Announcer: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE BIG TEN NETWORK, PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
JIM PECK: I'M JIM PECK.
WELCOME TO "MSU TODAY.”
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING RIGHT NOW.
STUDENT: PULL IT IN.
A LOT OF THE WAY WE DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE SEASON IS WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW.
WOMAN: IF YOU GO ALONG CIRCLE DRIVE, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE GROUPING OF FOUR OR FIVE BUILDINGS THAT WOULD TRANSPORT YOU BACK TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1890 AND 1910.
STUDENT: GOT A PHONE CALL, AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER, AND WE'RE STANDING NEXT TO JAY LENO THE NEXT DAY.
MAN: THIS IS A COOL CONCEPT.
THESE GUYS GET TO WORK ON RACECARS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT BOOKS.
JAY LENO: EXACTLY.
JIM PECK: WHEN FALL IS IN THE AIR, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE FOOTBALL.
AND DURING FOOTBALL SEASON, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE MSU MARCHING BAND.
AND EVERY YEAR, IT STARTS THE SAME -- THE FRESHMEN ARRIVE, AND VETERANS HELP SHOW THE WAY.
♫ MSU, WE LOVE THY SHADOWS WHEN TWILIGHT SILENCE FALLS ♫ ♫ FLUSHING DEEP AND SOFTLY PALING O'ER IVY COVERED HALLS ♫ ♫ BENEATH THE PINES WE'LL GATHER TO GIVE OUR FAITH SO TRUE ♫ ♫ SING OUR LOVE FOR ALMA MATER AND THY PRAISES, MSU ♫ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ FIRST WEEK ]
STUDENT#1: IT'S KIND OF JUST THROW 'EM INTO THE WATER AND SEE HOW THEY DO.
STUDENT #2: AND IT'S MENTORING, IT'S MODELING, IT'S LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
STUDENT #3: WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOCAL ADDRESS? I'M JUST A LITTLE HOMELESS -- NOT COMPLETELY, BUT
STUDENT #1: WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO STAY?
STUDENT #3: I DON'T KNOW.
STUDENT #2: SEE, WE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE THIS YEAR.
STUDENT #4: THIS IS PRESEASON. IT'S THE TIME WHERE THE BAND GETS READY FOR THE FALL.
MAN #1: LUNCH IS AT SHAW.
STUDENT #5: SHAW FOR MEALS.
STUDENT #6: SHAW IS WHERE WE EAT TODAY?
MAN #1: IT'S NOT BRODY, WHAT THAT SCHEDULE SAYS.
IT'S AT SHAW.
STUDENT #6: EVERYTHING'S NEW.
THEY'RE NERVOUS.
THEY'RE CRAZY EXCITED.
IT'S JUST ALL THESE EMOTIONS AT ONCE.
STUDENT #5: UNIFORMS ARE TONIGHT AT 10:00.
STUDENT #6: THEY GET CHECKED IN IN THE MORNING.
THEY MOVE INTO THE DORMS THAT DAY, AND THEN THEY COME AND WORK FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
MAN #1: YOU MOVING IN THIS MORNING?
STUDENT #8: UH, YEAH.
MAN #1: OKAY, THEN.
GOOD LUCK.
I'LL SEE YOU -- BE THERE BY 1:30.
STUDENT #8: OKAY.
[ 1:30 P.M. ]
[ DRUMBEATS ]
MAN: LEFT, RIGHT, RUN.
DRESS, CENTER, DRESS.
MAN #2: IT'S THAT BUILDING OF THIS YEAR'S TEAM, AND IT'S A FAMILY MENTALITY.
UHH! [ LAUGHTER ]
STUDENT #9: WE'RE "BONDING.”
STUDENT #10: OH, MY KIDNEY'S IN MY MOUTH!
BILL OEMING, TROMBONE: WE'RE USUALLY HERE FROM BETWEEN 8:00 AND 9:00 IN THE MORNING TILL ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 8:00 OR 9:00 AT NIGHT.
