Scholastic Scrimmage
Encyclopedia
Scholastic Scrimmage is a high school
quiz bowl game show
airing on WLVT-TV
and WPSU-TV
(formerly WPSX-TV), and is hosted by Karen Walton and David Price respectively.
Two teams of four players from Pennsylvania
high school
s field questions on a diverse range of academic subjects and score points with correct answers. The winners of each game advance in a competitive, season-long tournament.
The WPSU version of Scholastic Scrimmage was canceled in June 2009 due to a smaller budget.
After answering a toss-up or rebounded toss-up correctly, a team receives one or more bonus questions worth a total of up to 10 points. The team members can confer on the answer, but only the captain can buzz in to answer. Depending upon the number of bonus questions given and answered correctly, the team can receive 0, 5, or 10 bonus points. Play continues in this manner until half-time.
During half-time Dr. Karen Walton, the host, asks the players questions about themselves. These questions vary, but can include their school activities, families, or future plans.
After half-time, play continues exactly as it had in the first segment until a buzzer sounds signaling that time has expired. The team that has the highest score wins the match and advances to the next round of the tournament. The tournament bracket is made up of approximately 32 teams from high schools around the Lehigh Valley (the exact number varies from year to year. At the end of the Scholastic Scrimmage season, the winning school is awarded $4000, with the runner-up receiving $2000. The winning team also receives small trophies, a large trophy for their high school's trophy case, and the bragging rights of being the best team in the Lehigh Valley. The show is currently in its 36th year on WLVT-TV.
Dr. Walton's style of hosting is notable for her not telling players that they have given an incorrect answer. Rather, she will state that the question "goes over to..." the other team or she will state the correct answer.
in Emmaus, Pennsylvania
has the best record, with seven first place and 3 second place finishes. Other notable performances are by Liberty High School
with 4 first place and 5 second place finishes, Southern Lehigh High School
with 4 first place and 3 second place finishes, and Parkland High School
with 4 first place and 2 second place finishes. Below is a record of the all the top finishers.
Regardless of whether the team scores 5 or 10 on the toss-up, they get to confer and try to answer a follow-up question for another 10 points (in season 1, sometimes a two-parter at 5 points per part, but from season 2 onward, always a single 10-point question). The designated captain must buzz in before conferring time expires to indicate readiness to answer.
A distinctive "chime" sound signals the end of each of the first two rounds. At that time, David Price chats with each team (from season 3 on, always the team that just played a Fast Track, see below), and at the downward buzzer that ends the final round, the team in the lead wins, and advances in a season-long tournament (seasons 1 through 3; see the section on the Tournament below for season 4 changes). The winning school receives one scholarship which they may give to any student to attend any Penn State campus. In season 3, each member of the championship team received a ring engraved with the show's logo, much like an NFL Super Bowl ring
; this also occurred at the end of seasons 4 and 5, and all players received a yearbook
of all the participating teams.
The final episode is an hour in length. In the first season, there were three extended-length rounds. In seasons 2 and 3, there were four rounds in the game (and two Fast Track rounds to each team starting in the third season, the second pair being back-to-back after the third round; see below). The chime signals completion of the first three rounds, and, as always, the downward buzzer ends the game. Seasons 4 and 5 saw the teams play 5 rounds, with a Fast Track after each of the first four rounds (see below).
In season 4, because of the expansion to 82 teams, the top 8 highest-scoring teams from the opening round, win or lose, played in the round of 16. The next 16 highest-scoring teams, again, win or lose, played a wild-card round of 8 matches for the remaining 8 spots in the round of 16.
In season 5, there was no longer a wild-card round. Only the 16 highest-scoring teams from the qualifying round qualified for the round of 16.
In season 6, the 90-team field is divided into three separate brackets of 30 schools each based on school size. Each bracket is a single-elimination tournament
in and of itself, except that each division's highest-scoring non-winning team from the first round is given a spot in the second round.
