Welcome to a new College Candy feature: The Rival Rundown! We’re taking a look at the oldest, fiercest, and even funniest rivalries between colleges and universities all over the country. We’re going to be examining everything from mascots to mess halls to the most obnoxious traditions, all with the intent of determining which schools are ballin’ out of control.

And if you’ve always wanted to give props to your school on CC, now’s your chance! Shoot us an email explaining what’s awesome and unique about your school (or what stinks about Rival U) at rivalrundown@collegecandy.com!

This week, we focus on one of the most intense rivalries in all of sports. Only eight miles (and immeasurable animosity) separate the campuses of UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. Both are excellent schools with terrific athletic traditions. Between two seemingly similar schools, who will win the Battle of the Blues?

1. Mascot Matchup

UNC- The Tar Heels take their nickname from a reported exchange between Civil War soldiers about Carolina’s fidelity to the Confederate cause.
Duke- The Blue Devils got their name from an homage to French soldiers during WWI, Les Diables Bleus.

Three credits to: Duke. Though both nicknames have military origins, the Confederates eventually lost and the French were among the Great War’s victors. Way to pick a winner, Duke. Read More »

I’ve always appreciated the phrase “no offense but (insert ANYTHING!)” for it’s ability to take away all offense to the next part of the statement. I went through about a thirteen year phrase where I truly believed that saying “no offense, but” before I said the most heinous thing possible would make it impossible for the person to be mad at me.

Needless to say I lost a few (all) friends over this phase.

As the time starts to tick down at school I’m not only getting increasingly nostalgic (remember that hilarious time I fell on the ice and broke my tailbone!??!) but also increasingly eager to dole out some honesty before certain people go out to the real world. Hence I started the first official Honesty Month at Syracuse. It’s an entire month of “no offense but.” I know, fabulous idea right? Read More »

I’m a Michigan fan to my core, but hard as I tried to root for anyone but Michigan State in Final Four, I couldn’t control my yelps/fist pumps as those Spartans sunk basket after basket. And I couldn’t fight the desire to head downtown to Detroit to celebrate after the fact. I felt like I was in the twilight zone – rooting for State AND hanging out in Detroit?

What a strange, strange day.

And it was awesome. There were hot basketball fans all over the city and despite the $200 I lost playing blackjack at the Detroit casino (I was sitting next to a really cute UNC fan and didn’t want to get up….) the entire evening was really quite fun.

And now it is the moment of reckoning (for college basketball…not T.I.): the NCAA basketball final is here. Tonight the top two basketball teams in the country will face off for the ultimate title. Which team will come out on top: Barack Obama’s pick, UNC, or the Michigan State Spartans? And, the bigger question, will this game be over in time for the season premiere of The Hills?

We can only hope.
Who are you rooting for tonight?

Valerie Bertinelli looks better in a bikini than I do.

Makeup for your skin.

Hilary Duff does SVU.

20 colleges worth the price.

Save money and give yourself a massage.

Dog poops money?

Octomom = Octo-stripper?

Most boring NCAA tournament ever?

The easiest way to tone those legs.

More women getting pierced…down there.

Rehab that fried hair.

There could be some little Paris Hiltons running around soon.

It’s Sweet Sixteen time, baby! And you know in this case there are no birthday cakes, cute presents, or super spoiled kids living it up on MTV.

We’re talking hardcore, fast and furious, make it or break it time.

Only 16 teams left. And only 8 spots remain to be filled in the Elite Eight. Who will make it? I give you my predictions below, after watching the action-packed first two rounds of the tourney.

First of all, we can finally settle the debate on which conference is the best this year, and possibly even in history. For the first time in the history of the NCAA tournament, five teams from one league advanced to the Sweet 16. The Big East is home to Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Villanova, all of which made the cut and will play in the regional semifinals on Thursday and Friday.

The ACC, which was the other conference in the debate, only has two of its members left, although they are reputably two of the best college teams and have one of the biggest rivalries in sports history: UNC and Duke. (Sidenote: dark blue is wayyy better than that gross baby blue color. Eww.)

Anyway, do you remember last year when, surprisingly, all four #1’s made it to the Final Four? Well, this year marks the first time all the 1-, 2-, and 3-seeds are in the Sweet Sixteen. Looks like Cinderella is going to be hard to find this year.

