Personal Narrative Outline:

Place:

What place are you writing about? Why? Write a paragraph describing what the place looks like—the physical description.

Doak Cambell Stadium holds 83,000 people with metal bleachers that cross into 124 sections. Light colored brick is what makes Doak stand out the most with the monumental statues that stands all throughout the stadium. The sound of the war chant still echoes even if nobody is there.

Outline at least THREE times you’ve been in this place and what happened.

Watched many football games here.

-83,000 people

-Ooooooo ooooo ooooooeoooo

-Florida State won their game

-Saw my future

-ages 8-16

Met players and coaches

-My family with the coaches and players

-Greetings and welcome. Recruitment.

-Saw my dreams before my eyes

-Astonished

-17

Ran on to the field as a player

-83,000 people

-Win and lose games

-Saw my team fight for what we wanted.

-18-19

Really Rough Draft #1: Doak S. Cambell Stadium

Draft 1: As I walk past the opposing team’s fans with their orange and blue jerseys, I come across a stadium that is truly magnificent. Covered with over three million bricks, this is the home of the Florida State Seminoles. With college being only six years away, I had just started playing football and was just starting to learn the rules. It was nearing the end of the game when the crown went silent. I couldn’t believe the amount of curse words that were spread throughout the stadium when the referee threw a silky yellow flag. I wasn’t very sure what was going on, but I knew the score was close. As I looked up to my father who had a very worried look on his face, I noticed he was pointing toward the scoreboard. The game was tied, 10-10, Florida State had the ball on the 26-yard line, lining up to kick a field goal. With little knowledge, I could feel the energy circulating through the stadium and put two and two together. The kicker put the football directly through the uprights while the crowd went ballistic. The level of intensity and compassion that the fans had, truly helped me determine my mindset. The mindset that will allow me to provide this much excitement to the crowd again in the future.

The Seminole war chant echo’s through the stadium when there is no one around. The tradition that runs in the veins of Doak Cambell will never end. The day I set foot within Doak I was instantly a lifelong fan. Being a fan wasn’t enough for me, I wanted to more. As I grew older I was getting closer and closer to my goal.

High school football is a completely different atmosphere. With the tools and knowledge that I learned, I was able to meet valuable connections and lifelong relationships. As I perfected my craft, I had only one goal in mind.

Meeting up with family and friends outside of the stadium before the game is always something to look forward to. Catching up with relatives while showing off your throwing skills is always fun at a young age. Patiently waiting for game time to come around, you stuff your face with cooked or catered food, while the old folks get liquored up before entering. I will always remember how hyped up the games would get, they are even more excited the younger you are, especially if you best friend went for the opposing team, then it was serious.

Really rough draft 2:

As I walk past the opposing team’s fans with their orange and blue jerseys, I come across a stadium that is truly magnificent. Covered with over three million bricks, this is the home of the Florida State Seminoles. With college being only six years away, I had just started playing football and was just starting to learn the rules. It was nearing the end of the game when the crown went silent. I couldn’t believe the amount of curse words that were spread throughout the stadium when the referee threw a silky yellow flag. I wasn’t very sure what was going on, but I knew the score was close. As I looked up to my father who had a very worried look on his face, I noticed he was pointing toward the scoreboard. The game was tied, 10-10, Florida State had the ball on the 26-yard line, lining up to kick a field goal. With little knowledge, I could feel the energy circulating through the stadium and put two and two together. The kicker put the football directly through the uprights while the crowd went ballistic. The level of intensity and compassion that the fans had, truly helped me determine my mindset. The mindset that will allow me to provide this much excitement to the crowd again in the future.

The sound of the crowd from the Florida State locker rooms is much different than I pictured. Listening to the coach I once idolized up front and center is much different than I expected as well. When you have an expectation for something it is never the same, sometimes more or sometimes less. One of the most exciting things about college football is the entrance into the stadium right before the game begins. I have a huge expectation for this and it was surely more than I wanted. The utter sound and screams from the crowd is much crisper from the ground floor. The number of decibels that my eardrums were taking, is probably not a healthy amount.

