I.                    107, 281 roaring fans surrounding you as you gaze down toward a football field. “WE ARE?” the fans shout across the field. “PENN STATE!” the mob engulfing you shouts back.

A.     As an incoming freshman you are not sure how to respond to this madness as this is your first ever time in this venue.

B.     You look around and see something like you have never seen before in your entire life.

C.     Where are you? You are in Beaver Stadium in your first eve football game

D.     Thesis: Beaver Stadium, Home of Nittany Lion Football, is a virtual sanctuary here in Happy Valley

E.      Beaver Stadium is massive in structure and brilliantly designed, stadium perhaps richer in history than any other in the country, and provides students with an outstanding venue to display their school spirit.

II.                 Only the students who reside in Ann Arbor can claim they’re stadium seats more than does Beaver.

A.     First built 2 score and 7 years ago, Beaver Stadium has gone through seven expansions over the years as it more than doubled in size to get to the 107,282 max capacity it is currently at today as listed on www.psu.edu. 

B.     When Beaver sells out, like it does for most home games, it equates to the third largest city in the entire state of Pennsylvania all by itself!

C.     There is more to this amazing place than just its massive size, however. 

                                                                           i.      As described at GOPSUSPORTS.COM, Beaver has gone through several recent renovations to make the stadium more aesthetically pleasing on the interior, and the critics have noticed.

                                                                         ii.      In fact, according to Dennis Dodd, a sportswriter for CBSSportsline.com, Beaver Stadium is the 11^th best college football stadium in the country.

III.               Besides being big, blue, and beautiful, Beaver Stadium is also extremely rich in history.

A.     Named after James A. Beaver, the stadium was dedicated by the University on September 17, 1960 during a 21-0 victory over Boston University.

B.     There is not too much Mr. Beaver didn’t accomplish in his life time. 

                                                                           i.      A former lawyer, Beaver abandoned his occupation to serve on the Union army as a second lieutenant in the Civil War.

                                                                         ii.      He then went on to be governor of Pennsylvania and president of the Penn State Board of trustees. 

C.     While the story behind the stadium’s name is quite impressive, its history lies further than just in the name alone.

D.     On the gridiron, Beaver Stadium has housed some of the greatest teams college football has ever seen.

                                                                           i.      Some of the accomplishments that Beaver can lay claim too include five undefeated seasons, 2 national championships, and a 23 consecutive winning season streak which was snapped in 1987. 

E.      With this rich history both on and off the football field, Beaver Stadium can be easily mistaken for an extravagant museum filled with interesting artifacts.

F.      Do not be confused, however, as it contains one of those inside as well.

IV.              Although Beaver Stadium is indeed a site to see all by itself, it is nothing compared to a packed house on Saturdays.

A.     There is perhaps no better way for students to show their school spirit than supporting the Nittany Lion football team by attending a game at Beaver Stadium. 

B.     Totaling up to 22,000 strong, the student section that resides in Beaver Stadium is a force to be reckoned with

C.     Students campout regularly days, if not a full week before kickoff in Paternoville to get the closest possible seat. 

                                                                           i.      The Paternoville experience is so rewarding that Sports Illustrated ranks it the number one thing to do before you graduate. 

D.     The extent of the students’ loyalty is quite evident in the 2007 student ticket sales, as the entire student section seats sold out in just 59 minutes.

E.      The students’ dedication, intensity, and effectiveness have started to gain respect throughout the media.

F.      When describing the student section, ESPN College Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit called it “the best student section in the country.”

V.                 It is almost impossible to walk into Beaver Stadium and not feel like you are apart of something great.

A.     Whether it be staring up at the stadium, amazed by the brilliant structure and massive size,

B.     hearing the echoes of some of the legends that stepped foot on the gridiron in the stadium’s history,

C.     or feeling chills crawl down the back of your spine as you jump up and down to Zombie Nation with the student section during an annual white out,

D.     there is something to enthuse everyone in the great Beaver Stadium

 

102 More Things You Gotta do Before You Graduate:  Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 21, 2007

	 from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/sioncampus/10/27/east/index.html

Kirk Herbstreit Declares PSU Best Student Section, Youtube.com

	Retrieved July 20, 2007 from http://youtube.com/watch?v=RM28gO8bs_M

Beaver Stadium. Retrieved July 19, 2007, from Penn State University Web site: http://www.psu.edu/ur/about

     	nittany.html 

Beaver Stadium. Retrieved July 19,2007 from PSUSPORTS.COM 

	http://www.gopsusports.com/Facilities/beaverstadium.cfm

 Dennis Dodd. Top College Football Stadiums.  Cbssportsline.com

          Retrieved July 20, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/sioncampus/10/27/east/index.html

 

 

 

Reviews

 

NAME:Caitlin Burnham

 

Comments:  Your enthusiasm for the topic really showed through with your use of language, facial expressions, and tone inflection.  Your attention-getter certainly did its job.  My only advice for next time is to watch your swaying, you had a tendency to sway a bit.

 

 

 

NAME: Mark Stankiewicz

 

 

Comments: Ryan, first off, nice hat. You love football, and it showed in your speech. Good work with this one, nice start. Good eye contact and facial expressions.

 Name: Tamar Brill

Comments: Ryan! As I've told you before, LOVED the speech! I could tell you were very well prepared. Great eye contact! However, you should take a few more pauses throughout your speech to make it more effective and talk slower. With that said, it was an incredibly well written and factual speech. Your hat/outfit was also very fitting. You proved your passion for Penn State football and sports.  

 

 

 

NAME: Joe Kincel

 

 

Comments: Awesome get-up for the speech. It showed how interested you were in your topic and it also showed in your speaking. Good Job

 

 

 

                        NAME: Matt

                        Comments: I thought you did a very good job.  You obviously knew what you were talking about, and you got everyone into the speech when you had the hat

 

Name: Natalie

Comments: Great speech, your true personality really came out and we all say your passion for football and our school in general.

 

 

Name: Alan

Comments: Ryan, your speech was great and filled with abundant information. I enjoyed the Introduction with the hat which made the speech memorable. Your love for the sport showed today in your speech. Good job.