Ted invites his former architecture professor to the opening of the GNB building as a way to prove him wrong for telling him he would never succeed as an architect. When his professor returns the invite claiming not to know who Ted is, he goes back to the Wesleyan campus to confront him but comes to realize that his preoccupation with getting recognition stems from his own personal demons. Robin learns the same lesson when she recognizes that her animosity for Patrice is a result of her feelings for Barney. Marshall and Lily are frightened by a creepy acquaintance from college who turns out to be harmless. Barney takes his jinx curse seriously and maintains his silence until Ted says his name, allowing Barney to reveal to Ted that he is planning to ask Patrice to marry him.