The University of Saskatchewan Huskie cheerleading team can no longer affiliate itself with the Huskie Athletics name.

U of S athletic director Basil Hughton tells News Talk Radio it's part of a restructuring move that ensures only Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) teams are using the Huskie name.

"We have had to say no to other sports and other teams that are wanting to come in and use the Huskie name," said Hughton.

"In order for us to focus on the teams that are involved in Canada West and CIS competition that's the decision that we came to."
 
Not only is the squad stripped of the Huskie name and logo, it can't perform at games either.

Hughton says the decision was at least a year in the making, and insists it's not a debate about whether or not cheerleading itself is a sport.
 
The athletic department is now moving towards having something called a "green team."

"More involvement with our students in terms of energizing the crowd in other ways than cheerleading competition-style stunting," said Hughton.
 
The U of S cheerleaders had been operating under the Huskie name for 17 seasons.

News Talk Radio is waiting for a response from the squad's coach.