More windmills

And it's costing YOU money

The UI's pathetic appeal on behalf of its halftime minstrel show shows just how far out of step with reality the school's leadership really is.

As reported in Saturday's Chicago Tribune, the university has officially protested the NCAA's ruling that the institution's use of the minstrel Cheef Illiniwek and the name Fighting Illini is 'hostile and abusive.'

And the grounds? Get ready for a laugh:

...the Illiniwek confederation of tribes no longer exists.

...the name Illini was introduced as identification for students of the university by the student newspaper in 1874 to honor the state and did not have a direct Native American connotation.

"It's the same with the word `Fighting.' It was never intended to be associated with Indians.'

The letter also contended Chief Illiniwek's halftime performances are not typical of those of sports mascots.

How pathetic is that?

How ridiculous?

And how indefensible?

One gets the sense that this appeal isn't all that serious. Or at least not all that seriously thought-out.

It's almost as if the Board of Trustees, and in particular Trustees Chairman Lawrence Eppley was filing the protest to appease the few remaining Cheef supporters.

And once the protest fails, then the BOT can simply say, 'you can't blame us; we tried.'

It's obvious - and comforting - that this protest won't go far. The only thing that may slow the obvious decision is the time spent laughing at NCAA headquarters.

Although the BOT is wasting good and scarce tax dollars in this little charade. But since when has that been a consideration to those who would tilt after windmills?

And so it goes.