Maybe it's time.

Maybe this should all be cleared up before the divorce lawyers get involved.

Maybe the Utes shouldn't be the Utes anymore.

I'm not talking about the Utes, of course. Anyone with membership in the Ute Indian Tribe should be Utes forever and ever, amen.

It's the University of Utah Utes whose time, like the buffalo, has probably passed.

For several decades now, the propriety of universities using Native American nicknames and mascots has been debated.

Some universities — like Stanford, which changed from Indians to Cardinal, or St. John's, which went from Redmen to Red Storm — washed their hands of the whole thing long ago. Others, like Utah, have slowly but surely disassociated themselves from Indian imagery while still hanging onto the nickname.

A year ago, the University of Utah dodged a death knell when it appealed an NCAA ruling that it needed to drop its nickname or face postseason athletic sanctions.

An endorsement from the Ute Tribe expressing favor with the "respectful relationship" between the school and tribe allowed the Utes to see another season of sunrises.

But now, not more than a year later, some tribe members are disgruntled. As reported by Dennis Romboy and Lucinda Dillon Kinkead of the Deseret Morning News, various Ute officials are upset that special "Ute" scholarships promised by the U. have not materialized.

The U. has responded by saying there was never a quid pro quo — scholarships for nickname — and never will be.

However, school officials have admitted to discussions about "support" for Ute Tribe education.

I don't know who's right, but even the revelation that such talks have taken place is demeaning to both parties.

It translates "respectful relationship" between the school and tribe to mean "bigger, better deal" for the Utes.

The Ute Indian Tribe should get all the higher educational opportunities it qualifies for and deserves but no more than the Shoshone, the Paiute, the Goshute and the Navajo.

Or the palefaces.

Just as when use of a nickname becomes offensive, it's time to lose the nickname; when use of a nickname comes with strings attached, it's also time to lose the nickname.

The University of Utah has had a long and dignified history being Utes. But times change and so can nicknames. The last thing the school, or the state, needs is another scandal over scholarships.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.