If you ever wondered why the NCAA is often viewed as a four-letter word by some it purports to serve, the Brent Rausch saga serves as a pretty good reminder.

Rausch is a sophomore quarterback for the University of Hawai'i who has, to date, played in just one game, but is seen by some as the Warriors' quarterback of the future. With only a year of 11-man football experience, this is pretty much a learning year for the 6-foot-4, 180-pounder from Cathedral City, Calif.

But learning the offense or how to read a zone blitz are the simple things. Making sense of some of the meanderings because of an often bulky NCAA process can be something else. And, if Rausch is puzzled on that account — especially about why he was held out of the last two games for little more than a clerical error — he is not alone.

It seems, according to what we've been told, in August, Rausch incorrectly answered an item on an NCAA questionnaire. Instead of marking that he had enrolled at UH for the fall semester, he — horror of horrors — mistakenly ticked the spring semester. Moreover, whoever was supposed to double check and follow up on the 100-plus questionnaires of the football team also missed it.

For the most part, it was manini stuff since there was no advantage to be gained from the error and UH came clean when the oversight was finally flagged. Clearly the kind of case that common sense tells you can be handled by UH issuing an apology and promising to shore up its follow-up process.

So, naturally, that isn't how it played out. Because Rausch was technically not eligible for the one game he had played in (the season opener at Florida), UH held him out of the Louisiana Tech game to square accounts. Had UH somehow upset Florida at the swamp, it might have had to forfeit.

But the issue somehow dragged on ... and on to the point where it was deemed best not to allow Rausch to go to Boise with the team last week until the puff of white smoke was seen over NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. UH appealed, saying it had already held out Rausch. But because there had been nothing forthcoming from the NCAA by the time the team left for Boise, Rausch was kept home.

When word from the NCAA finally came that Rausch was good to go it was Thursday afternoon as the Warriors wound up practice at Bronco Stadium. There was smoke seen. But it seemed to be coming from head coach Greg McMackin's ears because it was too late to put Rausch on a flight since his spot on the 65-man travel roster had been filled.

Understand that Rausch's unavailability did not impact UH in the loss at Boise State and he might not have played even if available.

Rather, the issue here is how the NCAA processes and those involved are supposed to serve the athletes. And, in this instance, Rausch being poorly served.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.