#raphael peruggia

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: MARCH 18-MARCH 24

ONLINE:

“Both the Palmetto State Foxes and the UCLA Bruins came into the third round with momentum: the Foxes dispatched the surging UNLV Rebels in the death match, while the Bruins eliminated the Penn State Lions in a shocking upset. While the Foxes may have gotten the better of the Bruins when these two teams met in the first round, this time it was the Bruins who came out on top—making the case that, after a disappointing first round performance that saw them just narrowly avoiding elimination, they’re here to be taken seriously.”

“‘’It feels great,’ Bruin Joe Carmichael said. ‘The first round is in the past, and we’re playing like we know we can, now.’ But fans who tuned in hoping for a rematch between Carmichael and Fox Louis Granger, after Granger attacked Carmichael in the handshake line after their last meeting—an infraction for which he was disciplined by the ERC—were left disappointed. For his part, Carmichael seemed to want a rematch: ‘I’m not surprised [that he didn’t fight me]. He probably knew he couldn’t win a fair fight, so that’s why he blindsided me last time. That’s pretty cowardly.’ While Fox Coach David Wymack insinuated that Carmichael may have played a role in provoking that altercation, Carmichael flatly denied it. ‘I don’t know what he’s talking about,’ he said. ‘Everyone can watch the video and see for themselves what happened.’”

“In goal, the Foxes were missing their Captain Grant Rollins, sitting out his first game of the year with an MCL injury. Without Rollins on the court, the Foxes’ remaining goalkeepers—junior Emmett Ashford, junior Alis Tan, sophomore Caleb Fournier, and senior Anderson Ford—let in 6 goals total on the way to the Foxes’ 6-4 loss. Notoriously private, Wymack has been tight-lipped about a timetable for Rollins’ return, but with the third round hanging in the balance, the Foxes can only hope that it’ll be very soon.”

“And now Rollins isn’t the only player the Foxes have lost to injury: dealer Raphael Peruggia left the court with an apparent hand injury, and it’s still unknown how much time he’ll be missing. Unlike Rollins, freshman Peruggia hasn’t been a staple of the Foxes’ roster—with several red cards and an ERC-levied suspension during the regular season, he’s been more of a wildcard on the court than an asset.”

“The Foxes get an off week while the Bruins prepare to host the DePaul Blue Demons on Friday night. And then, next week, it’ll be the Foxes’ turn to face the Blue Demons. Afterwards, one team will be eliminated, while the two remaining teams will face each other in a final death match to determine who moves on to the semifinals. And, in that race, the Bruins are already ahead. The Foxes, on the other hand, have ground to make up.” 

“ELSEWHERE IN CLASS I: In the odds bracket, the Edgar Allan Ravens won a blowout victory against the UT Longhorns, with a score of 7-1. The Belmonte Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes, however, were much more evenly matched: the Buckeyes prevailed in the shootout, with a final score of 5-4. Next, the Terrapins will play the Ravens in Nashville, while the Buckeyes will take on the Longhorns in Columbus.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “FOXES’ LUCK TURNS IN REMATCH AGAINST BRUINS.”

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes suffered their second loss of the Championships, but there’s no time for them to get discouraged: they have four points, and they have to be their best against the Blue Demons in two weeks and build on that total, and so there’s no letting up when it comes to their practices.

There’s no game for the Foxes to play on Friday night, but there are games to watch—one in particular, that will help determine the Foxes’ chances of surviving the third round. Tonight, the odds bracket is just a distraction; tonight, it’s all about the Bruins and the Blue Demons.

With the Bruins and the Blue Demons playing in Los Angeles, first serve isn’t until late. This time, their watch party is in the Vixen Den and, before the game starts, it’s just like an ordinary party—until the TV is turned on and the music is turned off, the Foxes and the Vixens gathering round and keeping careful tally of the points each team scores.

At the end of the night, the Blue Demons have defeated the Bruins 5-3. The Bruins have their final point total for the third round: 9, which will be the number to beat. The Blue Demons, on the other hand, are coming into a make-or-break game against the Foxes with a slight edge, with 5 points to the Foxes’ 4. 

[octavia-dawson]

Location: On route to Mukilteo via Whibdey Island (Washington state) Date: Thanksgiving Break  Status: @raph-peruggia

This was home. Maybe. Sort of. It was a home, one of many Octavia claimed as her life was built on being shipped from place to place. MIlitary brats had many homes, ranking them from best to worst. For Octavia, Whibdey Island was close to the top of most important. She found her first enemies in the states. People who would be furious to hear of her return. At least the island was hours away from Walla, Walla allowing her to avoid the past and focus on the here and now.

At least this gave her time apart from the Foxes and the mind-numbing practices. A reprieve from butting heads that was short-lived. Now she could wake up on her time and go to bed on her time. But Octavia couldn’t forget that one Fox did tag along with her for a Dawson Thanksgiving. She didn’t hide her surprise when Raph accepted her parents’ offering of coming home with her to celebrate good ole fashion food courtesy of family recipes from both sides. 

