Also see: The VT-ACO Current Lexicon and Speed Racer Page.

These are a couple definitions and inside jokes that should give you a better idea of what we're talking about when we mention flossing or Gladstone. Check it out!

Editor's note: This most likely won't give you a better idea of what Jason is talking about, but we usually don't know either.

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The "Blah-blah-blah"
n.  Quiz bowl questions ideally have a pyramidal structure -- they begin with somewhat obscure information about the topic, then provide more accessible information and finally end, perhaps with a give-away clue at the end.  Some poorly written questions, however, follow a different format:  they begin with "the blah-blah-blah" that NO ONE has ever heard of, then close with a "Find-Your-" closing clue and a buzzer race.  When describing such questions, "the Blah-blah-blah" is sometimes replaced with "Crap You Don't Know."

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Cracker Barrel Incident, the (or, "I can't take you people *anywhere*!")
Exclamation uttered by Jason Thweatt when members of VT-ACO went to eat at Cracker Barrel after an intramural tournament.  This was prompted by Jeremy Rotter's observation in the gift catalog of Cracker Barrel which he held up to show everybody; the picture depicted a stuffed animal frog mounting a stuffed animal pig. Mr. Rotter later found those stuffed animals in the gift shop and demonstrated, much to the dismay of other patrons of Cracker Barrel.

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Ego Boy
The term, originated by Ryan Gunderson, to describe one who, to paraprase an Exedrin commercial, "has an ego THIIIIIIIS big."  While the organization's internal policy on Ego Boys is to administer a superatomic wedgie to the culprit, we have had no formal policy on Ego Boys at other schools... until now.  Jason is the president of our organization. While he has some mannerisms that other teams find amusing (heck - we find them amusing) we would appreciate it if other schools do not single him out by name and mock him in matches, or on their web page. We become ESPECIALLY unhappy when it is clearly obvious who the culprit is, because the rest of the web page is a testament to his own greatness (something Tech A has yet to notice at tournaments). The new team policy on this type of Ego Boy is simple. We will crush you (and maybe give you a superatomic wedgie just for kicks).

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Gladstone
(proper n.) -- Liberal prime minister of Great Britain during the 19th century, also the answer to a '95 intramural question that will be praised in song (or damned for eternity, depending on who you ask). The Bus Drivers, trailing badly to 3M ("We're not the team that made College Bowl, we're the team that made College Bowl better") in the playoffs after the first half, made gains in the 2nd half, but it didn't appear as though they would cap the comeback. Trailing by 5 with about 20 seconds left, moderator Alan Glick announced the toss-up, gave the bonus value, and the following ensued:

Alan: "Disraeli said of him..." [beep]
(Everyone looks up, Jason's light is on)
Alan: "Yes?" (half in disbelief that someone buzzed in)
Jason: "Gladstone?" (somewhat timidly)
Alan: "Yes!?!" (very much in disbelief)
(almost simultaneously)
Jason: Yes!! (pumping fist, dancing in the endzone, etc.)
Jeff: "Arrgh!!" (bangs table)
(crowd cheers, rushes podium, carries Jason off on their shoulders)
(3M remains alone in the dark room contemplating what has just transpired)
(Jason and the Bus Drivers all have earned their wings, and fly off to Mt. Olympus, spending the rest of their days dining on ambrosia and meddling in the affairs of mortals)

EDITORS NOTE: This telling may be somewhat skewed from what actually occurred, as are most tales that travel down through generations. The essential elements hold true.

After that score, the bus arrived at school two matches later, and the Drivers brought home their second championship.

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Gunsmoke
The most ridiculous buzz on any question in the December 1996 CBI intramural tournament at Virginia Tech. Jeremy Ramont answered "Gunsmoke!" to a question which began "This soap opera, which was on radio..."

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Headbanging
The typical reaction of several VTACO members after negging on a question in their specialty. This reaction is most commonly seen when Ryan Gunderson misses a current events question, Eliot Brenner misses a philosophy qustion, or Jason Thweatt blows a history question. The usual course of action is to curse, fling down one's buzzer, and walk to the nearest wall and proceed to smash one's head against the wall loud enough that the rest of the club can hear the thumps. Some people in the club have speculated that this process actually helps Eliot achieve his 35 PPG average at invitationals, though he has not done this much recently.  Possibly because his PPG is more like 50 than 35.  The tendency to headbang increases as a person moves from Tech C to Tech B to Tech A, giving rise to the possibility that repetitive head injuries are critical to achieving the low sanity level necessary to succeed in quiz bowl.

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The Jester
n.  It seems that during every tournament we go to, Ryan Gunderson manages to ensure that he will never have a political career.  Usually that involves wearing his court jester hat which, on the up-side, makes it quite easy to locate the Tech A team in large groups of people.

