One thing a particularly careful viewer might have noticed is the new signage at NCAA tournament sites.

The NCAA has gradually moved away from those halfcourt banners that used to be attached to the scorer's table. You know the ones: Long white banners with four schools listed at each end.

They became blue in recent years, and some venues even made them electronic. But so far as I can tell, the banners are being replaced each game to include only the teams on the court at that time.

That's a shame, since one of the subtle Diamondback traditions back in the day was to come home with a banner from Maryland's first/second round site. (This was when Maryland actually played in the first and second round every year).

One guy hauled a rolled up banner back from Minneapolis in 2000 (and nearly left it on his flight). Another snagged one from Boise in 2001. And (since both the statute of limitations has run out and a maintenance worker actually gave them to me) I walked away with both the alternate D.C. banner (with play-in game LOSER Alcorn State listed instead of Siena) and a gaudy CBS Sports sign in 2002. Friends will attest the CBS banner now hangs in my guest bedroom.

As for the long D.C. sign (the eight teams on it: Alcorn State, Connecticut, Hampton, Maryland, Michigan State, N.C. State, St. John's, Wisconsin), it is rolled up and stashed by a bookshelf at my house. Turns out its hard to find a way to make one of those suckers fit someplace.

Alas, those with slightly kleptomaniacal tendencies will be turned away these days. The NCAA has seen to that. Just one more piece of illegal fun the folks in Indianapolis have put the kibosh on.

--- Patrick Stevens