Note that most winning scores are between 150 and 250. The higher scores in the Championship game in seasons 1-5 are due to its expanded length.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
quiz bowl game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
airing on WLVT-TV
WLVT-TV
WLVT-TV "PBS 39" is a Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station serving the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania in the United States.The station signed on September 7, 1965 as a National Educational Television affiliate...
and WPSU-TV
WPSU-TV
WPSU-TV is the Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station for the Allegheny area of Pennsylvania that is licensed to Clearfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 15 from its transmitter located seven miles north of Clearfield on McGeorge Road in...
(formerly WPSX-TV), and is hosted by Karen Walton and David Price respectively.
Two teams of four players from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s field questions on a diverse range of academic subjects and score points with correct answers. The winners of each game advance in a competitive, season-long tournament.
The WPSU version of Scholastic Scrimmage was canceled in June 2009 due to a smaller budget.
Game rules
The game is played in one round of 24 minutes with a half-time separating the round into two segments. The game begins with a toss-up question. Any Player from either team can buzz in to answer the toss-up question, but the players may not confer with their team members. Players must buzz in before time expires to answer the question. The first player to buzz in and give the correct answer earns 10 points and a chance at a related bonus question for their team. If a player answers incorrectly, his/her team loses 5 points from their score (scores can become negative) and his/her team can no longer buzz in for that question. The question is then directed to the opposing team to buzz in (they may not confer). If one of the opposing team members answers the rebounded toss-up correctly his/her team scores 5 points and a chance at a related bonus question. If he or she answers incorrectly on the rebounded toss-up question, his/her team does not lose any points and the contest continues with another toss-up. Similarly, if neither team buzzes in within the time limit, the contest continues with another toss-up.After answering a toss-up or rebounded toss-up correctly, a team receives one or more bonus questions worth a total of up to 10 points. The team members can confer on the answer, but only the captain can buzz in to answer. Depending upon the number of bonus questions given and answered correctly, the team can receive 0, 5, or 10 bonus points. Play continues in this manner until half-time.
During half-time Dr. Karen Walton, the host, asks the players questions about themselves. These questions vary, but can include their school activities, families, or future plans.
After half-time, play continues exactly as it had in the first segment until a buzzer sounds signaling that time has expired. The team that has the highest score wins the match and advances to the next round of the tournament. The tournament bracket is made up of approximately 32 teams from high schools around the Lehigh Valley (the exact number varies from year to year. At the end of the Scholastic Scrimmage season, the winning school is awarded $4000, with the runner-up receiving $2000. The winning team also receives small trophies, a large trophy for their high school's trophy case, and the bragging rights of being the best team in the Lehigh Valley. The show is currently in its 36th year on WLVT-TV.
Dr. Walton's style of hosting is notable for her not telling players that they have given an incorrect answer. Rather, she will state that the question "goes over to..." the other team or she will state the correct answer.
Records
In the 28-year history of Scholastic Scrimmage, Emmaus High SchoolEmmaus High School
Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state....
in Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Emmaus is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located five miles southwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Emmaus was 11,313 at the 2000 census...
has the best record, with seven first place and 3 second place finishes. Other notable performances are by Liberty High School
Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
with 4 first place and 5 second place finishes, Southern Lehigh High School
Southern Lehigh High School
Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District....
with 4 first place and 3 second place finishes, and Parkland High School
Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District....
with 4 first place and 2 second place finishes. Below is a record of the all the top finishers.
