, Mohajir said he had little choice but to follow advice from the university’s legal counsel to remove or modify the symbol.

“My job is to support our players and our coaches in their expression of any type of grief, and that’s what I was doing,” Mohajir said.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/09/11/arkansas-state-removing-cross-decal-football-helmets/