College Travel Gear

$600 Economic Stimulus Rebate Check: Pay Up or Party Down

2008-05-05T19:46:00.011-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com: Where complex financial issues are dealt with in five paragraphs or less.

This May the U.S. Government will begin sending out $600 Economic Stimulus Rebate checks (or $300, depending on the circumstance) to taxpayers everywhere in our Nation. From extensive reading and interviews we have been able to determine that "The rebate that will be sent out in May 2008 is a credit to the taxes you'll owe on 2008 income, but it is a new credit, so you don't have to 'pay it back'." In other words, this $600 is an "advance" on a new credit that will be presented on 2008 tax returns when you are filing your taxes in 2009 for the fiscal year 2008. Got that?

Setting aside the warm, fuzzy "Pay it forward" nature of this rebate, we citizens have been given the fiduciary responsibility of spending these monies in such a way as to do the most good for ourselves and our Great Nation. Rather than just letting the money burn a hole in your pocket, we at CollegiateLuggage.com strongly urge you to invest at least a portion of the rebate in Swiss Army Brand™ travel and business gear.

First of all, our products represent a good investment because they don't depreciate like most luggage items. Each item we sell comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. Second, with airlines now charging $25 per bag to check more than one piece of luggage aboard the aircraft, our WT-22 Deluxe Wheeled Bag earns back nearly 10% of the purchase price of $275 every time you travel because it carries the most stuff of any item of luggage that may be wheeled aboard domestic aircraft. None of our competitors can make this claim. Carry it with you on 6 round trip flights and it will have paid for itself!

So, when your rebate arrives, proudly convert it into Swiss Army collegiate luggage, knowing that your actions have, in a small-but-meaningful way, been helpful to yourself, your family, your community and your grateful Nation. It's what the Swiss would do.

Swiss Army Travel Gear: Embroidery Second to None.

2008-05-03T13:31:00.015-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where every now and then we wave our own flag.

This particular post concerns the way we decorate each item of Victorinox® Swiss Army luggage before it is sent to our customers.

Each of the deluxe travel bags, backpacks, duffel bags and cases in our line is made of ballistic nylon which is a very tough but flexible fabric designed to withstand the rigors of airline travel and especially airline baggage handlers. You could say that Victorinox® has deliberately over-engineered the product in anticipation of the world of mistreatment that awaits it.

When the time comes to embroider your favorite school logo on the luggage, we use a specially designed embroidery table to hold the product in place while a computer program moves it along a pre-designated set of horizontal and vertical coordinates beneath the embroidery sewing "head". This is done while the actual embroidery head remains stationary, giving us the tightest-possible weave and the best-looking logo reproduction with no pinching or buckling of the design.

Our process of embroidering one item at a time means that your Swiss Army purchase is decorated individually, to order. By contrast, regular embroidery equipment is intended to decorate "thin" fabrics used in polo shirts, caps, sweaters or jackets, and makes use of 12-head embroidery tables to simultaneously run up to a dozen items at one time.

We use all-polyester non-reactive-dyed thread along with a special backing substrate for our embroidery so there is no pull-through, no color bleed and no color fade. Our embroidery designs are intended to last as long as the luggage items they adorn.

Take a moment to examine the close-ups of the various school logos shown on these web pages. You will see that our embroidery coverage is solid, with no gaps or loose stitches. We take enormous pride in the work we do on our luggage and on our luggage decoration. For this reason, when you carry Swiss Army's collegiate luggage products you "Carry With Confidence™".

Swiss Tracker Global Bag Tracking System

2008-05-01T12:30:00.008-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com

Disaster... you've lost your bag!

Not to worry. With select Victorinox® Travel Gear by Swiss Army Brands luggage items you receive the benefit of the free Swiss Tracker™ Bag Tracking Program. With Victorinox®'s bag tracking program, we help to reunite you with your lost bag anywhere in the world for free.

Here's how the Swiss Tracker™ program works:

Each bag bears a unique tracking ID number on the bag's ID tray and a 24-hour a day, 365 days a year phone number. If someone finds your lost Victorinox® Travel Gear bag, they call our the worldwide customer service hotline number and Using your unique ID number, we will work with them to reunite you with your bag. We will notify you, arrange pickup, and then arrange for delivery of your bag -- at no cost to you!

The program is activated via a registration form in the bag.