Past Scholastic Scrimmage champions
| Year | First Place | Second Place |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
| 2010 | Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
| 2009 | Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
Wilson Area High School Wilson Area High School Wilson Area High School is a four-year public high school located in Wilson, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States... |
| 2008 | Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 2007 | Parkland High School Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.... |
Whitehall High School Whitehall High School Whitehall High School may refer to:*Whitehall Senior High School — Whitehall, Michigan*Whitehall High School — Whitehall, Montana*Whitehall High School — Whitehall, Pennsylvania... |
| 2006 | Allentown Central Catholic High School Allentown Central Catholic High School Allentown Central Catholic High School is a private, parochial school located at 301 North Fourth Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States... |
Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
| 2005 | Allentown Central Catholic High School Allentown Central Catholic High School Allentown Central Catholic High School is a private, parochial school located at 301 North Fourth Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States... |
Freedom High School Freedom High School (Pennsylvania) Freedom High School is a public high school, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. Freedom is one of two public high schools in the Bethlehem Area School District. It is located at 3149 Chester Avenue, Bethlehem Township.The total... |
| 2004 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Kutztown High School Kutztown Area High School Kutztown Area High School is located at 50 Trexler Avenue in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA. Kutztown is sandwiched between Allentown and Reading in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. One section was built in 1960, another constructed in 1973. The entire physical plant has not since been... |
| 2003 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
| 2002 | Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
| 2001 | Parkland High School Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.... |
William Allen High School William Allen High School William Allen High School is one of two public high schools of the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 2000 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Parkland High School Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.... |
| 1999 | Nazareth High School Nazareth Area High School Nazareth High School is a public high school located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Nazareth Area School District and serves grades 9 through 12. Its mascot is the Blue Eagle and school colors are blue and white. Student enrollment for the... |
Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
| 1998 | Easton Area High School | Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School is a public high school located at 1100 West Main Street in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Mountaineer. The school is part of the Stroudsburg Area School District.-Academics:... |
| 1997 | Saucon Valley High School Saucon Valley High School Saucon Valley High School is a four-year public high school in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located at 2100 Polk Valley Road, Hellertown, PA, 18055, within Northampton County.... |
Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 1996 | Easton Area High School | Pen Argyl High School Pen Argyl Area High School Pen Argyl Area High School is a four-year public high school located in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Pen Argyl Area School District.Its colors are green and white and its mascot is the Green Knight.... |
| 1995 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 1994 | Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
Bangor High School Bangor Area High School Bangor Area High School is a four-year public high school located in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Bangor Area School District. Its colors are maroon and white and its mascot is the Slater.... |
| 1993 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 1992 | William Allen High School William Allen High School William Allen High School is one of two public high schools of the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
Moravian Academy Moravian Academy Moravian Academy, whose headmaster is George King, is a prekindergarten through 12th grade coeducational college preparatory school located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the United States... |
| 1991 | William Allen High School William Allen High School William Allen High School is one of two public high schools of the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
| 1990 | Parkland High School Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.... |
Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School is a public high school located at 1100 West Main Street in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Mountaineer. The school is part of the Stroudsburg Area School District.-Academics:... |
| 1989 | Freedom High School Freedom High School (Pennsylvania) Freedom High School is a public high school, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. Freedom is one of two public high schools in the Bethlehem Area School District. It is located at 3149 Chester Avenue, Bethlehem Township.The total... |
Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 1988 | Parkland High School Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.... |
William Allen High School William Allen High School William Allen High School is one of two public high schools of the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
| 1987 | Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
Dieruff High School Louis E. Dieruff High School Louis E. Dieruff High School is a public high school located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school is named after Louis E. Dieruff, a noted educator in the Allentown School District.... |
| 1986 | Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
| 1985 | Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School is a public high school located at 1100 West Main Street in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Mountaineer. The school is part of the Stroudsburg Area School District.-Academics:... |
Bethlehem Catholic High School |
| 1984 | Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School Stroudsburg High School is a public high school located at 1100 West Main Street in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Mountaineer. The school is part of the Stroudsburg Area School District.-Academics:... |