The expression on my parent’s face is was truly satisfying. Sitting 5 rows up from the bottom of the 35-yard line, I can spot my mother, father, and sister. Knowing that your parents are there to support you and are proud of you for accomplishing your dreams is something not many people can say they have achieved. Playing for not only my dream school but my parent’s dream school can be described to the full

Draft 3: 1200 words: Doak S. Campbell Stadium

As you walk past the opposing team’s fans with their orange and blue jerseys, you come across a truly magnificent and majestic stadium. From the outside, Doak Campbell Stadium, also known by locals, fans and alumni as “Doak.” rises from the sea of parking lots and grass lined fields to stand out for all to see. This is the home of the Florida State Seminoles. Covered with over three million bricks, it is one of the largest brick structures in the United States holding almost 80,000 fans at capacity. Doak is surrounded by statues of past football greats including the legendary coach, Bobby Bowden, a “Sod Cemetery” that commemorates past wins and historic accomplishments, and an iconic symbol of the team, a horse named Renegade ridden by the great Seminole Indian Chief Osceola. On game days like today, the statue’s spear held high above Chief Osceola’s head is lit and the flame can be seen it seems for miles as you approach the stadium for the game.

A huge part of college football is the traditions and rituals that accompany the game. For this game, the famed and bitter rivalry between Florida State and the University of Florida, the traditions seemed even more important. Meeting up with family and friends outside of the stadium before the game is always something to look forward too. Tailgating with other Seminole fans is an event not to be missed. Catching up with friends and relatives while showing off your throwing skills playing corn hole is fun at any age. Patiently waiting for game time to come around, you stuff your face with hot dogs and hamburgers from the grill. Chicken wings smothered in ranch or blue cheese dressing are a must as is my mom’s 3 layer dip and chips. While the old folks sometimes drink a little more than they should, the kids get amped up on cokes and mountain dews. I will always remember how hyped up the games would get, they are even more exciting the younger you are, especially if like me, your best friend went for the opposing Gator team, making it seem as if everything you lived for came down to winning that game.

Walking into Doak before the game was a huge part of the excitement. Fans would high five each other and the phrase, “Go Noles” could be heard everywhere. Gator fans for the most part were quiet entering the stadium as they were clearly out numbered by the Garnet and Gold. Wearing you team’s colors was as much a part of the game as anything. When you were younger, it often meant wearing your favorite player’s jersey and number. My family was always decked-out in Seminole gear including Garnet and Gold hats, shirts, jewelry and even the latest Nike shoes.

Once you entered the stadium, the size and magnitude of Doak really hit you. It was huge. The field, now known as Bobby Bowden Field, had the greenest grass I’d ever seen. The row after row of seats and fans filtering in for the game was almost overwhelming. The team’s were typically on the field at this point warming up for the game and going through pre-game drills and activities. However, the best was yet to come. After the team left the field, you knew that they soon would be coming back with Renegade and Chief Osceola ready to lead the best game day tradition in all of college sports. The Seminole war chant begins to echo through the stadium, 80,000 diehard fans begin doing the Seminole Chop in unison, that alone is a sight to see, but once the fireworks go off, the team runs into the field lead by the coaches and Chief Osceola high above on Renegade. The crowd erupts and you quickly realize why college football is such a part of living in the south. Just before the start of the game, the Chief rides Renegade to the center of the field, where, as he has done many times before, he plants the flaming spear in the ground to the enjoyment of all. This tradition runs in the veins of Doak Campbell Stadium and will forever be remembered by Seminole fans young and old.

