Elon among nation's beautiful campuses

MSN Travel has a slideshow up of some of America's most beautiful college campuses, and Elon University makes the grade.

"Elon is nestled in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, between the mountains and the beach," says the site. "This photo shows the historic heart of the campus, which includes Alamance Hall and Fonville Fountain."

Congrats, Fighting Christians. (Elon will always be the Fighting Christians to me.)

Quick hits: The best in fall foliage and football

Fall foliage season longer than you think

"... Autumn comes early in Alaska, brushing Denali National Park with purple and gold in late August. In warmer climates and near sea level, fall colors can last well into November. Last year, trees in New York City's Central Park were still putting on a show the week before Thanksgiving," says the Associated Press.

"And while New England is the undisputed queen of classic autumn scenery, other regions brag about foliage too, from Yosemite National Park in California to North Carolina's mountains to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The U.S. Forest Service links to fall color reports in all but a few states at http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/. ...

"In most regions, color appears first in northerly areas and higher elevations, then gradually spreads to valleys, coastal areas and southerly regions. But precisely when the leaves turn, and how brilliant the colors will be, can't be predicted too far in advance, because it depends on early fall weather.

" 'One of the things that is really critical is cool nights,' said Howard Neufeld, a professor of plant physiology at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. 'Starting in September, if it starts to get cool but not below freezing, if you have clear cool days and cool nights, it stimulates fall color.' ..."

Speaking of Appalachian ...

"Three-time defending national champion Appalachian State has been ranked No. 1 in The Sports Network's preseason poll for the Football Championship Subdivision.

"Appalachian State received 97 of 101 first-place votes to easily outdistance No. 2 North Dakota State. Northern Iowa was third.

"Elon was ranked 15th," said news reports.

Another 'C' becoming a 'U'

Wouldn't you just know: I go and buy my dad a Lenoir-Rhyne College sweatshirt, and lo and behold, LRC is changing to LRU.

"The board of Lenoir-Rhyne College has voted to change the school's name to Lenoir-Rhyne University," says the Charlotte Observer. "The new name, which was approved Saturday, 'better reflects the expanded offerings the college is planning to pursue,' said Margaret Allen, associate director of marketing and communications."

The move was recommended by a commission created to examine the possible expansion of the 117-year-old college, she said. The change will take time to implement; officials hope to put it into effect in late August.

Among other initiatives, the school is planning to add academic programs and degrees, launching some major construction and renovation projects and is adding a residential neighborhood with houses for sororities, fraternities and other groups.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Granted, I attended a large state university, but I've always romanticized the thought of the small colleges. To me, Elon University just doesn't carry the same cache as Elon College. Same goes for LRC, my father's alma mater. And I've never gotten over Elon changing its mascot ...