The Swiss Tracker™ Program is available for the following travel gear products:

Mobilizer® 24 - 30340201 / 30340203 / 30340208 models
Deluxe Garment Mobilizer® - 30341701 /30341703 / 30341708 models
Paratrooper - 30341801 / 30341803 / 30341808 models
Collapsible Gear Mobilizer® - 30340401 /30340403 / 30340408 models
Louvre 17 - 30322001 model
Wainwright - 30321901/30323101 models
Empire 17 - 30322101 model
Big Ben - 30322601 model
Parliament 17 - 30322901 model

Look for the Swiss Tracker™ Globe icon on our travel gear product pages to indicate which items offer this unique and free additional feature.

AS HEALTHY AS A 'GATOR

2008-04-27T10:13:00.003-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com: Where science is more than just a seven-letter word.

I read a fascinating article in my April 25th issue of THE WEEK magazine, regarding the remarkable health of alligators - they almost never get sick. They have super immune systems that ward off virtually every virus and bacteria, and scientists are now trying to figure out their secret, to create treatments that could be used by humans.

Researchers found that when they exposed alligator and human blood samples to 23 types of bacteria, the gator blood killed them all, while the human samples destroyed just eight. "Alligators tend to get into tussles and fights", Lancia Darville, a researcher at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge told USA Today. "They have torn limbs and scratches that are exposed to all of this bacteria in the water, yet they are never infected."

It appears that gators do not rely on customized antibodies to destroy micro-invaders, but have proteins in their blood that kill off everything that seems remotely alien to their system. "They don’t need to be exposed to any microorganism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi [bulldogs, war eagles, blue tick hounds, elephants, wildcats, gamecocks or commodores] for their bodies to respond against them," Darville says. As soon as the chemical structures of these key proteins are understood, she says, they can be examined for their potential as human cures.

Here at CollegiateLuggage.com we believe that gators love the taste of our travel gear. Is it a factor in their amazing immune systems? Try our business and travel gear for yourself and you be the judge.

COLLEGIATE LUGGAGE: "Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU"

2008-04-12T12:55:00.004-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - If it's about college stuff, we're game.

Speaking of game - I imagine that by now everyone has had plenty of time to discuss last Monday's amazing NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game. I already have one article in my weblog about the Game focusing on the importance of little things (i.e. free throws and the making thereof) but today I have another: The meaning of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" and the accompanying chant.

I should fully disclose that as of my writing this blog entry our program does not have Kansas University as a member school. But I have been so taken with their school chant (not to mention their amazing performance during the Tournament) that I have decided to go after KU for our Swiss Army Brand Collegiate Luggage program. Just keep your eyes on this website to see if we get 'em.

Back to the subject at hand: The world famous Rock Chalk Chant evolved from a cheer that a chemistry professor, E.H.S. Bailey, created for the KU science club in 1886. Bailey's version was "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, KU" repeated three times. The rahs were later replaced by "Rock Chalk," a transposition of chalk rock, the name for the limestone outcropping found on Mount Oread, site of the Lawrence campus.

I had never heard this chant before last week. Now, I can't get it out of my head. The wording is not really that big of a deal, but the way it is chanted is almost magical. I get chills. Listen [MP3] for yourself and see if you don't agree.

Again, CollegiateLuggage.com congratulates the Jayhawks of Kansas University on their 2008 National Basketball Championship and reminds their students, alumni and fans to stay tuned to this space - blue Swiss Army luggage is just a heartbeat away.

Collegiate Luggage: Missed Free Throws As A Metaphor for Life

2008-04-09T16:08:00.008-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where painful memories and happy times take turns.

Like many fans of collegiate sports I spent the past few weeks avidly watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, savoring the March Madness and marveling at the levels of pure athleticism evident in each game. This was, in fact, the first time that all four of the #1 seed teams at the beginning of the Tournament all made their way to the Final Four contest in San Antonio. So it promised to be yet-another fun ride. I didn't have a particular stake in the contests so I watched for fun as Kansas and Memphis played for the National Championship.

In the end, Memphis was undone not by a better team or better coaching, but by a bunch of missed free-throws during the final seconds of regulation play. This absolutely made me crazy. To fully understand my frustration, I must tell you an anecdote from my high school years (we are talking the 1960's) in a time before there was Gatorade.

I was the manager of our high school's basketball team. This meant that I took care of towels and equipment, made sure that the basketballs were all properly inflated, helped tape the player's ankles, got things ready before practice and cleaned up afterwards. All of the little stuff that helps make the team go. We had a great coach and a team that had won the New Jersey State Championship just one year earlier (prior to my starting high school).

So, imagine my dismay when our regular season record in my first year with the team was 12-8. And we lost all eight of these games by a combined total of 21 points. (That averages to less than 3 points per game). If a game went into overtime, we lost. If we had the lead going into the last 90 seconds, we lost. If we were making a legitimate comeback during the last 90 seconds, we lost. And the source of this awful, sad, frustrating, dispiriting sequence of disappointments was missed free-throws.