But what a great first two rounds it’s been. Read More »

Puppies! Enjoy.

Mmmm March Madness.

Robin Williams is doin’ A-OK.

Myth or fact: you can repair split ends.

Make a 25 before 25 list!

Zac Efron out of Footloose?

Obama to speak at Notre Dame commencement!

Cure for the dreaded bikini wax?!

LC’s love life heats up.

Would you wanna smell like Avril?

Flava Flav is 50?!

Big week. Huge.

First was St. Patrick’s Day. Then we spoke to both the Millionaire Matchmaker and last year’s Top Chef, Stephanie Izard (who are both much better female role models than some people out there). Then March Madness kicked off?

And we can’t possibly forget the brand spanking new CollegeCandy.com design. Hollerrrr.

We were so busy we barely had time to breathe, let alone sit at home and waste time online. It’s a good thing we have a giant purse; no need to stop at home when we can load everything from our books to our lip gloss in there. Although it might have been a good idea to leave the phone at home when we were out drinkin’ it up in honor of St. Pat. Drunk texts? Almost as awkward as waking up next to the weirdest guy ever.

Unfortch, the week wasn’t all good. Between all the fun we came to the realization that we have no future, that guys tell each other some intimate details, that Brazilians are going bye-bye, and that everyone’s boobs are growing but ours.

We also witnessed some seriously annoying couples on the way to class, and got stuck paying half the bill when we were out with a new guy. WTF?

We’ve been running on adrenaline since Sunday, which means a Friday night in bed. Movie night, anyone?

And so it begins. After 11 long, tortuous, pain-staking months of waiting… the Big Dance is finally here.

Once you get past the fact that the NCAA Selection Committee made the mistake of not including some of the best teams that could have been this year’s Cinderella (Arizona State instead of St. Mary’s? come on), the board actually came up with a pretty good draw. And for the next 2 weeks, I will be fully immersing myself in the insanity and awesomeness that is the most exciting sporting event of the year: March Madness.

The best conference in the country (and maybe in history) is hands-down the Big East. 3 out of the 4 number 1 seeds are from the Big East: UConn, Louisville, and Pitt. Even Barack Obama believes in the dominance of this conference, since his bracket that he filled out on Wednesday (live on ESPN! what a cool prez) shows it filling half of his Elite Eight. Although Obama didn’t have our lovely school in his Final Four, Coach K isn’t worried. Read More »

March Madness kicks off today with the first 16 teams competing to move ahead, and while one CollegeCandy writer isn’t into the games, everyone else in the world is.

It’s the most exciting three weeks of the year for college sports as the entire country stops everything they are doing (seriously, even President Obama is trying to squeeze some game viewings in between his NATO meetings) to see which college basketball team is the best in the country.

Not into basketball? Well, then it’s an excuse to paint your face and drink beer on a weeknight. Not that you really needed an excuse…

Everyone is buzzing about the Presidente’s NCAA picks (UNC to go all the way?). Do you agree? Who do you think will take the title this year? Let out your school pride in the comments section below!

Selection Sunday is over. The 64 college basketball teams have been chosen and March Madness has officially begun.

I’ve already received 26 invitations from guys asking me to fill out a bracket and join their pool. I’m honored that so many people thought of me, but I think it may have more to do with the fact that those 26 guys know I know absolutely nothing about basketball than the fact that they love and respect my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong – I love part of March Madness. I love anything that involves hanging out with a bunch of guys talking sports and drinking beer. There is something so cute about boys and sports – the excitement, the high fives, the school spirit.

But… I hate basketball.

No, it’s not because Michigan’s basketball program has been less than fantastic over the course of my stay on campus. It’s just that I find the game to be boring to watch. It’s just a game of back and forth to me. My team scores, their team scores, my team scores, their team scores…. over and over again.  Unlike football where each successful play could be the winning play, basketball games only really matter for 5 minutes. The last 5. The rest of the game just doesn’t matter to me.

Oh, and it doesn’t help that this entire March Madness situation totally trumps my March 21st birthday.

I’m pretty sure I’m alone in this seeing how many Facebook status updates include “NCAA” and a lot of exclamation points this morning. Everyone seems to be basketball crazy. Yes, even my great aunt (who also happens to be on Facebook. WTF!?). I just don’t see what all the hype is about.

What about you? Are you mad about March Madness?