Now she had a buffer between herself and her parents. A buffer who was getting major points just for being more put together than most of her friends. “I know I said it on the plane and when we got in the taxi and also on the ferry going to the island, but once again and hopefully last time...welcome to Washington!” Hands high and fingers wiggling, Octavia showcased the state the best way she knew how. “We’re close to Mukilteo. It’s quite the spot. Small, but not too small so it’s just perfect for us to try out some pickpocketing. Plus you gotta love the ocean air or sea air. You can pick whatever term you like.” 

[raph-peruggia]

Raphael Peruggia ✉️ Sterling Walsh👊

Raph: Do you want to fight?

[olatokunbo]

What’s so special about the Mona Lisa? Every day, thousands of people from around the world crowd into a stark, beige room at Paris’s Louvre Museum to view its single mounted artwork, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. To do so, they walk straight past countless masterpieces of the European Renaissance. So why does the Mona Lisa seem so special? The mystery of her identity Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, oil on poplar wood, c. 1503–06?, 77 x 33 cm, inv. 779. Musée du Louvre, Paris. Wikimedia. The story told by one of Leonardo’s first biographers, Giorgio Vasari, is that this oil portrait depicts Lisa Gherardini, second wife of a wealthy silk and wool merchant Francesco del Giocondo (hence the name by which it is known in Italian: La Gioconda). Leonardo likely commenced the work while in Florence in the early 1500s, perhaps when he was hoping to receive the commission to take on a massive wall painting of The Battle of Anghiari. Accepting a portrait commission from one of the city’s most influential, politically-engaged citizens might well have helped his chances. A recently discovered marginal note by Agostino Vespucci, one-time assistant to the diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, records that Leonardo was working on a painting of “Lisa del Giocondo” in 1503. Agostino Vespucci, Handwritten comment about the Mona Lisa in Cicero’s Epistolae ad familiares (Bologna 1477), Bl. 11a, held in Heidelberg, University Library, D 7620 qt. Heidelberg University The Italian painter Raphael, a great admirer of Leonardo, leaves us a sketch from around 1505-6 of what seems to be this work. When Leonardo later moved to France in 1516, he took this still unfinished work with him. However, art scholars have increasingly voiced doubts about whether the image in the Louvre can indeed be Vasari’s Lisa, for the style and techniques of the painting match far better Leonardo’s later work from 1510 onwards. Additionally, a visitor to Leonardo’s house in 1517 recorded seeing there a portrait of “a certain Florentine woman, done from life,” made “at the instance of the late magnificent Giuliano de Medici.” Medici was Leonardo’s patron in Rome from 1513 to 1516. Was our visitor looking at the same image Vasari and our marginal diarist describe as Lisa, or another portrait of a different woman, commissioned later? All in all, just who we are seeing in the Louvre remains one of the work’s many mysteries. A portrait stripped bare In comparison to many contemporary images of the elite, this portrait is stripped of the usual trappings of high status or symbolic hints to the sitter’s dynastic heritage. All attention is thus drawn to her face, and that enigmatic expression. Before the 18th century, emotion was more commonly articulated in painting through gestures of the hand and body than the face. But in any case, depictions of individuals did not aim to convey the same kinds of emotions we might look for in a portrait photograph today — think courage or humility rather than joy or happiness. Additionally, a hallmark of elite status was one’s ability to keep the passions under good regulation. Irrespective of dental hygiene standards, a broad smile in artworks thus generally indicated ill-breeding or mockery, as we see in Leonardo’s own study of Five Grotesque Heads. Leonardo da Vinci, Grotesque Heads, c. 1490s, pen, Royal Library, Windsor. Wikimedia Our modern ideas about emotions leave us wondering just what Mona Lisa might have been feeling or thinking much more than the work’s early modern viewers likely did. A 20th century phenomenon In fact, there is a real question as to whether anyone before the 20th century thought much about the Mona Lisa at all. The historian Donald Sassoon has argued that much of the painting’s modern global iconic status rests on its widespread reproduction and use in all manner of advertising. This notoriety was “helped” by its theft in 1911 by former Louvre employee, Vincenzo Peruggia. He remarkably walked out of the museum one evening after closing time with the painting wrapped in his smock coat. He spent the next two years with it hidden in his lodgings.

[emmett-ashford]

Location: Statesboro Press Duty Date: November 16 Time: 9:32 p.m. (CLOSED for @raph-peruggia​)

Emmett’s been on a handful of press duties before. He’s been with the Foxes for three years, it’s the only real downside to the team really. He doesn’t hate being picked for it but he doesn’t go out of his way to go either. Reporters are weird and every time he wraps up a session he leaves feeling tongue tied. Not to mention he usually ends up looking foolish too. It’s not so bad if he gets teamed up with someone eloquent but when Wymack taps and and Raph out Emmett knows he’s in for a rough session. Maybe if he keeps it short things will all right. Maybe Raph is an eloquent soul in front of people with notepads and microphones. Who knows. He nods, smiles and stands up front he couch and motions Raph over. “The sooner we get this over with the better, huh?” His smile is wide, maybe a little wider than normal. He doesn’t want Raph to know that he’s all that nervous.