That's right, free-throws that weren't made were the difference between victory and defeat for one whole season. Our players easily shot 100 practice free-throws (also known as 'foul shots') each, every day. Most of them had been playing basketball and shooting free throws for 6 or more years by the time they stepped on the court in our team uniform. We didn't have any 'bad' free-throw shooters - just good and better.

Do the math with me: At least 100 practice foul shots per day times at least 300 days per year = 30,000+ practice shots per year. Multiply by an average of six years = 180,000 practice free-throws during their young lifetimes. I know they did the work because I was often the one spotting for them and keeping count. Every starter on our team could sink 10 for 10 with his eyes closed. But when the clutch moment came and we needed those couple of points to tie or (heaven help us) win, we got zilch, zip, nada, nathan. I used up every wish I had earned, I prayed to everyone and everything I could think of including the patron saint of comfortable sneakers and still we lost.

So, of course, watching the final couple minutes of the NCAA Championship Game last Monday evening I couldn't help but notice that the Memphis players were apparently having the same problem that my high school team did a scant 40 years earlier. As I mentioned before, I had no real stake in this game but by the end of regulation my heart was racing and my mouth was dry and for a short-but-seemingly-endless moment I was back in time watching the wheels come off. I was in basketball fan hell.

So, my condolences to the Memphis team and fans, my congratulations to the "Rock Chalk Jayhawks" and my fair warning to all of you: When life presents you with a free-throw, you had better make it count.

Victorinox "Carry With Confidence Guarantee"

2008-04-08T03:18:00.012-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Victorinox® by Swiss Army Brands College Decorated Luggage

Register your CARRY WITH CONFIDENCE™ GUARANTEE!

Carry With Confidence™ Guarantee

The Carry With Confidence™ Guarantee covers repairs of a functional nature for damage caused by common carriers. Additionally, this guarantee ensures that your product will be free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the bag. We will cover damage to your product caused by a defect in the workmanship or materials. This guarantee does not cover cosmetic damage or damage to contents. As with any travel gear product, component parts - particularly moving parts - will show wear over time, and may eventually need to be refurbished or replaced. If such wear and tear occurs, we can provide you with generous options for repairing or refurbishing your product. The Carry With Confidence™ Guarantee applies to versions 3.0 and later of E-Motion® 360° and Mobilizer NXT®, version 2.0 and later of Werks Traveler™, and all versions of Architecture® and Navigator CS™.

Please direct any questions to our Customer Service Department:
TRG Group, 2047 Westport Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146. 1-888-658-0717

Carry With Confidence™ Plus Guarantee

Every Tourbach™ product is guaranteed to be free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the bag. The Carry With Confidence™ Plus Guarantee also covers repairs of a functional nature if the damage is caused from abuse or mishandling by a common carrier. If necessary, we will provide a bag to you in an expedited manner for use until your bag can be repaired or replaced. This guarantee does not cover the contents of your bag or damage from ordinary wear and tear. As with any travel gear product, component parts, particularly moving parts, will show wear over time, and eventually may need to be refurbished or replaced. If such wear and tear occurs, we can provide you with generous options for repairing or refurbishing your product.

Please direct any questions to our Customer Service Department:
TRG Group, 2047 Westport Center Drive, St. Louis, MO63146. 1-888-658-0717

Lifetime Warranty

Victorinox® Lifestyle Accessories 2.0, Lingo™ and University products, and all versions of Ground Force™ are guaranteed for the life of the product to be free from any and all manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. We will cover any damage to your product caused by a defect in the workmanship or quality of the materials. We have the right, at our option, to repair or replace the merchandise. The guarantee does not cover damage resulting from abuse, neglect, improper handling or common carrier damage. The guarantee does not cover ordinary wear and tear. As with any travel gear product, component parts, particularly moving parts, will show wear over time, and eventually may need to be refurbished or replaced. If such wear and tear occurs, we can provide you with generous options for repairing or refurbishing your product.

Please direct any questions to our Customer Service Department:
TRG Group, 2047 Westport Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146. 1-888-658-0717

Luggage: Now Carry-On Makes Good Sense

2008-03-25T10:24:00.005-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time

It's official. Delta Airlines has joined American Airlines in what will likely become a new, industry-wide policy of charging $25 to check your second bag (and your third bag and so on, ad nauseum) on all flights.

This past February 5th we reported in this weblog that American Airlines was the first airline to charge a $25 fee for checking more than one bag and speculated (correctly) that other airlines were going to wait just long enough to see how things went before they followed suit. Less than 2 months later the writing comes off the wall and onto your credit card statement if you happen to travel heavy.

