With allegations surfacing that 72 Miami Hurricanes were showered in cash and other impermissible gifts, eight major football programs have landed in trouble.
But instead of moving with its full force to clean up college football, the NCAA is still crusading to banish nicknames that are "abusive and hostile" and politically incorrect.
That's why North Dakota's Board of Higher Education decided to retire the Fighting Sioux moniker last week.
They did so to avoid NCAA sanctions in their attempt to move to Division I, which would include refusal to let UND host postseason NCAA tournaments and a ban on uniforms depicting the logo.
The problem with the NCAA ax aimed at nicknames, is that the organization only deemed American Indian specific mascots as "abusive and hostile" while ignoring plenty of other equally offensive mascots.
In a matter of minutes a laundry list can be generated of schools with "hostile" nicknames, which are not limited to: the Crusaders, which brings up medieval religious violence; Cowboys, associated with conquering the West; and the Fighting Irish, another national caricature which brings up notions of drunkenness.
While there's certainly a difference between "Redskins" and say "Seminoles," seems like a silly ban to just go after the Indian nicknames.
The University of North Dakota could have kept the 'Sioux' name but dropped the 'Fighting' under NCAA rules, if two Sioux tribes agreed on the name, but they couldn't.
Dropping the 'Fight' may have bolstered UND's chances to keep the moniker. Chief Sitting Bull was a great warrior, but also a spiritual leader, something "Fighting Sioux" doesn't exactly represent.
Regardless, you can chalk another victory up for the NCAA and its rules, but shouldn't they really be worried about other issues.
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