He pushes open the door with his shoulder, the din of the small space an all its people a little overwhelming. If his dad can charm people he can too. He takes his spot in the middle of the room with a big smile on his face. He’s got no reason to be in a bad mood. They won and he’d played what was probably the best game of his career tonight. Even if it was against a team no one was worried about. “Hi. Hello. Good evening. Killer game wasn’t it? The Eagles did a great job for their first year as a Class I team. Just have to work on that temper.” He laughs. Tensions always ran high on the court, fighting happens,  God knows Emmett knows this, he’s on the Foxes after all.

His arms are crossed as he settles into a more comfortable stance. He nods to the gathered crowd and the first reporter of the evening gets the ball rolling. “Raphael, we were wondering how it felt to get back on the court again after your long stint on the bench for violence this season. How’d it feel to get back out there?”

[rollinsgrant]

Location: Outside of the gym Date: Sept 17th Time: 8:15am (closed to @raph-peruggia​​)

Practice was only over for a few short minutes before Grant found his way over to Raph, arms preemptively crossed, scowl already in place. Raph was new, and that meant Grant might’ve cut him a minute amount of slack for a red card—but there was a world of difference between a red card and giving someone a concussion. Raph had played dirty, gone for the throat like so many of their opponents did, and Grant was furious. 

Exy, for Grant, was something special—more than a game, more than a simple sport. He wanted desperately to win, but he wanted to do it the right way. Victories would be meaningless if they were achieved with underhanded tactics. Grant dreamed of teams like the Trojans, who played clean, played well, and saw each game as a genuine challenge, a chance to play Exy at their finest. There was something beautiful about that. Pushing yourself to your limits, growing and changing, proving to yourself and to everyone else just how far you could go. 

But there was nothing remotely acceptable about injuring an opponent so badly they were out of the game for a month. That wasn’t playing Exy, that was brawling, and it wasn’t the type of team the Foxes were. Grant wouldn’t allow it.

“Raphael,” he said, jogging in front of the dealer to cut him off before he could go too far from practice. “We need to talk about what happened with you and Travis Lott.”

[travel-rdm]

Tour to Uffizi Gallery

Welcoming million of visitors every year, Uffizi Gallery is the most visited museum in Italy which covers the inestimable art works of 5 centuries. Gallery was official opened to public in 1769.

Cosimo l de' Medici was the person behind this beautiful art gallery but Uffizi was intended to designed and built as the judiciary and administrative offices in Florence in 1560. Initially it was designed by Giorgio Vasari and after his death in 1574, the project was taken by another acclaimed artist Bernardo Buontalenti. 

General Information

During summers we suggest you to book tickets in advance to avoid long standing lines.

Selfie Sticks and tripods are prohibited within the museum area but you can take camera for photos.

Uffizi Gallery Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

When to go?

During summers it is full of crowd from morning to evening and avoid visiting Uffizi on Tuesday morning as you can get heavy rush.

Visiting Uffizi on Wednesday or Thursday at 8:15 AM is very preferable as you will get less crowd compare to other days.

Best time to visit Uffizi is from November to February (during winters). May and June are the most busiest months to visit.

Timing for Uffizi Gallery

8:15 AM – 6:50 PM : Tuesday to Sunday

Museum starts closing down at 6:35 pm. 

Monday is closed through out the year.

Entrance to Uffizi Gallery

Ticket is required to enter in museum except on first Sunday of the every month, Its is free for everyone one.

 Uffizi Gallery Tickets:

Ticket office shut down at 6:05 pm

It is the most visited museum in Italy so we would recommend you to Book Tickets in advance and get rid of long standing lines.

There are 3 types of tickets available for Uffizi Gallery Museum:

Regular Ticket: 

Non European Citizens: 18 and above years of age

European Citizen: 25 and above years of age

Reduced Tickets:

Local Citizen: 18 to 25 years of age 

Teacher from European Public Institute with valid proof.

Free Tickets:

Minors under 18 years of age

Certified Physical handicap/ disabled persons

Journalist with valid ID proof

International Council of Museum Members

On purchasing Firenze Card, users can skip the line and directly enter into the museums without reservation. Firenze Card is valid for 72 hours and really worth during season time or during crowded day.

Uffizi Gallery Tours: 

Guided Tour is the perfect option for those who have limited time to spent and want to explore everything in museum.

You can book Uffizi Gallery Tour in advance from online website or from local travel agency located near Museums. Booking online tour guide is very helpful and affordable as compare to book tour from local travel agencies.

Guided Tour will last for 90 minutes and you can stay in museum as long as you want after finishing the tour.

Guided Tours are available in several languages including English, Italian, Spanish, French, German and Japanese.

Some Facts about Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery was opened to public in 1769.

Most of the art collection in Uffizi Gallery are left by Medici Family to the Tuscan state in 1743 and it was stipulated that it had to be remain in Tuscany, particularly in Florence. 