Which brings me to the same advice that we gave everyone in our February 5th blog entry: If you travel by air, why not use one of our WT-22 Deluxe Expandable Wheeled Travel Bags? Available in your choice of four colors (Solid Black, red with black trim, sapphire blue with black trim and emerald green with black trim), these bags are strong, lightweight, ergonomically-designed and approved for carry-on with all domestic U.S. airlines. They look great with your college logo on the front, and they are Swiss-engineered to hold more stuff in more places than any other comparable bag. Dimensions: 14" W x 22" H x 10.5" D (expands to 13" D).

Each bag comes with the Swiss Army Brand "Carry With Confidence" lifetime manufacturer's guarantee. Though moderately costly, you will realize significant savings traveling with this bag. By our calculations, after six round trips the bag will have more than paid for itself in full (12 trips @ $25.00 that you didn't pay for a second checked bag = $300 savings. The bag costs $275.00). Do the math - you'll see what we mean.

As for the new fee to check a second bag, my prediction, based upon nothing more than my luggage-seller's intuition, is that more airlines will join American and Delta in their quest to increase revenues. Now is the time to face the music and get out ahead of the inevitable increase: Order a Swiss Army WT-22 and laugh all the way to the checkout counter.

"CHOMPINGLY": Collegiate Luggage Coins a New Adverb

2008-03-24T11:36:00.005-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts, opinions and adverbs share equal time.

Our Swiss Army collegiate luggage program is just over 2 years old as of my writing this blog entry. The first three schools to join our program in February of 2006 were Georgia, Georgia Tech and Florida. In a wonderful get-acquainted gesture, we were invited by Florida's Alumni Association to join them in Atlanta in March of that year for the SEC Tournament Game Day "Gator Gathering" to display all of our blue Gator-logo Swiss Army luggage products for the fans to see.

With headquarters in Sandy Springs (a northern suburb of Atlanta) most of my prior experiences with the Gator Nation before adding them to our program were limited. But the invitation was irresistible and we went. And it was at this pre-game celebration that their fans introduced me to "The Chomp".

HOW TO CHOMP
For those not familiar with "The Gator Chomp", it is a sign of support and recognition shown by Gator fans everywhere to encourage their teams. No special equipment is required. First, extend both arms directly in front of you, at shoulder height with palms facing. Then, open both arms wide and quickly bring them back together so the palms clap. You have successfully "chomped".

I was quite taken with this gesture. And from that day forward, when I would complete an e-mail message to any of the Florida Alumni office folks or their Gator Clubs or to my Gator friends (including but not limited to my company's bookkeeper Peggy) I would sign off with: "Chompingly Yours". Apparently, nobody could remember an instance when the word "chomp" had been used as an adverb because it immediately generated lots of keen interest and positive feedback.

Being the generous fellow that I am, I released the newly-coined expression for general use to my Gator friends and business associates and bade them good fortune. Now that you've read this article, you too are hereby granted full, free and complete permission to use "chompingly" as an adverb any old time it suits you. Who am I to deny the Gator Nation their chompness?

The Housework-Challenged Husband

2008-03-23T12:21:00.012-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts, opinions & laughter share equal time.

One day a housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to his wife, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," she replied, "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, "University of Oklahoma."

Sweet Home Alabama Luggage

2008-03-21T12:19:00.004-04:00

For me, the YouTube phenomenon is still new. It is a real treat when someone sends me a link to an interesting or amusing YouTube video because I never know what to expect and sometimes the results are delightful.

Take the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It started out as a song on their album, then became a rock classic hit, then it started showing up on anything to do with Alabama including a dance scene in the film "Forrest Gump". It even became the title of a romantic comedy film with Reese Witherspoon and Patrick Dempsey.

And now, we have it performed live by the Finnish rock band called The Leningrad Cowboys, with vocal and musical accompaniment by the Red Army Choir. Notice that the song is performed in English! - you can't make this stuff up.

If you have a worthy YouTube nominee, send us the link and we'll credit you on the luggage website for discovering it. Just remember to visit BamaLuggage.com and our College Travel Gear blog to see what interesting things we've located for your and other schools.

Free Shipping on Orders placed thru April 7th!

2008-03-20T13:59:00.017-04:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Victorinox® Swiss Army Brand Collegiate Luggage

For fans of collegiate basketball the next 17 days will be a slice of heaven. There will be a total of 63 contests, involving 64 of the best teams in the Nation, played out at nine venues, culminating with four teams battling in the final playoffs in San Antonio, TX.

Doing our part to enhance everyone's joy, CollegiateLuggage.com is offering

FREE SHIPPING

on all orders placed with our firm from now through April 7th, 2008.

