Wildcat: Up or down?

[Gator]

Even though I think it's a proper noun (because it came from the name of a team) AP won't capitalize it some of its stories. I'm sure there's no "proper" style, but what does everyone else do?

 

[sportsguydave]

At my last shop the style was down.

At my next one, when I'm back in the driver's seat, it'll be up.

 

[joe king]

Our style has always been formation names are up -- Wishbone, Run-and-shoot, Wildcat, Veer, Wing-T, etc. The only exception I see in our stylebook is shotgun, and I have no idea why.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I think Herald style was lower-case, but I forget. Most of the papers, magazines, etc. I read use capitalization on formation names. Actually, what the W/wildcat needs is a better name altogether.

 

[zeke12]

I put specific schemes; i.e. Wing-T, Wishbone up.

But spread is so generic that I go down.

So I suppose the argument is whether the Wildcat is specific enough to warrant upstyle.

I made my choice just there.

 

[Irishcheesehead]

What about west coast offense?

 

[joe king]

I think Herald style was lower-case, but I forget. Most of the papers, magazines, etc. I read use capitalization on formation names. Actually, what the W/wildcat needs is a better name altogether.

How about calling it what it really is -- the Single Wing.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Joe, it isn't a single wing, because there are two, not three guys in the backfield between the tackles. It's a double-wing, because the quarterback is split out. Of course, the double-wing was just a frill placed on the single wing when teams actually had guys who could pass. Then they cut to the chase and went to the T-formation.

 

[deskslave]

What about west coast offense?

West Coast is capitalized on its own, so West Coast offense would be as well.

Zeke, I think wishbone is generic enough to be down. And I think I've used wing-T in the past, but I could be making that up.

 

[clutchcargo]

coke or Coke?

 

[Rhody31]

It's a basic formation. It just has the running back lining up at quarterback, which wouldn't make him a running back at all.

 

[mediaguy]

My paper has it lowercase now, and I disagree. It's taken from a proper noun, and just because that proper noun also exists as a common noun doesn't mean you take away the word's origin. If it were called the Genesee or the Pasqualoni, you wouldn't lowercase it, right?

I think the term is getting overused, to where any offensive play not involving the starting quarterback taking the snap is called a Wildcat formation. There are variations where the regular QB lines up as a receiver that aren't necessarily Wildcat plays.

 

[Football_Bat]

I saw a play last night where the QB appeared to be looking to the sideline for a signal, and behind him the tailback took the snap and ran for a first down. Pretty sneaky.

 

[crusoes]

Or were they running the Pretty Sneaky?

 

[Gator]

coke or Coke?

My paper has it lowercase now, and I disagree. It's taken from a proper noun, and just because that proper noun also exists as a common noun doesn't mean you take away the word's origin. If it were called the Genesee or the Pasqualoni, you wouldn't lowercase it, right?

This is a good point. The noun is a proper noun, and now it exists as a common noun. And speaking of Coke, here's an example of how a proper noun is often used as a common noun. Would you write:

"Coke-bottle glasses" or "coke-bottle glasses?"

 

[BillyT]

I think Herald style was lower-case, but I forget. Most of the papers, magazines, etc. I read use capitalization on formation names. Actually, what the W/wildcat needs is a better name altogether.

Don't say that Michael.

I was at a game in Greenwich (GREEN-witch), NY, last week and they called it the "WitchCat."

Yeah, the Greenwich Witches.

 

[BillyT]

Oh, last week was the first time I saw it. I used Wildcat, and the desj made it lower-case.

I agree with those that say it's a proper name.

 

[Petrie]

Jacquizz Rodgers referred to Oregon State's version as the Wild Beaver earlier this week...

 

[Batman]

Jacquizz Rodgers referred to Oregon State's version as the Wild Beaver earlier this week...

Thank goodness South Carolina doesn't run it.

 

[nmmetsfan]

Jacquizz Rodgers referred to Oregon State's version as the Wild Beaver earlier this week...

Thank goodness South Carolina doesn't run it.

Wildcock does in Beavers