| 1983 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Parkland High School Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Parkland High School, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.... |
| 1982 | Liberty High School Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
Wilson High School Wilson Area High School Wilson Area High School is a four-year public high school located in Wilson, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States... |
| 1981 | Emmaus High School Emmaus High School Emmaus High School is a public high school located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 in Pennsylvania's East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
Freedom High School Freedom High School (Pennsylvania) Freedom High School is a public high school, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. Freedom is one of two public high schools in the Bethlehem Area School District. It is located at 3149 Chester Avenue, Bethlehem Township.The total... |
| 1980 | Freedom High School Freedom High School (Pennsylvania) Freedom High School is a public high school, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. Freedom is one of two public high schools in the Bethlehem Area School District. It is located at 3149 Chester Avenue, Bethlehem Township.The total... |
Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
| 1979 | Salisbury High School Salisbury High School (Pennsylvania) Salisbury High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:Salisbury Township was started in 1753, and the educational system consisted of single room schools, however as time passed the need for an organized school... |
Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School Southern Lehigh High School is a four-year public high school located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Southern Lehigh School District.... |
| 1978 | ||
| 1977 | ||
| 1976 | Freedom High School Freedom High School (Pennsylvania) Freedom High School is a public high school, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. Freedom is one of two public high schools in the Bethlehem Area School District. It is located at 3149 Chester Avenue, Bethlehem Township.The total... |
|
| 1975 | Dieruff High School Louis E. Dieruff High School Louis E. Dieruff High School is a public high school located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The school is named after Louis E. Dieruff, a noted educator in the Allentown School District.... |
WPSU-TV 3 version
The game is played in three rounds of approximately 6 minutes each. Each round begins with host David Price asking a toss-up question. Players buzz in to answer the toss-up question; the first player to buzz in with a correct answer earns 10 points and a chance at a related bonus question (a "follow-up") for their team. An incorrect answer incurs no penalty, but the opposing team gets to try to buzz in and score 5 points on a rebounded toss-up.Regardless of whether the team scores 5 or 10 on the toss-up, they get to confer and try to answer a follow-up question for another 10 points (in season 1, sometimes a two-parter at 5 points per part, but from season 2 onward, always a single 10-point question). The designated captain must buzz in before conferring time expires to indicate readiness to answer.
A distinctive "chime" sound signals the end of each of the first two rounds. At that time, David Price chats with each team (from season 3 on, always the team that just played a Fast Track, see below), and at the downward buzzer that ends the final round, the team in the lead wins, and advances in a season-long tournament (seasons 1 through 3; see the section on the Tournament below for season 4 changes). The winning school receives one scholarship which they may give to any student to attend any Penn State campus. In season 3, each member of the championship team received a ring engraved with the show's logo, much like an NFL Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
; this also occurred at the end of seasons 4 and 5, and all players received a yearbook
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
of all the participating teams.
The final episode is an hour in length. In the first season, there were three extended-length rounds. In seasons 2 and 3, there were four rounds in the game (and two Fast Track rounds to each team starting in the third season, the second pair being back-to-back after the third round; see below). The chime signals completion of the first three rounds, and, as always, the downward buzzer ends the game. Seasons 4 and 5 saw the teams play 5 rounds, with a Fast Track after each of the first four rounds (see below).
Changes for season 3
- The first round now has each team alternating answering tossup-style questions for 10 points and a chance at a follow-up question for another 10 points. On the initial question, just like regular toss-up questions, players buzz in, and may not confer. Each team gets an equal number of turns (usually 5 or 6, depending on time available). Prior to this season, all rounds used a pure toss-up/follow-up format.
- Before each chat segment, one team plays a "Fast Track," a lightning round consisting of up to 10 short toss-up-style questions in 60 seconds, at 10 points each. Answering time is shortened to three seconds (from 10), and players must buzz in for the question and may not confer. Note that a player need only buzz in before the synthesized "crash" sound signals the end of the 60 seconds. The first "Fast Track" goes to the team trailing after Round 1, and the second one goes to the team that did not play the first one.
- During the second and third rounds, gameplay is just like in the first two seasons, except that a wrong answer to an interrupted toss-up now costs that team 5 points. A rebounded question is worth 10 points if a penalty was charged, 5 if not.
The tournament
In seasons 1 through 3, the tournament used the following format: An opening round was played with all the teams. Then, additional qualifying matches were played with the lowest-scoring winners if there were more than 64 teams, or with the highest-scoring non-winners if there were less. Either way, this would result in a 32-team elimination tournament that continued until there were two teams left, who would play off in the hour-long special.In season 4, because of the expansion to 82 teams, the top 8 highest-scoring teams from the opening round, win or lose, played in the round of 16. The next 16 highest-scoring teams, again, win or lose, played a wild-card round of 8 matches for the remaining 8 spots in the round of 16.
In season 5, there was no longer a wild-card round. Only the 16 highest-scoring teams from the qualifying round qualified for the round of 16.
In season 6, the 90-team field is divided into three separate brackets of 30 schools each based on school size. Each bracket is a single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
in and of itself, except that each division's highest-scoring non-winning team from the first round is given a spot in the second round.