This offer is void outside the continental U.S.

Bulldogs' Historic Victory

2008-03-17T12:30:00.010-04:00

Collegiate Luggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time

At least three basketball records were set this past weekend by the University of Georgia's Men's Basketball Team on their way to the 2008 SEC Tournament Victory:

1. They were the first Division 1 team in 56 years to win two games in one day.
2. They were the 12th seed at the outset of the SEC Tournament, going from "worst to first".
3. They had their second game postponed due to an F2 tornado.

Yes, much of the additional SEC Tournament excitement was provided by the first tornado in recorded history to strike downtown Atlanta during the early evening Friday, damaging the Georgia Dome's roof and requiring the remainder of the contests to be played at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum (home of Georgia's in-state rival, Georgia Tech). The announcers took note of the Yellowjacket mascot logo that decorated the court floor on more than one occasion. As for Georgia's fans - they couldn't BEE any happier with the outcome.

Georgia has one of the thinnest rosters in the country with only nine available players. But this did not seem to be a factor as the team defeated Mississippi, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas in order. You'll be able to spot the folks who took the long odds at the beginning of the Tournament - they'll be the ones driving up to the NCAA venues in their new Hummers and Lexi.

The SEC Basketball victory gives Georgia's Bulldogs an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament which begins this Thursday. Georgia is seeded 14th in the West Division, playing their first game against 4th seed Xavier in Washington, DC. on March 20th. Notice that I used the expression "first"?

Did I mention that we sell Georgia luggage and travel gear?

Congratulations on an unexpected, tornado-enhanced, amazingly well-earned victory. How 'bout them Dawgs!

Luggage Gifts for Graduation - Plan Ahead!

2008-03-08T18:45:00.012-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where you will find the best college graduation gifts

We have all been encouraged to "plan ahead" since we were old enough to understand the words "plan" and "ahead". My favorite plan ahead slogan is the "Five-P Rule: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance."

If you want Swiss Army luggage for Graduation Gifts remember that our firm requires 10 working days from the day you order until the day we ship your luggage out our door. Planning ahead and ordering from us at least three weeks before graduation will assure that everything goes smoothly and you have a memorable gift to give.

As of my posting this new blog entry, there are seven full weeks to go before the 1st of May. If you start planning your purchases now, you'll be ready when the big day arrives and your intended recipients will be delighted with your thoughtfulness.

Remember, at CollegiateLuggage.com we don't charge a single extra penny for early ordering!

Is Your Old Luggage Feeling Expansive?

2008-03-05T14:23:00.010-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time.

Has his ever happened to you?

You pack carefully for a trip, making sure everything fits comfortably into your luggage. Then, when it's time to re-pack and return home you find that you are utterly and completely out of room. The airlines, ever-sensitive to the plight of the traveler, have responded by limiting the number of carry-on items each passenger can bring aboard the aircraft and have now decided to start charging $25 per bag when you check more than one piece of luggage. This is certainly something nobody wants to deal with at the end of a nice trip.

Well, fret no more intrepid traveler, because the folks at Swiss Army Brands have built a clever "expansion feature" into all of their wheeled luggage items. You just run the special "other" zipper around your bag and "presto" it expands outwards a further 2.5" giving you 20% more interior space for your stuff. This feature comes standard on all of our Mobilizer wheeled bags, all of our Werks Traveler wheeled bags and our new line of Tourbach wheeled bags. It's kind of like discovering another room in your home filled with empty shelves and closets!

Our expanding wheeled luggage is:

A must for the frequent traveler.
A good idea for the person who tends to acquire lots of items while on vacation.
A great feature for the college student who is coming back to school loaded down with gifts, clean laundry and chocolate chip cookies from home.
And a welcome option for anyone who appreciates having a bit more space for their stuff when they travel.

This "expansion" feature is just one of the useful, person-friendly surprises we have in store (online) for you when you purchase items from our collegiate logo luggage program. Plus every item in our program comes with the Victorinox® "Travel With Confidence"^TM Guarantee for the lifetime of your luggage.

Now when you say "Go Team" you can really go in comfort and style!

Find your team's Swiss Army Gear!

Getting A Tag Requires Some License

2008-02-28T10:20:00.009-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time.

Recently, the Georgia State House of Representatives passed a bill that the media has referred to as the "Anti-Gator Bill". It was launched in reaction to the fact that the University of Florida's Gator Clubs will be getting a special logo license tag in the State of Georgia.