Uffizi Gallery holds the large portion of Medici Family art collection.

Museum was designed in a U-shape and in between there is a narrow courtyard between the two sides.

Waiting time to get into the museum can be 4 to 5 hours long during summers or season time.

You can enjoy watching work of famous artists which includes Botticelli, Rembrandt, Rubens, Parmigianino, Caravaggio, Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Titian, Uccello, Lorenzetti, Cosimo, Duccio and Giotto.

Uffizi Gallery has been affected by numbers of floods over the years and still it is the most visited museum in Italy.

During car bomb in 1993 outside Uffizi Gallery, 3 paintings were permanently damaged.

In 1911, famous Mona Lisa painting was stolen from the Paris. It was the thief Vincenzo Peruggia who was caught when heattempted to sell it. And it was recovered from the thief and temporarily hung at the Uffizi Gallery until it was returned to the Louvre.

[tfcrp]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, DEL!

Thank you for everything you contribute to TFC!

@raph-peruggia

XOXO, Admin X

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: FEBRUARY 18-FEBRUARY 24

ONLINE:

“Both the Palmetto State Foxes and the UCLA Bruins entered into the last game of the first round of the Championships with their seasons on the line. In the end, the Foxes, down dealers Raphael Peruggia and Sasha Hart-Ashby due to red cards in the Foxes’ previous game, emerged victorious in the shootout, sending them on to the death matches for the second year in a row.”

“But, despite the must-win game, the real fireworks seems to happen off the court. The first came when the stars of Exy TV show ‘On The Line’ showed up to watch the game—and cheer on their former co-star, Fox striker Akira Sato. ‘Gotta make sure our boy out there gets them into the finals, you know?’ Actor Trevor Moeller said, ahead of the Foxes’ shootout victory.”

“But that victory was immediately soured by a vicious fight in the handshake line between Fox Louis Granger and Bruin Joe Carmichael, instigated by Granger. ‘It’s poor sportsmanship, plain and simple,’ Bruins Coach Ted Dunlop said. ‘It’s outrageous. Any team should be ashamed to have their players conduct themselves that way.’ Fox Coach David Wymack, however, disagreed with Dunlop: ‘That Bruins player knows what he did, though it sounds like his coach doesn’t. That’s all I’ll say.’ The ERC had its own say, stepping into deliver Granger a one game suspension.”

“While one game may be light, with the Foxes securing their spot in the death matches, there’s a chance that one game is all they have left—it is, after all, where the Foxes fell last year, after a years-long championships drought. Meanwhile, despite their shootout loss, the Bruins managed to scrape their way into the death matches, as the UC Davis Aggies and the Baylor University Bears saw themselves eliminated.” 

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “SECOND SHOOTOUT WIN FOR FOXES IN DEATH MATCH CLINCHING GAME”

“After a slow start to the Championships that saw the Washington State Cougars, the Boston Terriers, the UC Davis Aggies, and the Baylor University Bears eliminated, it’s time for the Championships to kick into high gear with the first set of death matches: a series of winner-takes-all games where the remaining field will be cut in half.”

“In the evens bracket, the Palmetto State Foxes will be facing off against the surging UNLV Rebels in Sin City. The Foxes, after a four game win streak to secure their spot in the Championships, limped into the death matches with two shootout victories, while the Rebels got off to a commanding start, winning all three of their first round games, including against the Penn State Lions. Also in the evens bracket, the Lions will be facing off against the surviving UCLA Bruins, and the Breckenridge Jackals will be facing off against the DePaul Blue Demons.”

“But the biggest shock of the randomly-assigned death matches is taking place in the odds bracket: where the USC Trojans, last year’s Champions, will be facing off against the Edgar Allan Ravens, the team they beat in last year’s finals. Many expected these two teams to meet again in this year’s finals, but that won’t happen: next Friday, one of them will be eliminated. 

After years of Trojans-Ravens (and, in previous years, the Lions) domination in the odds bracket, the door is open for another team: will it be the Ohio State Buckeyes, who hope to rebound after a slow start in their game against the Arizona Sundevils? Or will it be the UT Longhorns, who will be facing off against the Binghampton Bearcats? Or maybe the Idaho Vandals, in their first Championships appearance in history, who will be taking on the Belmonte Terrapins? It all starts next Friday night.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “FIRST ROUND OF DEATH MATCHES REVEALED”

“Well, you don’t need us to tell you what the Foxes were up to this weekend—you have Hollywood tabloids to do it for you, thanks to the Foxes’ resident washed-up star. But we’re going to do it anyway: we thought that he didn’t like the limelight, but between the Foxes’ night out in LA and his convention appearance earlier this year, we think this Hollywood reject doth protest too much. And who is that with him? Why, none other than the Foxes’ Captain. It’s not the first time these two have looked cozy away from the crowds and, you know what they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

“Seems like love was in the air for some of the Foxes this week—or, well, something like it. We spotted a certain redheaded Vixen with a new victim at the Foxes’ party on Saturday. Who, you might ask? We can’t blame you if you’re having trouble keeping up. But don’t worry, Valentine’s Day or not, we wouldn’t put any money on this lasting.”

