Example 4,865 the NCAA doesn't get it: Eric Butler. A Kansas defensive lineman who took the 2002 school year off to care for his family after the birth of his daughter, Butler was declared ineligible by the most heartless governing body in the world of sports earlier this fall. At issue is Butler's academic clock, which began ticking when he attended DeVry Institute in 2001. Student-athletes are given five academic years to complete four playing years, and Butler is entering his sixth season. But Butler petitioned the NCAA, saying a waiver that allows female athletes time off for "reasons of pregnancy" should apply to him, too. He's right. It's hypocritical of the NCAA to preach gender equity and then not allow male athletes the same child-rearing rights as their female counterparts. As all fathers can attest, being a parent is a full-time job and for the NCAA to penalize a 20-year-old with in-tact priorities is ludicrous. The NCAA denied Butler's appeal last week, and a judge upheld the ruling Tuesday. The judge had no choice, she was following the letter of the law. The heartless NCAA did. The decision won't affect the Big 12 race - Kansas was going to have a hard time making a bowl game with or without Butler. But it proves once again how arrogant and ignorant the NCAA can be.