NCAA Takes Heat for Nixing Conservative Ad

Clemson University President James Barker has gotten more than 40,000 e-mails protesting the NCAA's decision to remove an ad from its Web site by the group that sponsored the Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad.

The Greenville News reported Thursday that Barker was targeted in the e-mail campaign because of his role as chairman of the NCAA Division I board.

Barker says the decision was made by the NCAA staff and he didn't know about it until after it happened. He says he's sending the concerns to the NCAA president.

The ad had a photo of a man with a baby and a statement that he wanted his son to grow up knowing how to do the right thing. It included the Web address for Focus on the Family and a slogan.

The American Family Association Action Alert produced the e-mail forms sent to Barker in protest.

Focus on the Family's Super Bowl ad, which stirred controversy, recounted the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987 with a theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child and gave birth to Tim, who went on to win the 2007 Heisman Trophy while helping his Florida team to two BCS championships.