“If you’re looking for some light listening, may we interest you in a podcast? (And by light, we mean…about murder, of course.) The Foxes are getting attention off of the Exy court for all the wrong reasons, as usual, and if you don’t remember this Fox standing up at a press conference and reminding us all that he killed his mother, well, this latest series of First Degree just might jog your memory. But there’s a plot twist: did he really do it? Color us intrigued, and mark us down as loyal listeners.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes return to Palmetto victorious—and to a campus that seems willing, now that the team is actually doing well and football season is over, to jump on the bandwagon, decorating the campus in even more orange than usual and hanging the Foxes’ posters around town.

But the Foxes don’t have time to worry about that—they might have two weeks before the death match, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to ease off of the throttle. Their focuses remain focused and intense, with an added emphasis on video review: they know they’re going up against the Rebels, who have been a surprise force in the Championships so far, and they know they’ll only have one chance to stop them in their tracks—and one chance to make sure they go further in the Championships this year than they did last year. 

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: FEBRUARY 4-FEBRUARY 10

ONLINE:

“The Breckenridge Jackals will be moving on to the first round of death matches, after defeating the Foxes 5-3, and proving that they may be the team to beat in the evens bracket.”

“But the real story is the Foxes: the Foxes are now one loss away from ending their comeback season. The game against the Jackals brought out the worst in the Foxes, revealing again the lack of discipline that derailed their early season. Three Foxes earned red cards: offensive dealers Sasha Hart-Ashby and Raphael Peruggia, and backliner Beretta Lepore. Hart-Ashby is well known for her fights on the court, and Peruggia—though only a freshman—has already earned a reputation as a dangerous player with a penchant for headshots.”

“But maybe the Foxes shouldn’t be counted out just yet: before the red card to Lepore and subsequent penalty shot, a late goal from sophomore Akira Sato seemed to put the Foxes on their way to closing the gap and tying the game. Either way, the Foxes will head into a must-win game against the UCLA Bruins down three players—and the Bruins, who will also be fighting for their life in the Championships, aren’t going to make it easy on them.”  

“ELSEWHERE IN CLASS I: Other teams have also punched their ticket into the death matches, including the reigning Champion USC Trojans and the perennial favorite Edgar Allan Ravens. But after a surprise loss to the surging UNLV Rebels, who have earned their spot in the death matches, the Penn State Lions are still one win away. After their early loss to start off the Championships, the Ohio State Buckeyes are in the same boat.“

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “JACKALS DEFEAT FOXES TO MOVE ON TO DEATH MATCHES.”

“Did anyone order a soap opera alongside their Exy game? Because we definitely got one from two Fox backliners during Friday’s game. Are these two an item? If so, we’re feeling generous, so we’ll give out some free advice: if you can’t stand watching your girlfriend get shoved around, don’t date an Exy player. Chivalry is dead, and we’re pretty sure she signed up for this.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

After the weekend, the cold rain moves out from Palmetto, but the dampened spirits on campus remain. The Foxes have no choice but to try and put their loss to the Jackals behind them: they have one week off before they face the Bruins and seal their fate, and their practices are at a fever pitch.

But while the evens bracket is taking a week off, the odds bracket is playing their final games of the first round: on Friday, February 8, the Foxes that want to catch a glimpse of the rivals they may get a chance to face if they move far enough in the Championships gather in the lounge of the Foxhole Court to flip between the evening’s games.

At the end of the night, the Belmonte Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes, among others, have secured their spots in the death matches. And, as the teams with the fewest wins, the Washington State Cougars and the Boston Terriers have been eliminated, both failing to win a single first round game.

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: FEBRUARY 11-FEBRUARY 17

ONLINE:

“The Palmetto State Foxes are heading back to California to play the UCLA Bruins, in what will be the last game of the first round of the Championships for both teams.”

“With one win each under their belts, the Foxes and the Bruins are both playing for their lives: the winner will move on to the Championships’ first set of death matches, while the loser will almost certainly be eliminated—unless two other teams in the evens bracket end up with an even worse record.” 

“Who’s favored to win? Prior to the Foxes’ disastrous turn against the Breckenridge Jackals, they appeared to be on an upswing. However, the Foxes earned themselves a whopping three red cards in that 5-3 loss, meaning that they’re heading into this do-or-die game down dealers Sasha Hart-Ashby and Raphael Peruggia, as well as backliner Beretta Lepore.” 

“The Bruins, on the other hand, are coming off of a decisive 4-1 win against the UC Davis Aggies. Are they peaking at just the right time, or can the Foxes prove that their apparent return to form against the Jackals was just one stumble in a much longer Championships story? We’ll find out on Friday night.”

