* To the surprise of everyone 8 Great Marching Bands brought in almost 2000 readers and fierce debate over its accuracy.

“You’re either insane and/or stupid for not including OSU's band,” an anonymous Buckeye raged. “The Best Damn Band In The Land (or TBDBITL for short).”

“Yeah, I’m not sure HOW you missed out on Ohio State,” wrote another. “TBDBITL!”

Meanwhile, passion for Jacksonville State’s Marching Southerners boiled over, drawing squealing schoolgirls and comparisons to Elvis.

“I have never seen a Marching Band as AMAZING,” one fan wrote. “The first time I saw the Southerners it made me want to be in band so badly that I couldn't stand it.”

“OMG, they are the best college marching band I have ever seen and I was a fan of the opposing team!” came one hysterical confession. “When they march into a stadium, it is like Elvis entering the building! The level of excitement is incredible and well deserved! They are the BEST COLLEGE BAND I have seen!!!!”

Elvis, huh? 
No one at OTR Headquarters has been in a marching band, but comments like that make us think about budgeting a trip to a Jacksonville football game.


* Another surprise fire-starter came in the form of Mrs. Political Pantsuit. Quinnipiac released a poll showing the majority of Americans would much rather enjoy a Memorial Day picnic with Barrack Obama and John McCain than Hillary Clinton.

“Are you serious with this? How completely disgusting can you be?” one reader shrieked.

“Obama is full of himself,” a possible Republican wrote. “I wouldn't want him at any party of mine, not even as the hired help.”

Although the term “NOBAMA!!!!!” appeared repeatedly throughout the comments, one reader offered the following reflection:
 
“I pray that if (and when) Obama gets the Democratic Nomination he does not nominate Hillary as his Vice. She would kill his campaign. The ideal ticket would be Obama Edwards. That would be amazing. Two young, positive, personable, seemingly trustworthy (and i say seemingly not as a negative, just because they havent had a big chance to prove themselves) guys in the White House. When is the last time that happened? Our generations whole adult life has been under this horrid excuse for a president. We don’t even know what it is like to have a real president in office but if Obama wins we soon will.”

Well…
Here’s to hoping!


* THE HABIT enraged Southerners with his road trip headline, “Never Visit Alabama.”

“We have discovered that the south doesn’t believe in coffee,” he wrote with his co-pilot J after a futile search to find a decent cup-o-joe in Montgomery. “Not only is it impossible to find a coffee shop, gas stations and rest areas are void of the caffeinated substance as well. Obviously, Starbucks doesn’t view the South as worthy to be marked by their bare-breasted mermaid logo.”

Scores of people responded, feverishly arguing that Starbucks does in fact exist in the South, and perhaps Yankees should be kept out.

“WTF?” one anonymous Montgumy posted. “You surmised by one trip down one road in Alabama that we suck? That's OK, as soon as I saw Syracuse NY I had my opinion of all New Yorkers too. And yes, we do have some kick ass coffee houses, and Starbucks which I only consider to be a commercial franchise and not a real coffee house.”

Another wrote to brag about enjoying “several fine cups of freshly brewed Tanzinian peaberry coffee,” purchased from a non-SBucks cofee house, and railed against the “fufu crap” blended by “international coffee rip off establishments.”

While most commenters summarized that THE HABIT must have been in an ignorant caffeine slump when he posted his headline, one reader had an entirely different hypothesis:

“I think there's a bit of animosity left over from Auburn kicking that game tying field goal a few years ago in the Sugar bowl against Syracuse.” 

Ahhhh.
An excellent, excellent point.


* OTR introduced a new weekly feature on Thursday, offering readers a peek at the pages of those who spread their legs. Within hours, College Sex Diary #1, the work of a junior from the University of Oregon, had attracted hundreds of readers.

“One time, at SAE, I started drinking jungle juice and then I woke up naked,” a reader confessed.  Meanwhile, OTR’s Editor-In-Chief was flooded with emails about the post.

“She has a boyfriend and NO ORGASMS?!” a horrified Syracuse graduate wrote. “WTF?

“No sex at all?!” came another shocked reply. “What the hell is up with that?”

Other readers seemed more concerned at the author’s lack of sex appeal.
“I didn’t even get aroused,” one griped.
 
“Why does her bf just bone the F out of her?” a friendly sex fiend mused.  “My bf and I go at it like rabbits.  I thought those Oregon hippies liked to get dirrty.”

Never fear sex-crazed readers. Stay tuned for next week as we feature a (what we hope to be) an even juicier story.


* Finally, by far the most attention generated of the week was via Johnny Quest's goodbye post. The much adored, often revered Michigan writer penned his final thought of his school's Greek system, sending thousands of students into post-graduation depression.

“JQ, I love you and I don't know what OTR will do without you!” one reader cried. 

“My greek and gdi friends alike have loved you!” another shouted.  “You have an incredible knack for presenting the truth through entertainment and that's true talent! 

OTR contributors from other schools also offered gratitude.
“You're an inspiration to all of us,” Rutgers CC Miss Darcy wrote. “Controversy is an addiction, and after my first few tastes this month, I don't think I could ever quit. Best of luck in the real world, and keep blogging!” 

The list of compliments was, by anyone's standards, truly impressive:
“Frats suck, thanks for giving me something to laugh at this year. I will miss reading all the comments as they greeks bitch back and forth.”

“You are amazing and always right. :) ”
 
“Thanks JQ for hours of entertainment during lectures! You will be missed!” 

Although not everyone shared the same idolizations (“You are such a tool, but in the end you are one hell-of-a writer.”), several people seemed to agree JQ offered more than just an incredible campus voice: 

“Nice waxed eyebrows,” one reader enthused. “You look HOTT!!”
Another confessed, “I think I have a crush on you...” 

Sexy eyebrows indeed.
JQ, everyone at OTR wishes you the best of luck in your new life. Your work will certainly be missed. 
Until then...