Tales of the Tailgate!

As 6:30 rolled around Friday night, everyone was more than ready to head out onto the field at Doak Campbell Stadium. As veterans and volunteers headed onto the grass, they were greeted by quarterback Christian Ponder and 30 FSU football players, who stopped tossing the football long enough to shake hands with every attendee.

Digital banners scrolled "Military Appreciation Day" as the players signed footballs, chatted with veterans, and everyone took pictures underneath the goal posts.



After leaving the heat of the field, everyone headed up to the 5th floor banquet room of the University Center C. As they stepped off the elevator they were greeted by the Charles Atkins band, open bar, and a seemingly endless buffet of pulled pork, hotdogs, wings, potato salad, chicken salad, deviled eggs, peach cobbler, and cookies





Once eating settled down, everyone was ready to dance. The Charles Atkins band cranked things up and everyone crowded around to dance and enjoy themselves. When things finally wound down, veterans walked away with gift bags from FSU's athletic department containing FSU polos and FSU hats. Everyone left the night feeling like a true Seminole!

Watch our videos from the tailgate here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELqsNFTeRCA

and watch footage of everyone gettin' down here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlm4G0KkzEI

As always, there are more photos from the event on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=13875024379&ref=ts

Anticipation Reigns in Today's EBV!

As we enter our 3rd day of classes at EBV, the excitement for tonight's events are almost tangible. It's time for the annual EBV tailgate where our veterans will get a taste of true Seminole culture. However, the details of the evening are a surprise for the veterans, but we'll be sure to cover them all in tomorrow's blog! So keep posted to "be in the know" about one of the program's most exciting events.

In this interview with veteran Alan Jones, you can hear him talk about his anticipation for tonight, as well as his career and future business plans. Find the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5Qx327nxA


In other news, EBV was highlighted early Friday morning on NPR in this 4 minute audio clip: http://www.cob.fsu.edu/ebv/bootcamp0611d.mp3



And finally, we continue to top Tallahassee news with more coverage of our program found here: http://www.cob.fsu.edu/ebv/Democratarticle6-11-10.pdf

Snapshot into the Classroom

As veterans entered their second day of classes, we got a sneak peek into a lecture with FSU's own Dr. Jerry Osteryoung of the Jim Moran Institute. His lecture was titled, "Understanding Franchising Opportunities" and focused on the importance and basic tenets of marketing. Watch park of Dr. Osteryoung's lecture here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaagyjevXLQ


We also had a chance to catch up with Ray Toenniessen of Syracuse's EBV program. Here Ray talks about the future of the EBV program and other sister programs that are in the works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqJ0GlR_-5c

Hear from an EBV Vet!

After the hustle and bustle of the veterans' arrival settled down, we got to talk Rodney, a 2010 FSU vet, about the things he's most excited about during his week here. You can check out our first veteran spotlight here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7yYEv5c3ZM.


In other news, EBV has hit the headlines with a bang!

Check out veteran Josh Cruce in this WTXL feature (local ABC station): http://www.wtxl.tv/global/story.asp?s=12616482

CBS news also showed up to our first day of class, check it out here: http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/95994704.html


Make sure you're keeping up with Facebook to catch all of the news as well: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=13875024379&ref=ts

The Bootcamp Begins!

Tuesday June 8^th kicked off our 2010 EBV program (www.cob.fsu.edu/ebv) and boy did things start with a bang. All 21 of our veterans have arrived safe and sound, many to an Army/Air Force greeting along with cameras from our local ABC station and volunteers at the Tallahassee airport. The veterans’ day began immediately as they were shuttled over to the hotel where they filled out information packets, took headshots, got their room keys, and headed to orientation before the opening ceremony.

As 5:30 rolled around, the veterans, volunteers, and EBV guests made their way up to Level 8 at the Hotel Duval (www.hotelduval.com) for the opening ceremony to kick off the week. After a brief cocktail hour sprinkled with chicken salad on toasted plantains, coconut shrimp, and fried gator tail, guests settled down for house salads and a buffet including barbeque chicken, tropical mahi mahi, steak, mashed potatoes and rice. Dinner was followed by a selection of orange cheesecake, key-lime pie, and a scrumptious chocolate cake.

Even better than the food; however, was the special guest performance by country star Michael Peterson. Peterson performed a variety of songs that brought on both laughter and tears as he talked about his own entrepreneurial dreams of being a singer/songwriter and his appreciation for the sacrifices our veterans made. You can check out some footage from the event here: www.youtube.com/user/COBFSU.

2010 FSU EBV kicks off!

Today is the first day of the 2010 FSU EBV program residency! We will be meeting veterans at the airport all day and then celebrating with an opening ceremony tonight. Check back later today for footage of veterans arriving, but for now check out this editorial from the Tallahassee Democrat (http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20106080304). Not a bad way to start the program!