Changes for season 4
- The back curtain is now dark blue as in season 1 (where seasons 2 and 3 used a yellow curtain).
- The Fast Track animation segue was changed.
- In season 3, the words "Fast Track" flew in onto the screen as computerized ribbons in various shades of blue and white filled the screen. The ribbons would dissipate to reveal the screen setup for the Fast Track (see below), and the "Fast Track" text would fly out.
- Season 4 sees the Fast Track segue now more akin (to a degree) to those played to start each round. The top and bottom halves of a Fast Track title card (with the words "Fast Track" in duplicate, white text on a blue card on top and blue text on white on the bottom) slide in from the sides of the screen and remain there briefly. Then the card is split vertically and slides out the top and bottom to reveal the Fast Track screen setup.
- The screen setup for when a team is taking a Fast Track was changed slightly.
- When the yellow team (always the first team alphabetically) plays their Fast Track, they are placed in a large box on the left-hand side of the screen, corresponding to the camera-left position on set; in that instance, David is placed in a small box on the right-hand side of the screen. The clock graphic flies in from the right and the numbers angle upward.
- When the blue team (always the second team alphabetically) plays, they are placed on the right-hand side of the screen (with their camera-right position on-set), David's box is on the left-hand side, and the clock flies in from the left and the numbers angle downward. This was the setup for both teams, regardless of buzzer color, in season 3.
- In episodes from earlier in the season, at the end of the show, the box for the credits squeezed in. In prior seasons, the show would fade to a split screen of the set and the credits from a sponsorship plug. This has since returned.
- The final show featured 5 rounds. Rounds 1, 3, and 4 were the alternating tossup-style questions with bonuses, and rounds 2 and 5 were tossup/follow-up. A Fast Track was played after each of the first 4 rounds, with rounds 1 and 3 having their Fast Tracks go to the team with the lower score at that point.
- The final show was also the first to feature a live studio audience, as well as a balloon drop at the end of the show.
Changes for Season 5
- Popular culture has now been discontinued as possible subject matter.
- The "think music" that plays as the 10-second answering time elapses has been changed. The first two shows featured music resembling a futuristic echoing bell over a sort of muted stopwatchStopwatchA stopwatch is a handheld timepiece designed to measure the amount of time elapsed from a particular time when activated to when the piece is deactivated. A large digital version of a stopwatch designed for viewing at a distance, as in a sports stadium, is called a stopclock.The timing functions...
tick sound effect. Currently, the music is techno/hip-hop in style, and slightly resembles the original think music. - The credits now appear at the bottom of the screen instead of using a split screen, as in prior seasons.
- The qualifying rounds now feed into a simple 16-team tournament, as stated above.
- Once in the 16-team tournament, the last Round 1 question for each team is given in a video by Penn State faculty (dubbed an "experts" question).
Changes for Season 6
- The 90 teams participating are divided into three groups of 30 teams based on each school's enrollment in grades 9-12. Each division plays its own single-elimination tournament (with a "wild card" team with the highest non-winning score advancing with the 15 winners to the round of 16), thus there will be three champions for the season.
- All episodes are 30 minutes in length, including the championship games.
- The team captain is positioned closest to David, as opposed to previous seasons, where he or she would be the second player out.
- The game was changed midway through the season (beginning with the "Rounds of 16"). Further changes will be made with each new round.
- The Rounds of 16 feature the following changes:
- The game now begins with a "Quick Quiz." Each team is given 5 short toss-up style questions valued at 10 points apiece. The round is untimed, other than a 3-second time limit for each question. Some cosmetic elements of the "Fast Track" carry over to the "Quick Quiz" segment, including the title card and the crash that signals completion of the fifth question.
- There is no longer a round where each team is given its own toss-up style question for a follow-up. All three main rounds (Round 1, Round 2, and the Final Round) follow the basic toss-up/follow-up format. A "Fast Track" is still given after Round 1 and Round 2.