While it appears the original intent of this bill was directed at the Gators, the language of the bill would scuttle any and all out-of-State collegiate tags in the State of Georgia. Rep. Barry Fleming, who is from Augusta and represents District 117, was a main sponsor of the legislation. He is the majority whip and happens to be challenging U.S. Representative Paul Broun for northeast Georgia's 10th District congressional seat.

This legislation has now been forwarded to a State Senate committee, and there could be a hearing in that committee as soon as the first week of March. The decision would affect other schools (such as Auburn University) seeking a Georgia license tag featuring their school's logo as well.

Perhaps the best solution would be a reciprocal agreement between Georgia and Florida, with each State allowing their neighbor to create the special-edition logo license tags. Once ratified, this agreement could then become the standard for a new era of collegiate auto license tags. The "Reciprocal Interstate Auto Tag" (R.I.A.T. - pronounced "riot") would generate revenue for each participating state and make a lot of folks happy.

Here at CollegiateLuggage.com we support reciprocity. Our company's continued success relies upon enthusiastic fans and alumni purchasing our Swiss Army Brand travel and business gear decorated with Georgia, Florida, Auburn and a host of other favorite school logos. We understand that folks want to proudly display their university's mark on their vehicles as well. When it comes to supporting your school, too much is never enough.

The Best Catch In Superbowl History

2008-02-09T19:20:00.001-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time.

For 26 years, aficionados of NFL football called Joe Montana's pass to Dwight Clark to defeat the Dallas Cowboys on January 10, 1982 "The Catch". It is commonly regarded as one of those amazing plays that folks remember long after the Game is over - hence the special name.

Well, now that Superbowl XLII (that's fancy-schmancy Roman numerals for "42", otherwise known as the Answer to Life, the Universe and Eveything) is in the sports history books, we have a new play to ponder and savor and remember: In fact, I am calling it a "play" since there is thus far no consensus as to what Eli Manning's amazing "escape" from the clutches of three defensive linemen followed by the 29 yard pass he threw that was hauled in by David Tyree who out-leaped tight double-coverage (using one hand plus his helmet to catch the ball) ought to be named. Perhaps we could call it the "Escape/Catch"? Or as my wife uttered after we watched the first of many instant replays: "What in the name of all that's holy do you call that?"

Clearly the honor for the "Play that hath no name" must be shared by both Manning and Tyree since both contributed mightily to its success. But darn it, we need a name here, and nobody in the sports world has come up with a catchy phrase (pun intended) to sum it all up. A number of sports radio shows around the Country are already holding contests to "Name the Play".

My closest friend of many years is an alumnus of Ole Miss. He remembered his student days in Oxford when Archie Manning (father of Eli, and Peyton and another son who doesn't play football so I don't know his name) was their starting quarterback and developed his scrambling style to confuse and confound the other team. Apparently this ability to evade the defensive linemen got passed along to his son Eli (I know, it's not the same thing as having red hair or green eyes, but have you got a better explanation?).

Keep in mind that CollegiateLuggage.com sells Swiss Army Brand collegiate luggage and business gear. We have no business stake whatsoever in the NFL. You would think that this wouldn't even be on my radar. But I am big on clever, memorable names and phrases and this is creating a gap in my consciousness. We need a title comparable to "The Immaculate Reception" to commemorate the thing.

P.S. I don't mean to call it "The Thing". I'm just using this as my place-holder until something better comes along. What about "The play formerly known as Prince"? Or perhaps "The Play of 3 Consecutive Miracles"? Feel free to e-mail me with your suggestions.

Why Athletes Can't Have Real Jobs

2008-02-06T09:32:00.001-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions get equal time.

New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the Redskins say:
"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:
"He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."

Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann, 1996:
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."

Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh:
"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."

Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:
"You guys line up alphabetically by height." And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle."

Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson hooking up again with promoter Don King:
"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton ."

Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota:
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is."

Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:
"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."

Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
"I told him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"

Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D:
"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."

Amarillo High School and Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded:
"Because she is too ugly to kiss good-bye."

The preceding light-hearted sound-bytes were presented to you by the friendly folks at CollegiateLuggage.com We offer Swiss Army Brand travel and business gear embroidered with your licensed college logos.

It's My BAG, Baby ! - And $25 to Check It.

2008-02-05T20:42:00.002-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where opinions and facts share equal time

On February 4th, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, will boost income by charging some passengers $25 to check a second piece of luggage.

United, the first major U.S. airline to announce such a policy, said it expects $100 million in savings and new revenue from the change. The fee applies to travelers with cheaper tickets who aren't among United's most frequent fliers.

United and other airlines are trying to offset a 50 percent jump in jet-fuel prices over the past 12 months. Some, such as Chicago-based United and American Airlines, are studying ways to charge for non-ticket services, allowing carriers to collect more money without raising fares higher than competitors.

