The moment we noticed that our annual bracket challenge would pit Yale against ASS Law, I proclaimed that our readers would make sure that ASS Law toppled the perennial law school champ. And you did not disappoint. Yale hasn’t folded this fast since its administration saw an opportunity to appease a recognized hate group!
As we enter the first half of our second round of the naked popularity contest we’ve proposed now that the law schools have decided to shun U.S. News and World Report, we bid adieu to Yale. Here’s what the bracket looks like now:
Voting for this first half of the Scholarly Sixteen is open now and will close Thursday night at midnight Eastern.
(32) ASS Law v. (16) Wash U.
George Mason is kind of like Farleigh Dickinson, if Farleigh Dickinson were a transparent enclave of right-wing ideologues funded by shadowy interests raising serious questions about the school’s academic standards. Wash U. finds itself in the unusual position of not being the underdog when it walks into the elite law school debate. Can it put a stop to the ASS?
(8) UVA v. (9) Berkeley
A public school showdown pits that popped collars of UVA against the patchouli-soaked boho shirts of Berkeley. As culture clashes go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
(5) Harvard v. (12) Cornell
Iowa gave Harvard a brief challenge, but ultimately the Hawkeyes couldn’t muster the trolling energy that the ASS Law folks brought. Or maybe Harvard just isn’t as hatable as Yale? Whatever it is, after falling to fifth in last year’s USNWR rankings, Harvard came in with a chip on its shoulder and now has a shot at getting the crown with its hated rival knocked out. Cornell dispatched Florida with ease and braces for an all Ivy battle.
(4) Columbia v. (13) Northwestern
You know… the first round had only a few thousand votes in each poll, but I can actually see how many of you all read the story and checked out the polls so I know we could have a vote totals in the tens of thousands if you’d just vote. Get in there people. No reason to be shy. Certainly you have an opinion on Columbia and Northwestern, right?
Anyway, as we said, voting for this first half of the Sixteen will close Thursday night at midnight Eastern. Tomorrow we’ll unveil the other half of the bracket.
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