MAN #2: WE'RE GONNA WALK THIS WAY.
RACHEL LINSMEIER, DRUM MAJOR: IT'S PRETTY INTENSE, AND IT'S HARD PHYSICALLY.
STUDENT #9: DROP AND GIVE ME HALF! OHHHH.
[ EVERYONE LAYS ON FIELD, GROANS ]
RACHEL LINSMEIER: SO WE RUN TWICE A DAY.
STUDENT #9: KEEP IT UP! KEEP GOING, MAN.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: WE'RE MARCHING ALL DAY, HIGH-STEP.
STUDENT #9: STAND UP STRAIGHT.
HOLD THAT GUT IN.
PULL IT IN.
BILL OEMING: A LOT OF THE WAY WE DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE SEASON IS WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: FRIDAY, THE DRUM LINE ARRIVES.
[ DRUMBEATS ]
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING 9:00 TO 9:00 EVERY DAY.
STUDENT #11: UM... [ STUDENT UNSURE OF WHERE TO PUT A DRUM ]
RACHEL LINSMEIER: THEY DO THEIR OWN THING FOR A LOT OF THE TIME, JUST TO GET READY WITH ALL THEIR BUSINESS THEY DO.
[ DRUMMING ] [ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
RACHEL LINSMEIER: RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRAINING THE FRESHMEN.
MAN #3: THE BACK OF THE HEEL TOUCHES ON THE BEAT.
MAN #4: A NICE TALL NECK.
STAND UP.
REACH TALL.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: GET THE FRESHMEN READY FOR WHEN THE VETERANS COME.
THE VETERANS COME IN THIS AFTERNOON.
MAN #4: THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SEE YET.
IT'S JUST SORT OF FUNDAMENTALS.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: WE'RE JUST BASICALLY GETTING ALL OUR FUNDAMENTALS DOWN BEFORE WE START LEARNING THE REAL STUFF.
IAN MCNABB, DRUM MAJOR: EVERYBODY STRETCHES.
ALL: NO RUNNING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
IAN MCNABB: THEY LIKE IT! THEY LIKE IT! DISCO SPARTY!
ALL: WHOA!
IAN MCNABB: IT'S KIND OF A WARM-UP FOR THE LEGS.
WE STRETCH, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO OUR OWN LITTLE HYPE THING.
WE GET EXCITED ABOUT SPARTY.
WE GET EXCITED ABOUT WEIRD STUFF, ACTUALLY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
IAN MCNABB: ALL RIGHT, THAT BETTER BE ON TV.
BILL OEMING: ACTUALLY, PROBABLY THE REASON I EVEN STAYED IN BAND AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO COLLEGE WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE THE BAND HERE.
MAN: AND ONE.
BILL OEMING: IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK.
I MEAN, EVEN TO GET INTO THE BAND, IF YOU'RE NEW, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TWO ROUNDS OF AUDITIONING.
[ TRUMPET PLAYS MELODY ] [ AUDITIONS ]
STUDENT #12: WHEE-OO! PLACED IN -- RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAND LAST YEAR, SO HOPEFULLY IN THESE AUDITIONS I DO A BIT BETTER.
JOHN MADDEN, BAND DIRECTOR: WELL, FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT'S A PRETTY EXCITING THING.
[ NOTES PLAY ]
THERE'S THE DIFFICULT REALITY IN OUR SYSTEM THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THE BLOCK.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
STUDENT #13: I WAS REALLY NERVOUS.
ACTUALLY, I WAS AN ALTERNATE MY FIRST YEAR, AND IT WAS TERRIBLE.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
JOHN MADDEN: ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE RESPONSIBILITIES...
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
BY THE SAME TOKEN, IT IS THE REASON THE BAND IS AS GOOD AS IT IS...
[ MELODY PLAYS ] GOOD.
