Acceptance Speech

There are so many people we have to thank as we receive the 2008 Big Ten Football Championship trophy. It takes so much effort from so many people. Its been such a great season and we don't have much time so we'll get right into it. We hope we don't leave anyone out.

First off, we'd like to thank our friends and family. Without them we wouldn't be here today.

We'd like to thank Coastal Carolina for even showing up to start the season. It was very courageous on their part to come to Beaver Stadium knowing full well that they would leave with a loss.

We'd like to thank the Oregon State fans that shared their brownies and propane with us at our tailgate when we ran out. Grandma with the orange sweater on from two cars over bakes a mean double chocolate fudge mix with frosting.

We'd like to thank Temple for pulling their quarterback after one play. They have been our doormat for the past three seasons but this time they gave us a game ... for a quarter.

We'd like to thank Illinois for bringing the heat during our first prime time full stadium white out. Chad would like to express special appreciation to the octogenarian sitting next to him that talked presidential politics throughout the first quarter. Kathi and her pregnant sister would like to give a shout out to the guy who sold them their "aisle" seats (aisle as in "aisle" never be able to get out of my row to go to the bathroom).

We'd like to thank Michigan for their entire miserable season. It gave such joy to so many of us in Happy Valley. Chad thought he heard angels when we sacked Michigan's quarterback in the end zone for a safety. The angels turned out to be the "faithful" followers of JoePa.

We'd like to thank the shirtless fans in front of us for keeping us entertained during the Indiana game. Their groggy rendition of the song, "Sweet Caroline" rivals that of any crooners in history.

Finally, we'd like to mention that a lot went into our frosty season finale against Michigan State. If it weren't for the 6'6" frat boy that showed us how he could kick himself in the face while standing straight up, we would have been bored waiting in line to get into the game. If it weren't for the four pairs of socks, three pairs of gloves, six pairs of pants, twelve shirts, five hoods, three winter hats (one of them was Russian) and one #24 white Penn State jersey, we would have frozen our (nittany lion) tails off during the game. As it was, our eyelids froze shut, leaving us to enjoy large chunks of the third and fourth quarters on tape delay in hyperthermic chambers later that night.

But we couldn't have done it without the players and coaches. Although we are accepting this prestigious trophy, the award is really for them. They are the ones that got us here. All we had to do was cheer.

So with roses between our teeth and another trophy on our minds, we're going to visit the Little Old Lady From Pasadena. What a senior year its been for us!