Cuba City High School principal Tim Hazen says the school's mascot, a Cuban, wasn't very accurate to begin with. "It was a Mexican person, with the sombrero and the sash, and that's what's kind of interesting—because it never was a Cuban."

Hazen says the school dropped the mascot's image many years ago, but adds, he has no problem continuing to use the name.

"I just think it's an overreaction a lotta times," Hazen says. "I know I gotta be careful what I say, but I really think, because these schools go through, back to deep traditions and everything and my personal feeling would be, is, to let 'em keep their mascots."

As the NCAA and WIAA Basketball Tournaments kick off Thursday, controversy kicks in regarding school mascots such as the University of Illinois' Fighting Illini and Marquette's former mascot, which was changed in 1993.

Don Pierce explains, "It's tradition—bring back the Warriors. The 'Marquette Warriors'—not the Golden Eagles."

Donald Lucious adds, "I think they're overreacting. It's just a name, you know? It's just basketball, basically it's not really dealin' with culture or anything. I think it's just a name. They shouldn't be bothered by it."

The Warriors, Pirates, Vikings, Tomahawks are among those at the Kohl Center this weekend, where Evan Buhr laments the loss of his beloved Blackhawks, adding Viroqua High School is now represented by a 'V.'
"I kinda liked our mascot, I thought it was honoring him—not, not dishonoring him," Evan says.

Meanwhile, Racine's Donte Yarbrough says he's finished discussing the matter. "It's ridiculous. People ain't got nothin' else better to do but to mess with a high school nickname then 'Oh, well' for 'em more power to 'em. It's dumb...that's a wrap."

The WIAA state boys basketball tournament continues at Madison's Kohl Center through Saturday.