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The NCAA will move seven championship events this academic year from the state of North Carolina, including the first and second rounds of the 2017 NCAA mens basketball tournament, because of the states controversial HB2 law.The NCAAs Board of Governors made the announcement late Monday night. The decision comes on the heels of the NBA moving the All-Star Game in February from Charlotte to New Orleans.The board issued a statement saying, Current North Carolina state laws make it challenging to guarantee the host communities can help deliver on that commitment if NCAA events remained in the state.The NCAA said deciding factors in moving the events were that the North Carolina law invalidated any local law that treats sexual orientation as a protected class or has a purpose to prevent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.The NCAA cited that the HB2 law makes it unlawful to use a restroom different from the gender on ones birth certificate, regardless of gender identity.The NCAA also pointed out that the law provides legal protection for government officials to refuse services to the LGBT community.The seven events that will be moved:??Division I womens soccer championship College Cup, slated for Cary, N.C., Dec. 2 and 4.? Division III mens and womens soccer championship in Greensboro, Dec. 2-3.? Division I mens basketball tournament first/second rounds in Greensboro, March 17 and 19, 2017? Division I womens golf championship regional in Greenville, May 8-10.? Division III mens and womens tennis championship in Cary, May 22-27.? Division I womens lacrosse championship in Cary, May 26 and 28.? Division II baseball championship in Cary, May 27-June 3.North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory issued a statement Tuesday denouncing the NCAA for taking political retaliation and failing to show respect while the matter is being addressed in the courts.The issue of redefining gender and basic norms of privacy will be resolved in the near future in the United States court system for not only North Carolina, but the entire nation, McCrory said in the statement. I strongly encourage all public and private institutions to both respect and allow our nations judicial system to proceed without economic threats or political retaliation toward the 22 states that are currently challenging government overreach.Sadly, the NCAA, a multi-billion dollar, tax-exempt monopoly, failed to show this respect at the expense of our student athletes and hard-working men and women.The Duke mens basketball team is expected to be a preseason No. 1 and a likely top seed, meaning the Blue Devils probably would have been placed in Greensboro.Duke already had to switch a non-conference opponent after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) banned the New York state university at Albany from playing at a North Carolina school due to HB2. New York, Minnesota, Washington, Vermont and Connecticut have banned state-sponsored travel to North Carolina.The deadline for submitting bids to host any of the championship games previously slated for North Carolina is Sept. 27. An announcement for the new sites is expected on Oct. 7. Private sale tickets for the NCAA basketball first- and second-round games in Greensboro will be refunded. That process already has started. ?Due to the TV component, the new NCAA Tournament sites will have to be in an Eastern time zone.Fairness is about more than the opportunity to participate in college sports, or even compete for championships, said NCAA president Mark Emmert in a statement. We believe in providing a safe and respectful environment at our events and are committed to providing the best experience possible for college athletes, fans and everyone taking part in our championships.A number of musical acts also have canceled shows in the state due to the law.New sites for the championships are expected to be determined soon. Schools in the state of North Carolina can earn the right to host a postseason tournament event, but it would not be a championship event sponsored by the NCAA.NCAA vice president Dan Gavitt told ESPN that the mens basketball selection committee will have an expedited two-week bid process from interested sites to find a replacement for the first and second rounds of the tournament once slated for Greensboro in March. He said the plan would be to make the selection by mid-October.Gavitt said the new site will be in the East, joining the other East regional site, Buffalo. Orlando and Indianapolis, the Southeast and Midwest, are the other two Eastern Time Zone sites. The NCAA wants a fourth site. Gavitt said it will be tough to find one on short notice due to NBA and NHL scheduling. That means the venue may have to be an arena on a college campus, or one that has a college team as a primary tenant. South Carolina sites are now a possibility since the state removed the