“ELSEWHERE IN CLASS I: With the odds bracket idle this week, all eyes are on the teams in the evens bracket, and on these last few games to determine who will be moving on to the death matches. Among the teams still one win away are the Penn State Lions, who first fell from their previous spot atop the Northeastern District, and now are on the brink of falling out of the Championships entirely.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW: FOXES vs. BRUINS”

“We ask this question about once a day, but it continues to be relevant: what crawled up this Fox’s ass? Now we don’t want to seem like we care about this school’s stickball team more than its own players do, but it seems like it might not be the best time to be throwing a temper tantrum—and, from what we hear, his coach agrees. Watch out little Fox, it looks like you’re on thin ice.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

With such an important game looming on the horizon, it isn’t the time to go all-out for Valentine’s Day. But, not to be deterred, the Vixens make a compromise: there will be a party on Saturday night after the Foxes return—win or lose, no exceptions. Until then, Alanna is organizing anonymous candygrams between the Foxes and the Vixens, to be delivered before they leave for California.

On Friday, February 15, a month after the Foxes first went to California to kick off the Championships, they’re doing it again. They gather early in the morning at the Foxhole Court and then make their way to Upstate Regional Airport. It’s another long travel day: eight hours total, including a layover in Dallas, before they land in Los Angeles, gather up their gear, and fight their way through traffic to make it to their hotel.

This time, the Foxes are getting an earlier start: first serve is at 5PM, better for the crowds tuning in back on the East Coast, leaving the Foxes with less time to adjust prior to heading to the Bruins’ court—and to the game that will decide whether or not they’re moving on, or ending their season early.

(OOC information related to the game (and to Valentine’s Day!) under the cut)

If you would like to participate in some anonymous Valentine’s Day action, all you have to do is:

Send the main an ask with the message you want to send and who you want to send it to (ex: To Leo: I like ur butt) and I’ll take it from there!

Valentines will be posted anonymously throughout the update, but unlike Secret Santa, there won’t be any reveals—so everyone gets to keep their secrets if they want to!

If you have any questions, please feel free to send them my way! 

The results of the game against the Bruins will be posted on Friday night and, in order to put it together, there are a few things I need from you:

Due to the size of the roster, there is a chance that not every player will get to play in every game, so if you want your character not to play in the game (for reasons that could be related to being late to practice, poor performance in practice, mouthing off to Wymack/Grant/Claudia, or any other reason you can think of!) please let me know. With the current size of our roster and red cards from last game, I don’t need anyone to sit out this game! 

If there’s anything exceptional you want to take place during the game (fights, red cards, injuries, exceptionally poor play, etc.) please let me know, and I’ll do my best to work it in. This will work on a first-come-first-serve basis, if the game is getting too packed with details, you might have to wait for the next one;

After each game, two players will be selected to answer questions from the press. If you want to volunteer your character for press duty, please message me! This will also be on a first-come-first-serve basis. And if you volunteer for press duty, please only do so if you expect to be able to play out the thread with your partner in a timely fashion. And remember, we’re now at a reset! If you’ve done press duty before Championships, feel free to volunteer again, though priority will go to people who have not yet had the opportunity.

Remember, you only have to reach out to me if there’s something very specific you want me to work in!

And, as always, I welcome any feedback!

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: JANUARY 21-JANUARY 27

ONLINE:

“The first game of the Championships for the Palmetto State Foxes and the UC Davis Aggies was a nail-biter: with only two goals scored by either side in regulation, it went to the shootout, where after a strong showing in goal by Fox Captain Grant Rollins and a game winning goal by Carter Maddox—both fifth years—the Foxes eked out their first victory of this year’s Championships. The game might have been short on goals, but it definitely wasn’t short on hits, with both teams bringing their best physical play. And after a hard-hitting game from both teams, one thing is for certain: the Championships have definitely begun—and it’s only going to get rougher from here.”

“Early in the game, the Aggies—already down their leading goal scorer Marisa Bowers—lost another striker, fifth year Jacob Wilder, who had to be helped off the court after a hit from senior backliner Sterling Walsh. In the second half, former Penn State Lion and dealer Olivia Finch had to leave the court after a trip from Aggies dealer Katelyn Wilkins left her bleeding from a cut to the chin. Walsh wasn’t assessed a penalty on the play, but Wilkins was given a yellow card. Wilkins’ yellow card was the only one for the Aggies for the night, but both Carter Maddox and Sasha Hart-Ashby had yellow cards for the Foxes.”

“The injury to Finch was minor, and we expect to see her back on the court next game. Wilder, however, isn’t as lucky. While the Aggies haven’t shared the exact nature of his injury, he’s done for the season—however long that may be for the Aggies. And for a team that’s already down their best striker, it’s a devastating blow. “’Do we wish there had been a penalty called on that play? Yeah, sure,’ said Aggies Captain Cadence Huffman. ‘But the refs didn’t think it was a penalty, and maybe they’re right, so what can you do? We tried our best to keep fighting, but it just didn’t go our way tonight.‘”

“With their shootout victory, the Foxes are halfway to securing their place in the second round: they’ll attempt to lock it in with a victory against the Breckenridge Jackals in two weeks—an opponent they’re already fallen to once this season—while the Aggies will look to stay alive against their home state rivals, the UCLA Bruins.”

