Back in 2005, when the first scholarly symposium on Bruce Springsteen took place, heavy hints were dropped that the man himself might make a surprise appearance. He didn't. Four years later, he's getting another chance.

Virginia Tech University, Penn State University at Altoona, and Monmouth University are jointly sponsoring "Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium" through Sunday at Monmouth's campus, with sidetrips to significant spots on the Jersey Shore, where Springsteen got his start. Will he show this year? (As if you'd believe us.)

No one has suggested that four lads from Dublin might show up at "U2: The Hype and Feedback," October 2-4 at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C. But with the band playing an October 3 gig down the road in Raleigh, you can't fault fans for hoping, can you?

If anyone were going to turn out for the conference being held in his honor, we'd put our money on Rod Serling. The legendary writer will be the subject of "Celebrating 50 Years of The Twilight Zone," October 2-3 at Ithaca College, home of the Rod Serling Archives and the place where Serling taught from 1967 to 1975. Serling, of course, died that year following heart surgery at the too-young age of 50, but we've watched enough Twilight Zone to know that a plot twist is inevitable.

One guy who certainly won't be at his own conference is Robin Hood. The outlaw will be the subject of "Robin Hood: Media Creature," taking place October 22-25 at the University of Rochester and sponsored by the International Association for Robin Hood Studies.

A bit of advice to Staybridge Suites, the official hotel of the conference: Watch the towels. --Don Troop