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CNN Live At Daybreak

Kickoff of NFL Season

Aired September 04, 2003 - 06:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, football fans, try to stay focused at work today. I know it's going to be difficult with tonight's kickoff of the NFL season and all. Washington is the place to be, apparently, to soak in the football frenzy, or maybe you'll be sitting in front of a television set watching it all. And, in fact, the nation's capital is where our Skip Loescher is, following all the excitement.
It doesn't look too exciting right now, but I know it's going to be later -- hi, Skip.

SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, no question about that, Fredricka. There will be a lot of people here later and it should be a really good time. The game, too, to mention the fact that that's why this is all happening down here. The Redskins are playing the Jets.

This National Mall is a pretty exciting place to be right now. It has literally rained here, and heavily at times, every single day this week. Now, that did not put a damper on the football festival, nor, officials hope, will it have any major effect on the concert to honor America's military personnel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER (voice-over): If you're ready for some football, you'll love what the NFL is doing on the National Mall this week.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Enjoy your day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're welcome.

LOESCHER: A football festival to kick off the NFL's new season.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You ready?

LOESCHER: Moms, dads and kids, especially kids, can, for a moment become football heroes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're a football player. Roddie Morangas (ph).

MARY PAT AUGENTHALER, NFL SENIOR DIRECTOR, SPECIAL EVENTS: It really allows people to participate and act like a player does in practice or in a game. LOESCHER: They can see how good they are at kicking a field goal, throwing a pass, even blocking and tackling. And best of all, it's free. It's the first time so much of the National Mall, from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, has been used to promote a commercial sporting event.

AUGENTHALER: It's just the most amazing backdrop.

LOESCHER: And today, before the Redskins and the Jets open the regular season at FedEx Field, Britney Spears, Aerosmith and other performers will present a concert on the Mall in honor of America's servicemen and women.

KATHERINE WARD, U.S. NAVY: What I gather to get out of this is the unity, the bond between the American people appreciating the military servicemen across the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really amazing that, I think it's going to boost a lot of morale.

LOESCHER: Some 25,000 members of the military and their families are expected and those in uniform will be closest to the stage.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER: After the concert ends, those who would like to can hang around and watch the Redskins/Jets game on one of the Jumbotrons placed down here. Just how many do probably depends on whether it's raining or not -- Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: And depending on who's winning.

LOESCHER: Yes, that too.

WHITFIELD: Those Washington die-hard Redskins fans.

All right, thanks a lot, Skip.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired September 4, 2003 - 06:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, football fans, try to stay focused at work today. I know it's going to be difficult with tonight's kickoff of the NFL season and all. Washington is the place to be, apparently, to soak in the football frenzy, or maybe you'll be sitting in front of a television set watching it all. And, in fact, the nation's capital is where our Skip Loescher is, following all the excitement.
It doesn't look too exciting right now, but I know it's going to be later -- hi, Skip.

SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, no question about that, Fredricka. There will be a lot of people here later and it should be a really good time. The game, too, to mention the fact that that's why this is all happening down here. The Redskins are playing the Jets.

This National Mall is a pretty exciting place to be right now. It has literally rained here, and heavily at times, every single day this week. Now, that did not put a damper on the football festival, nor, officials hope, will it have any major effect on the concert to honor America's military personnel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER (voice-over): If you're ready for some football, you'll love what the NFL is doing on the National Mall this week.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Enjoy your day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're welcome.

LOESCHER: A football festival to kick off the NFL's new season.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You ready?

LOESCHER: Moms, dads and kids, especially kids, can, for a moment become football heroes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're a football player. Roddie Morangas (ph).

MARY PAT AUGENTHALER, NFL SENIOR DIRECTOR, SPECIAL EVENTS: It really allows people to participate and act like a player does in practice or in a game. LOESCHER: They can see how good they are at kicking a field goal, throwing a pass, even blocking and tackling. And best of all, it's free. It's the first time so much of the National Mall, from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, has been used to promote a commercial sporting event.

AUGENTHALER: It's just the most amazing backdrop.

LOESCHER: And today, before the Redskins and the Jets open the regular season at FedEx Field, Britney Spears, Aerosmith and other performers will present a concert on the Mall in honor of America's servicemen and women.

KATHERINE WARD, U.S. NAVY: What I gather to get out of this is the unity, the bond between the American people appreciating the military servicemen across the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really amazing that, I think it's going to boost a lot of morale.

LOESCHER: Some 25,000 members of the military and their families are expected and those in uniform will be closest to the stage.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER: After the concert ends, those who would like to can hang around and watch the Redskins/Jets game on one of the Jumbotrons placed down here. Just how many do probably depends on whether it's raining or not -- Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: And depending on who's winning.

LOESCHER: Yes, that too.

WHITFIELD: Those Washington die-hard Redskins fans.

All right, thanks a lot, Skip.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com