Southern Miss offered the first airball of the NCAA Tournament.

They can thank the school’s pep band.

From the think-before-you-speak file, the USM pep band began the less-than-creative (not to mention racially insensitive) chant “where’s your green card?” when Kansas State freshman point guard Angel Rodriguez stepped to the free-throw line in Thursday’s NCAA Tournament first-round game in Pittsburgh.

If the chant isn’t bad enough, it’s also inaccurate.

Geography lesson: Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico.

And children (yes, I’m talking to the “I missed that day of elementary school” group of band members who recited the chant) what does that mean?

Rodriguez is a U.S. citizen.

According to the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American, Southern Miss president Martha Saunders issued an apology to Rodriguez and Kansas State and said the school will take “quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident.”

Here is the statement from the school president: (note the misspelling of Rodriguez’s last name):

“We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today’s game. The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university. We apologize to Mr. Rodriquez and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident.”

Southern Miss interim athletic director Jeff Hammond added that, “I want to enunciate to (Rodriguez) that the band’s behavior does not represent Southern Miss.”

Only problem with that statement is the pep band does represent the school. Just like a cheerleader, mascot or staff member. The NCAA pays for each school to bring its band, not to mention locate them in premium seating areas (and in this case within microphone range). And if I’m not mistaken, band members wear shirts in either school colors, with logo or even the name on it.

So, yes, the Southern Miss pep band is a representation of the school.

Just Wednesday night, Rice junior forward Arsalan Kazemi, who is from Iran, heard chants of “USA!” from the Louisiana-Lafayette student section. Unfortunately, he’s heard worse in his three seasons on South Main.

Southern Miss should be embarrassed.

As for the Golden Eagles, they lost the game 70-64. Rodriguez had 13 points and four assists.

At least the early exit will spare us from any more ill-advised chants from a few members of the pep band.

{Update: 9:47 p.m.} CBSSports.com provides additional details.

Listen carefully to the video below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7FnxjfLXkY?rel=0&w=640&h=360]