A Farewell to R's

[woozy]

Wow this was a cute puzzle. Took me a fair minute to find the meta but to be honest I don't understand how it's "fitting"? Anybody able to explain the connection for me?

Edit: Thanks to Rick and Kay for the responses! A classy solve.

Hmmm.....

I don't see how it was solvable if one can't see why it is fitting. I'm wondering if there actually *is* a mechanism. I was amused that there didn't seem to be one but it was solvable anyway. But then I had odd counting issues....

I think I found all the deliberate easter eggs that lead unquestionably to the meta, but perhaps I missed the mechanism entirely.

Anyone want to discuss (via PM)?

[HeadinHome]

finally figured it out… i was applying the clues to the wrong targets for a while and coming up with some promising material, but then I saw the intended targets and grins ensued. Cute… and off the couch I am.

[Ergcat]

Off the couch ( confirmed on Crosshare). Didn’t see anything yesterday but picked it up again today and zeroed in for the answer. Fun puzzle. Thank you, Rick!

[woozy]

Wow... appearantly I got this entirely without getting the mechanism at all.

[Cap'n Rick]

Wow... appearantly I got this entirely without getting the mechanism at all.

So at least we now agree that there is a mechanism, right @woozy?

[Dplass]

Wow... appearantly I got this entirely without getting the mechanism at all.

So did I, but I back-solved the mechanism afterwards.

[vandono]

16 1/2 years of working for a (more-or-less) family-owned Boston-based investment company helped me to see the 7 things I believe are mentioned in 24D, and that gave me a couple possible answers. I decided to let it sit for a day but still don't see anything else. So I guessed those and one was right. So I'm off the couch, but can't help feeling like I may have lost something in the cushion somewhere. Thanks for a wicked fun puzzle, Cap'n!

[Cap'n Rick]

Day 2 and six more exhausted Muggles have made it from couch to finish line:

MaineMarge
HeadinHome
Ergcat
Jim Dean
DrTom
vandono


Let's see if we can nudge a few more over the line:

The 7 grid entries that you seek are symmetrically-located.

When spoken aloud with a Boston accent, the 7 grid entries (in grid order) make up a familiar quote.

Take another look at the clues associated with the 7 entries that make up the quote.

The first letters of the clues associated with the quote spell the meta answer, which is the university's official color.

For you solvers from the South, the clue for 6-Across can also be considered a hint (but for a different university).

Please feel free to PM me with questions and/or answers.

Rick

[vandono]

Ah, the part behind Nudge 4 is what I was missing that would have made the correct answer obvious. Clever!

[Dplass]

Ah, the part behind Nudge 4 is what I was missing that would have made the correct answer obvious. Clever!

Same.

[bhamren]

Needed the nudge to get off the couch

[Dow Jones]

Off the couch after the nudges. Thanks for the meta, Cap'n Rick.

[Ergcat]

The “Special Southern Nudge” was perfect!
In fact, when I was filling out the grid that *ALternate* answer was the one I put down originally! Roll Tide!

[MaineMarge]

@Cap'n Rick this was ah supah fun meta.
Not tah quibble, but thuh Maine accent’s as good as any below Kittry.
I’m hopin’ you guys kin come up tah thuh County this summah tah visit owah gahdens.
You’ll be able tah git heah from theyah.
(Aroostook County is thuh BIGGEST county east of thuh Mississippi)Good xword clue.

You’ll probly git tah see Cap’n Rick’s speshul meta culah heah.

(Spell checkah on ovahload)

[TeamDoubleTow]

We needed the first 2 nudges to get to the laugh! Thanks so much for the fun puzzle. Kinda of sad it is ovah!

[CPJohnson]

Got it, but needed the nudges.

[Cinny]

Finally off the couch, but needed nudges! This was a tough one for me!

[Dplass]

@Cap'n Rick this was ah supah fun meta.
Not tah quibble, but thuh Maine accent’s as good as any below Kittry.
I’m hopin’ you guys kin come up tah thuh County this summah tah visit owah gahdens.
You’ll be able tah git heah from theyah.
(Aroostook County is thuh BIGGEST county east of thuh Mississippi)Good xword clue.

You’ll probly git tah see Cap’n Rick’s speshul meta culah heah.
CA7AFA7F-19CC-488A-9C4A-2AF167959B76.jpeg
(Spell checkah on ovahload)

Brava!

[Cap'n Rick]

Day 3 of our "meta-thon", and 12 more Muggles have finished the race:

THC
bhamren
Snood
DebbieC
Dow Jones
Whentheimposter
TeamDoubleTow
Johnny Luau
CPJohnson
mindle
Jeremy Smith
Cinny

This brings the total number of solvers to 63 - a new record for me! Thank you everyone for solving!

Cap'n Rick

[Cap'n Rick]

@Cap'n Rick this was ah supah fun meta.
Not tah quibble, but thuh Maine accent’s as good as any below Kittry.
I’m hopin’ you guys kin come up tah thuh County this summah tah visit owah gahdens.
You’ll be able tah git heah from theyah.
(Aroostook County is thuh BIGGEST county east of thuh Mississippi)Good xword clue.

You’ll probly git tah see Cap’n Rick’s speshul meta culah heah.
CA7AFA7F-19CC-488A-9C4A-2AF167959B76.jpeg
(Spell checkah on ovahload)

Ha ha! Excellent, @MaineMarge! Thanks for helping me with nudges on this one! And thanks for the invite to see your beautiful gardens up in Aroostook County. I didn't think I could get "theyah from heah", but I'll have to try sometime.

Ayuh!