Industry observers believe that other airlines will watch and see how it works for United. The response from their customers will determine whether it sticks. Spokesmen for American parent AMR Corp., Delta Air Lines Inc., Continental Airlines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. declined to comment on whether they are considering a similar fee. A US Airways Group Inc. spokesman said the carrier doesn't plan to follow United's move.

Some discount airlines such as Ryanair Holdings PLC, Europe's largest budget carrier, charge to check any bags at all. Southwest Airlines Co., the world's biggest low-fare carrier, began assessing $25 for a third checked bag on Jan. 29.

We here at CollegiateLuggage.com believe that the joy of travel needs a helpful boost to counter the negative aspects of paying for your luggage when you fly. With that in mind we offer our new WT-22 "Werks 22-inch Wheeled Upright Bag." It is designated as carry-on size for most domestic airlines in the U.S. Just extend the telescoping handle and wheel it aboard the aircraft. Six round trips and the bag will have paid for itself! Luggage is our bag baby, yeah!

The Bulldog Is Back

2008-01-18T17:01:00.001-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bolstered by its popularity with celebrities and families, the Bulldog is back on the list of the 10 most popular purebred dogs after a 75-year absence, the American Kennel Club announced on Wednesday. The Bulldog ranked 10th in the Kennel Club's annual ranking of popular dogs from the 157 different breeds it recognizes. A fitting accomplishment for UGA's mascot, even as their football team is ranked #2 Nationally.

Topping the list of most popular dogs was the Labrador Retriever -- top dog since 1991 -- followed by the Yorkshire Terrier, the German Shepherd, the Golden Retriever and the Beagle, the Kennel Club said.

The broad-shouldered, stocky Bulldog with its characteristic under-bite and pugnacious gait has long been a mascot of sports teams and military units. But their docile, even-tempered personality that belies their tough-guy image makes them good pets for families with young children, dog breeders say.

"Their personality is unlike any other dog. They are so expressive. If you look in their eyes you can almost see what they are thinking," said Tammy Hollock, 36, a part-time Bulldog breeder from Delran, New Jersey.

Bulldogs have been growing in popularity with celebrities including U.S. actors Adam Sandler and George Clooney, adding to their public appeal, Hollock said. The breed is the second-most popular dog in Los Angeles, the Kennel Club said.

Coming in at No. 6 on the Kennel Club list is the Boxer, followed by the Dachshund, the Poodle and the Shih Tzu. We at CollegiateLuggage.com want to congratulate the students, alumni and fans of Georgia and of Mississippi State for having their beloved mascots back in the Top 10

The Jan/Feb Sale!

2008-01-18T10:39:00.001-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time.

Beginning at 5PM today and continuing through midnight on February 10th the folks at CollegiateLuggage.com proudly present their annual Jan/Feb Sale. This is not a closeout - everything in our entire product line is simply being discounted 10% to help you save during the first part of 2008.

We named the sale after Janusz Proha and "Feb" Febrino, two textile researchers who first developed the special soil-release coating that goes on all of our Swiss Army Luggage and Travel Gear. This coating also repels water and jet fuel (think about it).

Special added benefit: If you place your orders between now and February 4th, we will have your luggage items decorated and shipped to you in time for VALENTINE'S DAY gift-giving. Sure, you could give that special someone candy and flowers, but custom-decorated luggage...yowza!

There are no codes to enter, and no coupons to consult. Just place your online order and our computer "HAL" will automatically deduct 10% from the cost of your merchandise. The sale will end at midnight February 10th, so we encourage you to shop early and often.

Joe Namath - Graduate of Alabama Class of 2007

2008-01-15T13:07:00.001-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions co-exist harmoniously

In 1964, Joe Namath set aside his books at the University of Alabama to begin his legendary career with the New York Jets. Though Broadway Joe became an international superstar, his lack of a degree always bothered him. "It was a hole in my being." he said, "an empty spot." So he enrolled in a 30-hour program in interdisciplinary studies at his alma mater.

Last December, along with 900 other students, Namath graduated in robe and mortarboard in ceremonies at the campus in Tuscaloosa. "It was fun but it was hard." the 64-year old Namath said of his studies. "I had a very difficult time getting myself to sit down."

Now someone should send that man a set of Swiss Army Luggage with the Alabama logo to congratulate him on graduating. Any ideas?

Are Football Watchers Better Salespeople?

2008-01-05T14:15:00.001-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com: Where facts and opinions share equal time.

Each year brings new excitement for every football fan. Maybe this year we will win it all. Enthusiasm and spirits are running high -- just like the beginning of a new year for a sales team. This year will be the year everything comes together and we beat our competition and move up the market share rankings.

