Every week before NIU football games, Sweeps will bring you the real matchups that matter, like which team mascot would win in a street fight.

Despite a loss in the mascot battle last week, the real-life Huskies defeated the University of Central Florida in the land of Mickey Mouse, 30-28.

This Saturday marks the 98th NIU Homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. against the Central Michigan University Chippewas.

Mid-Michigan has a history with the Chippewa Native American tribe.

According to CMU’s Web site, the Chippewas were highly skilled at treating illness by using medicinal plants from the territory they were familiar with.

CMU first officially was known as the Dragons in 1925 and, later on, the Bearcats.

They didn’t jump on the “let’s-exploit-the-Native-Americans” bandwagon until 1941, when they adopted the nickname “Chippewas.”

It looks like CMU has changed nicknames more than John Kerry has changed positions on the Iraq War.

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission recommended in 1989 that CMU drop the nickname. However, after agreeing to drop certain offensive Native American logos, it was allowed to keep the name.

Rita Reynolds, NATIONS faculty adviser, said she does not feel honored by Native Americans being used as mascots.

“We experience it as no less than a mockery of our cultures,” Reynolds said. “We see objects sacred to us, such as the drum, eagle feathers, face painting and traditional dress being used in another culture’s game.”

Freshman physics major Ben Gross doesn’t believe that a physical confrontation between the two mascots would be a farce.

“I think the husky would bite the Indian’s arm off before he could shoot his bow-and-arrow,” he said.

Still, it seems kind of offensive to pit a real live person from a culture that has been disrespected for hundreds of years against a vicious dog.

So the final verdict has to be that the Chippewas and the husky would decide not to take part in a battle. They would watch Saturday’s game holding hands while singing campfire songs.

Reporter’s note: No animals or Native Americans were physically harmed in the writing of this article.