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Petoskey School District bows to pressure, replaces word 'fighting' on stadium

Brian Kay
A painter replaces the word "fighting" on the bleachers at Curtis Field in Petoskey.

The word “fighting” is back on the football stadium at Petoskey High School. The word was removed from the phrase “Home of the Fighting Northmen” last weekend, spurring a backlash from parents.

Brian Kay created a Facebook page in opposition to the name change.

“It’s my opinion that the school board and the administration did not realize they were doing wrong," says Kay. "The people have voiced their opinion that that’s not what they wanted and it appears that the administration and the school board has listened.”

More than 3,000 people signed a petition to replace the word “fighting” on the stadium.

Superintendent John Scholten told the Petoskey News-Review he still doesn’t think the word “fighting” should be used with the school’s Native American logo. He says the word will not be added to a new stadium under construction.

The Northmen football team opens its season tonight against the Sault Saint Marie Blue Devils.