- After the second "Fast Track," there is a segment called "Sights & Sounds," a round consisting entirely of audio toss-up questions and picture-based toss-up questions. No follow-up questions are given during "Sights & Sounds." There are 6 questions in this round (3 audio, 3 visual). As with the first and second main rounds, the end of "Sights & Sounds" is signaled with a chime. "Sights & Sounds" is the only round that will feature audio or visual questions.
- In the first of the three main rounds, a follow-up question may be a true-or-false statement.
- Though not strictly a change in the rules, the yellow team is given the first chat period, whether or not they got the first "Fast Track," and the blue team is given the second chat period. The introduction of the coaches and alternates (although still in static photographs) has been moved to the end of the chat segments.
- Because of the changes to the rest of the game, the three main rounds are shortened.
- The Rounds of 8 were originally set to undergo the following (cancelled) change:
- During Round 1, 6 of the questions were going to be in four-choice format. Each team would have been given the first attempt at three of them. Unlike other directed questions (e.g., "Fast Track," "Quick Quiz"), the other team could have stolen the question.
- The "Featured Foursomes" were set to add the following (cancelled) change:
- Between "Sights & Sounds" and the Final Round, an additional segment, called "Pick-a-Cat," would have taken place. Each team would have had a choice from among 4 categories containing 3 questions each. Questions could not have been stolen by the opposing team.
- The Rounds of 16 feature the following changes:
- Many cosmetic changes have been made, including the following:
- The set now has a brick wall-style background.
- Both the theme music and the "think music" have been changed.
- The on-screen scoreboard has been changed: a rectangle flies onto the screen and splits into the two triangular score panels. The triangles flip over each time the score increases; the number flashes briefly when a team is assessed a penalty. Sound effects are played when the scoreboard appears and when the score changes.
- David Price now introduces the show himself.
- The logo is no longer found on-set.
Past Winners
The past winners are as follows:| Season | First Place | Second Place | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 (Div. 1) | Penns Manor | Southern Fulton | 275-225 |
| 2008-09 (Div. 2) | Bishop McCort | Mercersburg Academy | 275-255 |
| 2008-09 (Div. 3) | State College | Hollidaysburg | 290-260 |
| 2007-08 | State College | Hollidaysburg | 580-370 |
| 2006-07 | State College | Somerset | 600-390 |
| 2005-06 | Bradford Bradford, Pennsylvania Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century... |
Loyalsock | 515-415 |
| 2004-05 | State College State College, Pennsylvania State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double... |
Bradford Bradford, Pennsylvania Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century... |
835-355 |
| 2003-04 | Bradford Bradford, Pennsylvania Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century... |
Kane | 475-400 |
Note that most winning scores are between 150 and 250. The higher scores in the Championship game in seasons 1-5 are due to its expanded length.
Trivia
- The "Game OverGame overGame Over is a message in video games which signals that the game has ended, often due to a negative outcome - although the phrase sometimes follows the end credits after successful completion of a game...
" buzzer is never sounded when there is a tie at the end of regulation. Instead, the match continues until the tie is broken, then the buzzer is sounded at the end of that complete question cycle. Because of this, David never announces (or needs to announce) when a tiebreaker is in play. (Generally, questions with no change in score under these conditions are edited out.) However, the chimes for rounds 1 and 2 (and the additional rounds in the championship game) may be sounded whether there is a tie or not. When there is a tie after round 1, the yellow team is given that "Fast Track," and the blue team is given theirs after round 2. Similar rules are in place after round 3 of the season championship game.
- In season 2, David almost always wore a shirt and jacket, which could vary from show to show. In season 3, David always wore a blue button-down shirt with a small Scholastic Scrimmage logo (which he would later use on Huddle Up Nittany Lion Fans, a program based around Penn State football that he created himself; the logo was covered, as he wore a jacket over it). His shirt for seasons 4 and 5 is similar, except it is red. He no longer wears a shirt with the show logo; however, his shirt sometimes bears the WPSU logo.
- David Price was not the host for the first season (2003-04). The hosting duties were handled by Katie O'Toole.
- Owing to a reduction in state funding following a budget deficit in Pennsylvania, Scholastic Scrimmage was cancelled following the 2008-09 season. Eight WPSU employees, including Price, were laid off.