On that fall day, the game would come down to the last few seconds. Toward the end of the game when the crown went silent. I couldn’t believe the amount of curse words that were flying throughout the stadium when the referee threw a silky yellow flag. The score was tied at 10-10, Florida State had the ball on the 26-yard line, lining up to kick a field goal. I looked at my dad who had a very worried look on his face, not saying a word we all took a deep breath. I could feel the energy circulating through the stadium and the tension you could cut with a knife. Everything came down to this last play. The kicker got set, the snap was made and fortunately he put the football directly through the uprights. The crowd went ballistic. We hugged and high fived everyone within 10 feet of us. This was truly a game I would never forget.

That day in in Doak I instantly became a lifelong fan; but being a fan wasn’t enough for me, I wanted more. I wanted, like almost every other kid my age, to be a Seminole. To play on that field. To run out of that tunnel wearing the Garnet and Gold in front of my family and the rest of the 80,000 ravenous fans. At that time, college was more than six years away, the dream of one day walking into Doak as a player seemed just that, a dream. I had just started playing football and was just beginning to learn the game. Playing high school football is a completely different atmosphere, but one that readies you for the dream of college ball one day to come. With the tools and knowledge that I learned, I was able to make valuable connections and lifelong relationships. As I perfected my craft, I had only one goal in mind – to become a Seminole.

Fast-forward 6 years. The sound of the crowd from the Florida State locker room is much different than I pictured. Listening to the coach I once idolized giving his pre-game speech in front of the team was much different than I expected as well. When you have an expectation for something, it is never quite the same as you imagined; sometimes it is better and sometimes it’s not. For me, it was only better. Living this dream was more than I had ever hoped for as a child playing Pop-Warner and going to Doak to see my team compete.

One of the most exciting things about college football is the team’s entrance into the stadium right before the game begins. I had a huge expectation for this and this too was surely more than I had ever imagined. The sound and volume of the screams from the crowd is much louder and crisper from the field. Still, the best was yet to come. The expression on my parent’s face is was truly satisfying. Sitting just five rows up from the bottom on the 35-yard line, I can still remember my mother, father, and sister smiling and waving. Knowing that your parents are there to support you and are proud of you for accomplishing your dreams is something not many people can say they have achieved. Playing for your dream school can only be described as living the dream.

Final Draft: Game Day

As I walk past the opposing team’s fans with their orange and blue jerseys, I come across a truly majestic stadium. From the outside, Doak Campbell Stadium, also known by locals, fans, and alumni as “Doak,” rises from the sea of parking lots and grass lined fields to stand out for all to see. This is the home of the Florida State Seminoles; covered with over three million bricks, it is one of the largest brick structures in the United States holding almost 80,000 fans at capacity. Doak is surrounded by statues of past football greats, including the legendary coach, Bobby Bowden. Another side of the stadium showcases a “Sod Cemetery” that commemorates past wins and historic accomplishments, while also acting as an iconic symbol of the team. In addition the school’s mascot, a horse named Renegade is showcased being ridden by the great Seminole Indian, Chief Osceola. On game days, like today, the statue’s spear held high above Chief Osceola’s head, is lit and the flame can be seen for miles as the roaring fans approach the stadium gleaming in pride shown through garnet and gold.

A huge part of college football has to do with the traditions and rituals that accompany the game. The personal traditions and associations that deal with this specific game, involving the famed and bitter rivalry between Florida State and the University of Florida, seem to have an even greater importance. Meeting up with family and friends outside of the stadium before the game is always something that adds a great significance to the moments before kickoff, while entering the stadium with my fellow teammates. Tailgating with other Seminole fans is an event not to be missed. Living in Tallahassee my whole life, I attended ample tailgates with my family and other friends, which seperate my current experience with my past ones, making these new ones much more special. Showing off your throwing skills playing corn hole is fun at any age, especially with old friends and relatives. Patiently while also enthusiastically waiting for game time to come around, stuffing your face with hot dogs and hamburgers from the grill, is a common sight and past time for most fans. Chicken wings smothered in ranch or blue cheese dressing are a must as is my mom’s 3-layer dip and chips. While the old folks sometimes drink a little more than they should, the kids get amped up on Cokes and Mountain Dews. I will always remember how hyped up the games would get; they are even more exciting the younger you are, especially if, like me, your best friend is a strong Gator fan, making it seem as if everything you lived for came down to winning that game. This rivalry never fails to go beyond the game played on the field; it touches so many fans in personal ways and allows a community to bond or hate over a broad yet important title, such as being a Seminole.

