PITTSBURGH — Indiana (Pa.) University will be without a nickname for its sports teams for several months because the university's board of trustees has decided to stop using "Indians," a university spokeswoman said.

The trustees decided on Sept. 15 to drop the name by the end of the month. The move comes after the NCAA in April rejected a second appeal by the university to retain the "Indians" nickname. Other universities have lost similar appeals.

The university will refer to its sports teams as "IUP" from Sept. 30 until a new name is picked in March, spokeswoman Michelle Fryling said.

Five Mars Area students have advanced to the NFLPepsi Punt, Pass &kick sectional competition scheduled for Oct. 14 in Wexford.Earning first-place in their respective age groups at the Sept. 20 competition hosted by Mars Area Elementary School were fifth-graders Jacob Wright and Teresa Dallatore, fourth-graders Josh Bartley and Morgan McKim, and second-grader Charlie Osborne.Winners in the Oct. 14 sectional may qualify for the team championship competition slated later this fall.