Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno and cornerback Lydell Sargeant will address attendees of a speech-watching party for Barack Obama's acceptance of the Democratic nomination tonight.
Zachary Zabel, president of Penn State Students for Barack Obama, said Sargeant and Paterno will speak at the event at 9 tonight in 100 Thomas Building. Students for Barack Obama and Penn State College Democrats will co-host the speech-watching party, which is open to the public, he said.
Tonight, Obama is expected to accept the Democratic Party's nomination for president, making him the first black man ever to do so.
The nomination comes after a long primary battle that ended in June when Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., suspended her campaign.
Andrea Mead, Pennsylvania spokeswoman for Obama, said Sargeant introduced Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and presented Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., with a jersey at the address Obama delivered at Penn State in March. Sargeant also volunteered in the HUB-Robeson Center during April's primary.
She said Sargeant could relate more closely to students as a peer, rather than a representative from the campaign.
Sargeant said he will address his experience with the senator and students getting out to vote, no matter their choice for president.
Sargeant said he is looking forward to Obama's speech.
"I don't expect him to have anything less than a great speech," he said, adding the attendance at the speech will be "a showing of how many people are truly backing him."
Zabel said he hoped to see "new faces" and get students "fired up" to work for the election.
"We want to definitely get as many people involved as possible," he said.
Samatha Miller, College Democrats spokeswoman, said neither group has had an official meeting yet, and they will be busy over the next two months.
"People are really pumped," she said. "It's very exciting for all of us."
Miller said Obama has given many general ideas and she looks forward to him narrowing down his policies during his address.
"He knows what he's doing," she said.