“Elsewhere in Class I:  The Ravens, the Trojans, and the Lions all secured their first wins of the Championships, but the Ohio State Buckeyes got off to a rough start, losing to the Belmonte Terrapins—leaving them with a lot of ground to make up after their first first-place finish in their district.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “FOXES CLINCH FIRST CHAMPIONSHIPS VICTORY IN SHOOTOUT.”

“We don’t know who caught the Exy game on Friday, but we have to say the unexpected star of the night was not a Fox, or even an Aggie: it was this dad (?) and his prime dad-antics right in the front row. Will whoever this man belongs to please come collect him? We’re cringing, but we’re also confused—we didn’t think this team had enough parents to go around.”

“If there’s one thing we learned this weekend it’s that Davis, California is rather—quaint. And by quaint we mean full of barnyard animals for one country boy to break in and visit on some kind of romantic excursion. Does a petting zoo put you in the mood for some heavy petting?  We’d say we aren’t judging, but we totally are.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes return to Palmetto victorious, and to a campus that is more than ready for Championships season. But that has less to do with the Foxes—though they’re getting a tentative embrace—and more to do with football: on Saturday, January 26, the football team will play their first playoffs game in front of a massive stadium crowd.

The fervor can be felt all week: on Thursday, January 24 there’s a pep rally that draws in almost the entire orange-clad campus—and this time, the Foxes are part of it, though all they have to do is wave to the crowd when their name and number is called. It’s much more demanding for the Vixens, who have once again been thrown into practices with the football cheerleaders in preparation.

But Palmetto Unity didn’t end last semester, and Wymack breaks the news to the Foxes after the pep rally: the University is paying for the Foxes and the Vixens to go the football game in Charlotte, North Carolina—and no one is getting out of it.

So on Saturday, the Foxes load onto their familiar buses for an unfamiliar purpose and make the drive to Charlotte. At the game, the Vixens are on the field, waving their pom-poms on the sidelines during play, though they’re left behind when it comes time for the football squad’s high-flying halftime performance. The Foxes have prime seats in the stands, and expected to smile and look engaged whenever the cameras are turned on them. 

(OOC information related to the football game under the cut)

Hey Foxes!  We’re going to do something a little different this time:

To keep the suspense flowing, the outcome of the football game won’t be posted until later in the update, so keep your eyes out for it! Until then, anything surrounding the pep rally, the trip to Charlotte, and the Foxes watching the game is fair game for threads, as long as you don’t presume the outcome!

And let me know if you have any questions!

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT + GUIDE TO TROUBLED BIRDS (2 of 2)

@striker-brayden, @raph-peruggia, @mccraysydney, @ripleyvansant, @tfcrp

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: DECEMBER 17-DECEMBER 23

ONLINE:

“Are you all studying? We certainly are—if by ‘studying,’ you mean ‘studying various Exy players’ social media for clues about what went down at the Winter Banquet.’ And, lucky for you, when it comes to gossip we always get an A-plus.”

“There were so many Fox-Fox and Fox-Vixen couples that we can’t keep track, but you let us know, who were you surprised to see together? We might have said our favorite recurring soap opera, if only it had a happy ending—but judging by the tears on this Vixen’s face, happily ever after isn’t in the cards.” 

“And another Vixen, caught looking mighty ragged in the lobby of the Foxes’ hotel, might have fallen flat on their face as well—though at least this time it wasn’t in front of a screaming crowd. What’s the matter? Did your date not go well? There’s more dirt here, we just know it.”

“But while some people cry, others throw punches—or, at least, they come close. We’re not surprised there’s no love lost here, but we’re kind of disappointed in the lack of follow-through. There was one Fox involved who’s known more for breaking heads than having a cool one. We think he picked the wrong time to turn over a new leaf.” 

“But, don’t fret, punches were definitely thrown at the banquet—they were just friendly fire, one Fox goalkeeper taking a Vixen down. You couldn’t have settled this one behind closed doors? We don’t know why we bother asking: we should know by now that Foxes—and Vixens—will always choose the messiest and most embarrassing path. Why would we ever expect anything different?”

“So what’s the tally? Tears? Check. Punches? Check. Why not go for the trifecta and add in a drunken family reunion? We thought that was what Christmas was for, but I guess Christmas came early for one Fox, who was spotted outside of Castle Evermore with his brother, looking none too steady.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes return to Palmetto just as finals fervor really sets in across campus: and the Foxes, even with their lighter courseload and five-year path to graduation, aren’t immune—they still have to maintain their grades to maintain their spot on the team. For the Vixens, who don’t have the same five-year luxury, their study schedules are even more jam-packed.

