"Sic 'em" is one of those phrases you so rarely see in print you almost forget what they mean when you do. That may have been what initially happened when Baylor and Adidas decided to encapsulate the saying (adding "Bears" at the end) on the back of the team's jerseys earlier this year.
Eventually, the NCAA remembered what sic 'em means, especially when the action is carried out by a bear. According to ESPN, the governing body banned the team from wearing the jerseys in the NCAA tournament, which the Bears will make following an up-and-down regular season. After beginning the year in the top 25 and rising to as high as number seven, they staved off a 2-8 conference start for a 21-10 (9-9) finish. Bracketology via Sbnation has them at an 8 seed. They'll get a chance to rise or fall a few seeds beginning tonight against bottom feeder TCU (9-21, 0-18) in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.
For traditionalists of the sport (and style), it is still one down and six to go in terms of outlawing the university's fleet of gaudy uniforms. Remaining are versions in white, gold, green, black, neon yellow, and neon yellow with sleeves, according to ESPN.
Perhaps the NCAA would have approved if the design referenced the origins of sic 'em, which comes from the order, "seek them." That nomenclature would have been more sophisticated, less aggressive, and entirely more collegiate.