The few short, but most memorable moment of walking into Doak before the game, was a huge part of the excitement. Fans would high five each other and the phrase, “Go Noles” could be heard everywhere. Gator fans for the most part were quiet entering the stadium as they were clearly outnumbered by Garnet and Gold. Wearing either team’s colors was as much a part of the game as anything, identifying as garnet and gold or orange and blue, set the obvious physical difference between the two. When you were younger, it often meant wearing your favorite player’s jersey and number. My family was always decked-out in Seminole gear including Garnet and Gold hats, shirts, jewelry and even the latest Nike shoes. Looking the part of being a true and prideful fan is a very important aspect of the game, the fans set a tone of how the course of the game could go. Wearing garnet head to toe, demonstrates the identification of a Seminole, which allows the sea of fans to portray as much of Florida State’s colors as possible.

Once you entered the stadium, the size and magnitude radiating in Doak really hits you. The field, now known as Bobby Bowden Field, had the greenest grass I’d ever seen. The repetition of row after row of seats and fans filtering in for the game was almost overwhelming. The teams were typically on the field at this point warming up for the game and going through pre-game drills and activities. However, the current accumulation of disbelief due to the amazing environment and crowd, still the best was yet to come. After the team left the field, you knew that they soon would be coming back with Renegade and Chief Osceola ready to lead the best game day tradition in all of college sports. The Seminole war chant begins to echo through the stadium, 80,000 diehard fans begin swing their arms and showing off the Seminole Chop in unison, that alone is a sight to see. But once the fireworks go off, the team runs into the field, led by the coaches and Chief Osceola, high above while riding into the stadium on Renegade. The crowd erupts, and you quickly realize why college football is such a significant part of living in the south. Just before the start of the game, the Chief, rides Renegade to the center of the field, where, as he has done many times before, he pierces the flaming spear in the ground to the enjoyment of all the screaming fans to see. This tradition runs in the veins of Doak Campbell Stadium and will forever be remembered by Seminole fans young and old.

On that fall day, the game came down to the last few seconds. Toward the end of the game when the crown went silent. I couldn’t believe the amount of curse words that were flying throughout the stadium when the referee threw a silky yellow flag. The score was tied at 10-10, Florida State had the ball on the 26-yard line, lining up to kick a field goal. I looked at my dad who had a very worried look on his face, not saying a word we all took a deep breath. I could feel the energy circulating through the stadium and the tension you could cut with a knife. Everything came down to this last play. The kicker got set, the snap was made and fortunately he put the football directly through the uprights. The crowd went ballistic. We hugged and high fived everyone within 10 feet of us. This was truly a game I would never forget.

That day in Doak I instantly became a lifelong fan; but being a fan wasn’t enough for me, I wanted more. I wanted, like almost every other kid my age, to be a Seminole. To play on that field. To run out of that tunnel wearing the Garnet and Gold in front of my family and the rest of the 80,000 ravenous fans. At that time, college was more than six years away, the dream of one day walking into Doak as a player seemed just that, a dream. I had just started playing football and was just beginning to learn the game. Playing high school football is a completely different atmosphere, but one that readies you for the dream of college ball one day to come. With the tools and knowledge that I learned, I was able to make valuable connections and lifelong relationships. As I perfected my craft, I had only one goal in mind – to become a Seminole.

Really Rough Draft #1: Doak S. Cambell Stadium

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