I had thought Whitman was Brooklyn (there's a junior high in Flatbush bearing his name), but "ferry" made me guess Staten Island. And later in the category, I was 50/50 on Emerson and Thoreau and guessed wrong. I need a mnemonic for those guys.
Like, "Ralph Waldo's name is nerdy and [such and such] is wordy," maybe…

I'm way behind on my podcasts. But just two days ago, listened to a Doug Loves Movies where the Last Man Stanton name was Scarlett Johansson. So I would've run a category 15 clues long.

That was a dicky comment. I have a map of Europe hanging on my wall. The island is spelled Majorca. Then I checked wikipedia: spelled Majorca.

Harris Wittles cracked me up. And he had a calming, kind way about him on CBB. Perhaps it's because my close friend died at about the same age from addiction a few years ago that I was deeply saddened by his death. I still haven't removed the last Farts and Procreation from my ipod. I guess it's akin to keeping phone…

It was a weird FJ. Maybe my years of Scrabble helped. I made different portions of letters dance around each other in my brain and "wellis" turned into Lewis. Then I saw it was also in "Westhall." So I settled for that with a few seconds left.

I knew the candle jumper's name was Jack but wouldn't have buzzed in. I was thinking that what I knew was quite possibly only one verse of a longer rhyme. I didn't think it was Jack Sprat. Is Jack Be Nimble the same Jack who's friends with Jill? Besides, I learned I near totally forgot all nursery rhymes.

I knew the word existed. But only for Scrabble purposes. Learned it from the app I still play on my gen 3 ipod. Only today did I learn it was a brickbox.

I would be willing to bet Stanford, Texas, Princeton, etc. had the money to devote to faculty members coaching their academic teams. When alumni donate, they want to see full trophy cases.

Stony Brook: The Harvard of Long Island
P.S. Stony Brook is a very good school. I know a couple of people from its literature doctorate program. But as a city kid, I take any opportunity to make fun of Long Island, no matter how cheap and/or petty.

Obviously, it is fine to take a different opinion from another. But please do not extrapolate their comments to arrive at something that misrepresents what the other originally said. I reread my post and have absolutely no idea how anyone could take that to think I would want to somehow "disqualify" your school.
I am…

Looked up North Carolina St. There are numerous UNCs, but only one NC State—with the Wolfpack. As for Mississippi State, the only one I could find is the one with the Bulldogs. Any school with a team that is notable for winning an NCAA Tournament or plays football on ESPN every weekend goes in the famous column.

I guessed "philistine" for FJ upon reading it here. Just because "phile." I'd like to think I'd tease out the correct answer with 30 seconds of thinking music. The Philistines were Old Testament. Like, the Ooooold parts of the Old Testament. Then again my dumb, stubborn brain can seize on a "fact" and insist it true…

Any of those community college kids make it to the show? If not, was every single one of them less sharp, telegenic, and/or personable than kids with famous sweatshirts? If truly egalitarian, it hasn't been reflected in the tournament.

Had to look up Wright St because it seemed a tiny bit familiar. Their basketball team is Div I and has been to the tournament twice. I'd like some more schools where the sports are below Div II-A, but Wright is public and not famous. I'd like a few more of those and maybe I'll watch next year.

[I know it's generally improper to copy and repost from yesterday. But I first posted it this afternoon. By then, had to load more comments 3 times to see it. Since this is a sentiment I've strongly felt(except for the online test part) for ~20 years about my favorite show, I am breaking protocol just this once.…

Oh. I'll believe it when I see it. If they are properly and widely using the home tryouts to cast a wider net, then I will watch next year.

Didn't see that short. But just from yesterday's schools, sure, West Point and Virginia may not be Ivy League like Columbia. But they are from well-known and well-regarded schools (with recognizable sweatshirts.) I doubt anyone would regard West Point or Virginia students as "little guys."

I despise the college tourney(but still enjoy your write-up+ensuing discussion). Main reason: They only get contestants from famous colleges. I know it's about ratings and I guess recognizable sweatshirts draw attention. But it hurts the show fans love.

Yeah, the decennial year could be seen as a push in the right direction. I'd still like more, though.

I've gotten 35-43 every year since 08. Ain't got called for nothin'. This is where I go kick rocks.