HELP! I need a headline! HELP!

[bigwillq]

On one of the pages I am paginating tonight I work, I am running a story on the Virginia Tech football team.

The plot of the story is how football is uniting the Hokies after the shootings this spring and over the Michael Vick, who is an alum, saga.



So I have as my headline


Football unites ****** Hokies.


I need a word to describe the Hokies.


I originally had: Football unites embattled Hokies but embattled is such a negative connotation.

I want a more uplifting word to describe the state of the Hokies, all they've been through, etc...


So please help me out!

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. What's your hed spec?

About how many characters we got for this word?

[bigwillq]

4. I can probably fit 10-12 characters

It looks like this on the page

Football unites
embattled Hokies

And right now it's a 56-point header

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. I'm thinking something like 'wounded'

but that could offend some tender sensibilities.

"Reeling"? :shrug:

I dunno, man. Hard to think of one when you're not in the newsroom. Wish I could be of more help.

[bigwillq]

20. I thought of wounded but

I thought it was offensive or at least I thought that some people would think it would be offensive.

[Oeditpus Rex]

28. Yup

It works, but somebody would take it the wrong way.

[bigwillq]

31. I am think I am going with

dauntless, as suggested below.

[Haole Girl]

33. eeeek....

I hope it's ok. I mean... it sounds a little super-heroish...

But, you know more about this stuff than I! :scared:

[sasquatch]

2. "inflicted"

:shrug:

[bluethruandthru]

3. Hopeful n/t

[Haole Girl]

5. Homecoming?

Is it their homecoming?


Hey! Where have you been?!

Can't you hear your pages from where you are? ;-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=6836776

[bigwillq]

6. No it just talks about

the upcoming season and their first game.


I've been busy with work and all. Glad you were concerned. :hi: :hug:

[Haole Girl]

13. How about just using the word "returning"?

:hi: :hug:

[bigwillq]

17. A bit boring

sorry but it is.

I want a word that describes what they went through, the way they handled it, etc.....

Someone mentioned dauntless before and I may go with that one.


:hi: :) Thanks for helping!

[Haole Girl]

21. I would be careful not to offend, though....

The wounds are still very fresh. Just IMHO... regarding the families of those who died, you know. :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. I wouldn't

If they're dauntless, why would they need uniting? :shrug:



Dog, how I miss newsroom word-fests. :(

[lizziegrace]

27. How about undaunted?

:shrug: It would require a headline re-write though. ;)

[Oeditpus Rex]

29. 'Un' is kinda awkward in a hed

and in journalism in general.

Besides, it's really the same thing.




Damn, I feel like an editor again. :D

[lizziegrace]

30. That's why I deal with numbers

;)


:hug:

[bigwillq]

37. I think I am now going with

resilient

[Oeditpus Rex]

38. That's better than 'dauntless'

Too bad you're tied into that 2-2 spec. Not much room to work with.

[Haole Girl]

Excellent choice!!

:D

[lizziegrace]

7. Returning? Or Hokies Faithful instead of **** Hokies?

:shrug:

[Haole Girl]

Hey I just wrote that too!

GMTA! :hi:

[lizziegrace]

18. Yep!

Jinx...


:hi:

[Haole Girl]

23. Does that mean I can't talk?

Uh oh! :hi:

[lizziegrace]

24. That's what Lelapin used to say

you can still type. ;)

:)

[Haole Girl]

32. Well, that's good!

:-) :hug:

[SoCalDem]

8. Indomitable..definition.. adjective: impossible to subdue

:)

[billyoc]

9. Dauntless. Stick with me on this one, Willy. n/t

[bigwillq]

14. Oohh..I like that one

:)

[JackBeck]

10. Resilient?

[lizziegrace]

12. I like that! n/t

[JackBeck]

34. I do, too.

re·sil·ient–adjective

1. springing back; rebounding.

2. returning to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched.

3. recovering readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyant.

[lizziegrace]

35. Down but not out

so to speak...

:)

[bigwillq]

36. This now may be my choice

:)

[JackBeck]

45. I'm here for ya' anytime, buddy.

:patriot:

[Dangerously Amused]

11. "Okey-Dokey."

:bounce:



Football Unites
Okey-Dokey Hokies.


:7

[lizziegrace]

15. Only you!!!

:hug:




:bounce:

[Dangerously Amused]

19. Heeeee!

:hug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

26. This is why you're an attorney

:spank:

[Dangerously Amused]

42. Shhhhh! Not so loud!

And don't tell my mother! She thinks I play the piano in a brothel.


O8)

[Oeditpus Rex]

44. Isn't that your moonlighting gig?

:shrug:

[mzteris]

25. hmmm.....

a positive word?

Hopeful Hokies

Optimistic Hokies

Heuristic Hokies (?) - okay probably a bit too obscure but it's a great word! 8-)

Expectant Hokies

[Dangerously Amused]

39. "Surviving"?

Okay, okay. My bad. Sorry.


Seriously:


Faithful

Loyal

Hardy

Dauntless

Persevering

Steadfast

Stalwart

Determined

True

True Blue...

[wildhorses]

40. dauntless

Football unites the dauntless Hokies.

:shrug:

:hi:

[Fleshdancer]

41. Football unites recovering Hokies....

or

Football comforts embattled Hokies

Honestly, I think your original is great.

[Oeditpus Rex]

43. Just shoot me now

Heavy-hearted Hokies
not going to the dogs




:hide:

[Dangerously Amused]

46. Okey-dokie Hokies dance hopeful Hokey Pokeys.

[Oeditpus Rex]

47. I take that back

Shoot you, then me.

:spank:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

48. "shaken?"

[wildhorses]

49. football inspires the dauntless hokies

:shrug:

x(