When Nick Saban announced that the defensive back traditionally called a nickelback would henceforth be labeled a 'STAR', the move seemed less like a strategic adjustment and more like a branding exercise. The writer, Blake Toppmeyer, has long argued that the old term works perfectly well and that swapping it for a buzzword serves only to confuse readers.
Editors who have worked with Toppmeyer know that he reacts sharply to any suggestion of such linguistic tinkering, so they have deliberately avoided inserting the word 'STAR' into his stories. The result is a small but telling victory for clarity over fashion in the world of college‑football reporting.
Cloture and the Senate Agenda
Behind the on‑field chatter, Senator John Thune recently filed cloture on the Protect College Sports Act, a procedural step that forces the Senate to move toward a vote that requires a sixty‑vote supermajority. The bipartisan measure, if it clears the Senate, the House and receives the president’s signature, would impose federal regulations on college athletics, a development that could reshape the sport’s governance.
Having taken the time to look up the obscure Senate procedure, Toppmeyer now intends to steer clear of the word 'cloture' in his future columns, reserving it for moments when legislative drama truly demands attention. He also slipped in a nostalgic reference to the term 'fortnight', recalling a time when gatherings felt more like communal events than fleeting meetings.