 As students wrap up their finals, the campus begins to thin out for the upcoming break, but the Foxes and the Vixens have time for one last party: their holiday party, and the exchange of Secret Santa gifts. The Vixens decorate the Den in between finals in string lights and paper snowflakes, a Christmas tree with ornaments for the Vixens that will stay over break, ready for the party on Friday, December 21, with Christmas cookies provided and ugly sweaters encouraged.

For some of the Foxes, and some of the Vixens, it might be the closest they get to Christmas: while campus will close over the weekend and the rest of the students will leave, Wymack has received special permission from the school for any Foxes who want to to stay in Fox Tower over break.

(Stay tuned for Secret Santa gifts!)

[tfcrp]

THE FOXHOLE COURT: DECEMBER 24-JANUARY 6

ONLINE:

“With the regular season coming to a close and weeks standing between us and the start of the Spring Championships, it’s time to take a look back at the road our eighteen qualifying teams took to get here. And today we’re taking a look at the Palmetto State Foxes.” 

“The Foxes’ season was one of highs—namely, qualifying for the Championships for the second straight season for the first time in recent memory—but also some brutal lows. Their devastating 6-2 opening night loss to the Jackals stands out, as well as their doomed 5-1 effort against the Ravens, which saw injuries to both Akira Sato and Leo Duarte, sidelining them for part of the season.”  

“Starting the season, all eyes were on new transfers Casey Hendrix, a former Ohio State Buckeye, and Olivia Finch, a former Penn State Lion. While some might say the added star power helped propel the Foxes to the Championships, the truth may be a little more mixed: Finch was never a dominant player on the Lions; and a suspension for substance abuse while at Ohio State casts doubt on Hendrix’s past greatness. Will they make an impact for the Foxes in the Championships—especially Hendrix, who will be coming back to the court after sustaining a concussion in the Foxes’ last game of the regular season? We’ll have to wait and see.”

“With the Foxes in the Championships for the second year in a row, all eyes will be on Captain Grant Rollins, as well, who is playing his last season as a Fox. Other Foxes getting their last shot at the Championships are strikers Carter Maddox and Neel Avery, both high-scorers for the Foxes during the regular season.”

“But, of course, the Foxes’ real standout player was one who stood out for the wrong reasons: freshman dealer Raphael Peruggia, who earned the attention of the ERC and supplemental discipline with two controversial hits, one to Ravens player Max Delacruz and one to Terrapins player Travis Lott. Both players will be back on their teams’ rosters for the Championships, playing in the odds bracket, and if they match up with the Foxes, might be out for revenge—if the Foxes make it that far. Which, in a stacked evens bracket that contains the Jackals, the Lions, and the upstart Rebels, we’re not sure they will.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “REGULAR SEASON REVIEW: FOXES.”

“Well, Palmetto, it’s been quite the semester. After working hard day and night to bring you the latest news of who’s kissing who, who’s punching who, and who’s just being a straight-up trainwreck, we’re heading back to our far-flung homes for some much needed R&R. Enjoy your little reprieve, because we’ll be back with a vengeance come January. What is it they say this time of year? You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, we’re telling you why....? ‘Til next year, Foxes.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

With finals over and campus closed, Palmetto becomes a ghost town: the dorms are closed, the library is closed, the dining halls are closed—by special permission, only the Foxes are allowed to stay in Fox Tower. The Vixens, who live in an off-campus house, are also exempt from having to leave town if they don’t want to.

For those who stayed and still want to celebrate the holiday, there are gatherings at Abby’s house on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with a real Christmas tree and more than enough food for the Foxes to take leftovers back to Fox Tower for the rest of the break ahead.  

And, while the rest of campus might be closed, when Coach Wymack and the Foxes are around, the Foxhole Court never is. And while Grant Rollins might not be in town, he’s not letting that stop him from making sure the Foxes that remain in Palmetto are taking full advantage of the court to prepare for the Championships ahead.

On New Years Eve, the remaining Foxes and Vixens leave quiet Palmetto behind for busier Columbia, and the Foxes’ favorite haunt of Eden’s Twilight—where they know that, despite the crowds, they’ll have a guaranteed in, even for the underage among them.

For two weeks, the Foxes have the run of Palmetto’s campus, but students begin to return on Saturday, January 5, the campus slowly coming to life again for the start of a new semester—and, for the Foxes, the beginning of the Championships, as they wait for the ERC to announce the matchups for the first round. 

(OOC information related to winter break under the cut)

First off, we’ve made it to Winter Break, and the conclusion of our first semester! (And to one year!) Congratulations, everybody!

As you can see, this one update contains both weeks of the Foxes’ break, but to minimize the time that everyone’s apart, this will be the length of a regular update in real time (so, around two weeks) so please plan accordingly!

Additionally, remember that even if your character has left Palmetto for the holidays, you still have to meet activity requirements with written threads, and not just self paras or text messages. To that end, please feel free to set threads in the previous update from before your character left, or this update does contain the weekend when everyone will begin to return before the start of the next semester!

And if you have any questions, please let me know!

[tfcrp]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, RAPHAEL PERUGGIA!

Yer a wizard, Raphael!

FROM, YOUR SECRET SANTA