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NCAA, not Wisconsin,
is real Badger

AND you thought the insanity of this NCAA nickname inquiry couldn't get any crazier? Well, buckle up.

Did you know that Wisconsin has a rule prohibiting itself from scheduling any games against teams with Native American nicknames? I didn't either, until yesterday. But it does.

(Yes. Established in 1993. But that doesn't include conference opponents like Illinois or -- for hockey -- North Dakota. Or when someone else sets the opponent, with lots of money at stake, like bowl games. Or ... )

Which is kind of nice, actually. Wisconsin is the home of the Chippewa and the Menominee and other bands and tribes and there are several Native American reservations in the state. So it's understandable that the Badgers would be more sensitive than most and take that kind of stand.

But ... Hawaii was recently placed on a list of 30 colleges whose "Native American" nicknames are under review by the NCAA.

Yikes!

Now, you and I know that the NCAA is off the mark here (again), at least in Hawaii's case. But nonetheless, there is this list. And UH is on it, at least for now.

And the Badgers are scheduled to play here near the end of the 2005 season, on Nov. 25.

Oops!

OK, don't panic. I asked Wisconsin spokesman Justin Doherty to look into this, and his answer is that everything seems to be cool. As Wayne and Garth say, Game on.

Forget what the NCAA's initial inquiry list says, Hawaii is not on Wisconsin's official "do not call" list, which, incidentally, was just finalized and released again in the last few weeks.

For the record, Wisconsin officially refuses to play the Alcorn State Braves, Arkansas State Indians, Bradley Braves, Central Michigan Chippewas, William & Mary Tribe, Florida State Seminoles, Louisiana-Monroe Indians or Utah Utes. No Hawaii. So breathe easy, everything appears to be fine for Nov. 25.

"Hawaii has never been on our Athletic Board's list of schools we would have concern over," Doherty said.

He said he looked, when he was double-checking, but couldn't find the derivation of the Hawaii name.

(Well, you see, a long time ago, all the way back in the summer of 2000 ...)

That's the important part. Because you'll notice that the San Diego State Aztecs aren't on the Wisconsin list, either, although they are also on the NCAA version.

"Aztecs" is using a specific ethnic group of people as a symbol for a sports team. But this group of people lived in what is now known as Mexico.

"Our policy really specifically states 'Native American,' " Doherty explained.

Emphasis on the "American."

Wisconsin is big on cultural sensitivity, but the Athletic Board is apparently not planning to cross the Rio Grande with it or anything.

Luckily, this further craziness leaves Hawaii off the list and Wisconsin off the hook. And the upcoming game still on the books.

Whew! That was close ...

(I knew you were worried.)

Just imagine what might have happened if the wrong Wisconsin regent or campus activist had read "USA Today" and seen Hawaii is on the list.

But no, UH dodges a bullet. It turns out the Badgers can still come here with a clear conscience.

That NCAA nickname inquiry seems to miss the point when it comes to Hawaii's particular case, although you understand why it felt it had to ask.

No, that's not the reason the current nickname is controversial.

But that's another column for another day.