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"A little somethin' somethin'"
In lieu of a victory, a member of a VT team at a recent tournament muttered that he wouldn't mind "A little somethin' somethin'" from a rather attractive female member of the opposing team. We at Virginia Tech frown on this indiscretion, and are frankly embarrassed by the whole incident (we could agree with the statement, but not the decision to vocalize it).  This sort of comment is probably no wiser than commenting on a Superman patch, given the recent QB listserv traffic.  Somehow fittingly, the member, who shall remain nameless, went to NAQT intramurals on a team called "Men Without Tact."

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Making Beer (With Hops)
At Georgetown for TRASH regionals this year, Roger made several memorable buzzes (see also water sports).  One of the better ones was a tossup which began with a description of the beer-making process.  Roger buzzed in and, apparently choosing not to blitz the question, answered simply, "Beer."  The moderator looked pained and said, "I need more."  (More answer, not more beer.  I think.)  Roger looked puzzled, but expanded his answer to "Making beer."  After a moment's pause when the moderator did not confirm the answer, Roger added yet more: "Making beer....... with hops?"  Unfortunately, the moderator was looking for "Budweiser" as the answer, and Roger got a neg.

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"Mediocrity is Its Own Reward"
Phrase utterred at Wahoo 97 by Tech B team member Jeremy Ramont after the team was beaten severely in a series of matches, culminating in a horribly lopsided defeat to Lincoln Tech - a one player team. It is now the Tech B motto and his unbridled enthusiasm is with us all.

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Peanut Gallery
Term for the insane, sometimes uncontrolable lunatics in VT-ACO. It came into existence after Jody Neel and Dennis Loo presented Jason Thweatt with the Steering Wheel. Other notable incidents in Peanut Gallery history include Dennis's hair-dying incident and Jody showing up to practice (and yearbook pictures) dressed as Death. Currently, its officers include President-For-Life Jody Neel, Figurehead Emperor Jeff Ladd, and Street Samurai Dennis Loo.

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People's Court
Possibly the worst answer ever given to a question in Tech's academic competition history. Jody Neel's team got the bonus which asked for the TV show which contained the line "Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." It proceeded as follows:

Ben: I think it's Dragnet.
Jody: Yeah, Dragnet.
Jeremy Ramont: No, it's the People's Court.
Jody: Are you *sure*?
Jeremy: Yeah.
Alan Glick, the moderator: Answer please.
Jody: Designate Jeremy.
Jeremy (with a straight face): The People's Court.
Alan (with a look as if to say "What the hell are you thinking?"): the People's Court??!!
(snickers)

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Ramont Answer
Generic name for any incredibly idiotic answer, often a biscuit. Named for Jeremy Ramont's propensity to give crazy answers. See Gunsmoke and People's Court.

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Steering Wheel
Award given by Dennis Loo and Jody Neel to Jason Thweatt, in recognition of his play as captain of the Bus Drivers and his service to VT-ACO. The steering wheel from a Mack truck, Dennis and Jody spent three hours at a local junkyard with a hacksaw and hammers removing it and the truck's steering column. When they presented it to Jason, they told him that they found an unattended bus and made off with it. Such is the reputation of the Peanut Gallery that they were actually believed by a few people before admitting the truth. Rumor has it that Jason may have the wheel bronzed to be used as the Intramurals MVP trophy after he graduates.

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Vee-Tiljo
While our organization's official name, "The Virginia Tech Academic Competition Organization," sounds all fancy and proper, it is a pain in the butt to explain it to other people. First, the members refer to it as "vee-taco", and then realize that the other person has no idea what we are talking about, so we spell it out to them and tell them, "it's the Virginia Tech Academic Competition Organization," but still they don't get it. Inevitably, the third thing we say is, "it's like Jeopardy," immediately after which, we see the bulb go on. One night at Jasons apartment, it was suggested that we just cut out the middle man, and call it the "Virginia Tech It's Like Jeopardy Organization." Then somebody said, "It tastes like chicken." It is kind of like Jeopardy, but I am proud to say that I have absolutely no knowledge as to what any of the members taste like. It was suggested that we change the name of the organization to the "Virginia Tech It Tastes Like Chicken Club," but the acronym didn't fly with the non-members of the peanut-gallery.

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Water Sports
TRASH regionals 1998 was true to TRASH form, and Roger again proved himself well suited to its questions.  One particular toss-up, seeking a specific phrase, reported that the Girl Scouts removed the phrase from a cookie box due to its socially unacceptable meaning.  On the clue "golden showers," Roger buzzed in and answered "Urination."  The moderator prompted for more information (heaven only knows why he wanted more information on the topic), so Roger started spewing: "Pissing... on your partner... for sexual gratification."  The moderator again prompted, and inexplicably reminded Roger that he needed a specific phrase.  Roger looked puzzled, then apparently remember the Girl Scout clue and shouted out "Water sports!" just in time to avoid a neg and get (dis-)credit.

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Contributions by Dennis Loo, Jeremy Rotter and several other parties who wish to remain anonymous.