While these feelings of excitement and optimism are great -- the reality of the season kicks in at some point. College football fans can feel the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. Playing a good game is not enough -- as every sales person knows -- second place is not victory. As a college football junkie, er, fan, watching TV during football season is a requirement for living. One day after eight hours of continuous game viewing, a question was posed: "What can a person learn or gain from all of this college football?" In answer to this question here are several lessons gleaned from watching football and look how applying these tips can make you a better salesperson.

Preparation:
As a salesperson, preparation gets you ready to make the sale and win the account's business. Always have a call plan, account plans and a personal business plan in place to reference. Anticipation is critical in your account relationships, knowing more about your customers gives you the advantage. Selling, just like college football, is a year-round activity. Do the little things today that win the big things later.

Practice:
Practice to become as perfect as you are able, then you can handle actual situations with confidence. Losers believe practice is for someone else. Then while face-to-face with a decision-maker they do not execute at a high level. Learn and practice the winning techniques -- it's your choice to be a winner.

Goals:
Know what you want and figure out what it will take to get you there. Winners take their goals and break them down into measurable units. Knowing what has to be done gives you an advantage over the "wing it" crowd. Having goals regarding measurements is similar to having an offensive and defensive game plan in football. A defensive plan is about retaining your existing customer base -- how do you keep your best customers? An offensive game plan is directed at selecting target customers and identifying how to win these accounts.

I have been a professional salesperson for over 35 years and finally have a good retort for all of us who consider a day spent watching collegiate football on TV a day well-spent. Now, thanks to the insights of Voss Graham, founder and CEO of InnerActive Consulting Group inneractiveconsulting.com I can finally justify my hobby as a sales aid. Thanks, Voss!

Postscript: Remember, the best way to show solidarity with your college teams is to travel with Swiss Army's collegiate luggage and business gear, available only through our company's website. That way, when you say "Go Team" you will really be going in style.

The New Catalog is Almost Here!

2007-12-26T15:24:00.003-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.Com - Where facts and opinions get equal time.

We are now in the unique space in time known as "after" the Holidays. As a professional salesperson for most of my adult life, I have also heard it referred to as the "Dead Zone" or "The Forgotten Time" or my favorite: "The Null Void". Suffice to say that nobody wanted to discuss business for next year anytime during December (unless they absolutely had to). But in just six days' time we are all going to be back at our desks, facing the New Year 2008 head on and wondering "Wha' happened?"

Here at CollegiateLuggage.com, home of Swiss Army brand luggage, travel and business gear (plus the occasional "Chillin' Bowl") we can emphatically tell you what has happened:

1. Our new 2008 catalog has come out, showing upgrades galore for our entire Mobilizer Luggage Line. The stuff looks fantastic!
2. A number of items that didn't perform as well as expected have been discontinued.
3. More than 20 new items have been introduced for the new year.
4. Five new universities are being added to our burgeoning family of colleges offering school logos on Swiss Army luggage (Virginia Tech, Arizona State, Iowa State, Vanderbilt and Alabama State - Birmingham).
5. Forest Green is being added as our newest luggage color.
6. In most cases prices will be ever-so-slightly higher but we have tried to be gentle.

The new schools and the new luggage items will begin showing up on our web pages in January. We urge you to bookmark this page and revisit often so you don't miss out on the new stuff. Our next big "push" will be aimed at folks looking to travel during the insane Men's Basketball Championship followed by extraordinary offers for Graduation, 2008.

In conclusion: 2007 was a good year for CollegiateLuggage.com with our overall collegiate luggage business more than tripling over the previous year. Our aim is to add another 25 schools, minimum, to our website while continuing to deliver the same top quality, lifetime-guaranteed Swiss Army travel & business gear to our customers.

We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you again in 2008.

Men's College Basketball: Beware Cinderella

2007-12-19T16:56:00.002-05:00

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions come to schmooze.

Any team hoping to become the Cinderella of the NCAA tournament must tap into its inner David. Forget the glass slipper, bring a slingshot. To knock off "the big guys, the Goliaths," Dick Vitale says, a team needs a strong backcourt and outstanding perimeter players.

Dickie V says that though these upstart teams aren't going to win a national championship, "In the early rounds they'll create problems, go to the Sweet 16 and beat some of the so-called Goliath's, the superstars, the teams with the great, great visibility.

The NCAA Basketball tournament begins March 20th. Planning on attending? Perhaps travel is involved? Then we heartily recommend Swiss Army Travel Gear with your collegiate logo on it. Proudly show your team spirit when you travel to the big games.