Confederate flag from its state capitol in Columbia.The future of the Belk Bowl in Charlotte is unclear. Although the NCAA could decertify the bowl this season -- the game cannot be played if its not certified -- an industry source said he doesnt think the NCAA will do so.The Belk Bowl matches teams from the SEC and ACC and is scheduled for Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN from Bank of America Stadium.The NCAA is not going to do anything to make the Power 5 leagues mad, the source told ESPNs Brett McMurphy. It would be interesting, though, to see what would happen if the bowl game was between the Sun Belt and Conference USA, or any Group of 5 conferences.While the NCAA does not operate the postseason FBS bowl games or the College Football Playoff, it does certify bowls before each season. Since bowls already have been certified for the season, the NCAA could still decertify a bowl, making any student-athlete who participated in the game ineligible.The ACC also has not taken any action about moving its football conference championship game. Its been in Charlotte since 2010 and is in the midst of a six-year deal to remain in Charlotte through 2019.ACC commissioner John Swofford said his conference had previous plans to review the situation at this weeks ACC Council of Presidents meetingSo it would be premature to make any decisions or announcements, Swofford said.?In 2015, the NCAA threatened to move out of the state of Indiana, where its headquarters are located, if it didnt alter the states Religious Freedom Law. Gov. Mike Pence, the current GOP vice presidential nominee, clarified that the law wouldnt discriminate against the LGBT community.Information from ESPNs Brett McMurphy and Dana ONeil was used in this report. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . 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"Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. HOUSTON -- For the first time in 12 seasons, Mount Union will not appear in the Division III championship game.In its place, Mary Hardin-Baylor will play in its first Stagg Bowl since 2004 -- the season before Mount Unions 11-year streak began.Mary Hardin-Baylor converted a first down on fake punt with 45 seconds left and the Crusaders upset defending champion Mount Union 14-12 on Saturday in the Division III semifinals.The Crusaders last title game ended in a 28-21 defeat to Linfield. That was the last D-III title game not involving Mount Union, UW-Whitewater or St. Thomas.Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-0) will play Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which beat John Carroll 10-3, on Friday night.Two of the highest scoring teams in Division III were locked in a defensive battle on Saturday.Mount Union (12-2) started its final possession with 2:32 left at its 45. But defensive end Ajay Fanene read a screen pass and dropped back in coverage to intercept freshman quarterback Dom Davis pass with 1:44 left. It was his first interception of the season.Mary Hardin-Baylor was forced to punt after three plays but Trinton Ynclan caught a dart from the Baylor Mullins in a punt formation to seal it.It was Mount Unions first true road loss since 1994, which is also the last time the Raiders lost two games in a season. The 114-game streak went back to the 1994 NCAA Playoffs in a 34-33 loss at Albion (Mich.).Mary Hardin-Baylor quarterback Blake Jackson scored on a 1-yard sneak up the middle with 1:53 left in the third quarter for a 14-6 lead. His 11-yard scrammble two plays earlier on a third-and-6 set up the touchdown.dddddddddddd Duane Thompson also made two big plays on the drive. He had an over-the-shoulder catch for 25 yards and rushed for a 15-yard gain on the next play.Keith Reineke made an easy interception with 10:43 left in the fourth quarter for Mary Hardin-Baylor but the Crusaders drive stalled after three plays. Mount Union made them pay with a 14-play, 66 yard scoring drive to pull to 14-12 with 4:20 left on Davis play-action keeper. The Raiders two-point conversion attempt failed after Davis pressured pass fell incomplete short of the end zone.In the first half, Alex Louthan kicked a 30-yard field goal to open the scoring for Mount Union with 8:08 left. But Mary Hardin-Baylor answered on its next possession. Jackson scrambled to escape pressure and was hit hard just after a throw for a 33-yard touchdown. T.J. Josey leapt in the end zone to get a hand on it and Wykeyhe Walker secured it for a 7-3 lead.Louthan made his second field goal with two seconds left before halftime to pull to Mount Union to 7-6.Mary Hardin-Baylor won its 12th straight American Southwest Conference title to earn the one tournament bid reserved for independents or teams in a non-automatic qualifying conference. Mount Union earned one of the six at-large bids to the playoffs and is the only team in D-III history to win three straight road games to reach the semis. ' ' '