...BECAUSE THERE'S COMPETITION FROM WITHIN TO BE IN THE MOST COVETED SPOTS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
STUDENT #14: OH, I'M STANDING NEXT TO YOU AGAIN!
STUDENT #15: AWW! ARE YOU EXCITED?
STUDENT #14: YEAH, LET ME SHOW YOU.
STUDENT #16: THAT MEANS I GET TO PLAY THE E-FLAT CORNET INSTEAD OF THIS THING.
SO, THERE'S ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE THAT DO THAT, SO THAT'S A PRETTY HIGH HONOR, SO I'M PUMPED.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
STUDENT #17: OH, MAN, I'M TIRED! [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ] PRETEND THAT NOBODY'S WATCHING ME.
I'M NOT WIRED UP, NOT ON TV.
STUDENT: BRING IT IN! LET'S GO! OH!
STUDENT #17: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEGINNING OF THE FRESHMEN DRESS REHEARSAL.
Together: GO! GO! GO! GO!
STUDENT #17: NOW, TONIGHT WE KIND OF BECOME ONE CLASS, AND IT'S A TRADITION THAT'S GONE BACK FOR A LONG TIME AT MICHIGAN STATE.
THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR AS A LEADER IN THIS BAND.
AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.
JOHN MADDEN: HE MAKES THE FRESHMEN CLASS FEEL LIKE, "MAN, I REALLY FEEL LIKE A PART OF THIS BAND.
I'VE WORKED HARD, I'VE EARNED IT, AND I LOVE THESE GUYS.”
THAT'S THE OVERWHELMING FEELING.
STUDENT #17: THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEST OF WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED DURING PRESEASON.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
STUDENT #18: NO TALKING FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.
[ SILENCE ]
STUDENT #17: FRESHMEN DRESS, IT'S A TEST OF WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED ALL PRESEASON, SO YOU'RE JUST DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE ALL PRESEASON.
MARCHING THE SERIES.
MAN: HERE WE GO.
COME ON, STEP UP.
All: HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!
STUDENT #17: JUST PLAYING THE FIGHT SONG.
[ FIGHT SONG PLAYS ] AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, AND IT'S AN INTENSE ENVIRONMENT.
ALL: UP AND DOWN, SWING, SLASH. THIS IS YOUR SCHOOL!
STUDENT #17: IT'S NOT A NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT.
STUDENT #18: SO IF YOU BACK UP, THE WHOLE BAND HAS TO BACK UP.
STUDENT: KEEP AT IT, MAN.
GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
JOHN MADDEN: COPS ARE THERE FOR SAFETY.
[ CYMBALS CRASH ]
JOHN MADDEN: AND WE'RE USING THE LEAST-BUSIEST ROAD ON CAMPUS.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
STUDENT: MORE IMPORTANT IS JUST BECOMING PART OF THE BAND AND THE SENSE OF BELONGING THAT YOU REALLY GET, THAT REALLY BEGINS TONIGHT.
[ CHEERING ]
JIM PECK: THE MSU CAMPUS HAS GROWN THROUGH THE DECADES.
THE BUILDINGS -- TANGIBLE EXAMPLES OF THE PASSAGE OF TIME, THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE OF CENTURIES.
LINDA STANFORD, ASSOCIATE PROVOST, ACADEMIC SERVICES: MICHIGAN STATE IS UNUSUAL IN THAT, FROM ITS EARLIEST YEARS, IT BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT THE CAMPUS AS A PARK AND VALUED THE ACTUAL GEOGRAPHY AND THE PLANTS AS PART OF THEIR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE.
SO THE CAMPUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN SEEN AS A PUBLIC RESOURCE.
IT'S USED EVEN TODAY FOR STUDY.
JIM PECK: IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO THINK OF CAMPUS -- THIS WHOLE CAMPUS -- AS YOUR HOUSE...
WITH A REALLY BIG YARD.
ALL THE BRICKS AND MORTAR, EVERY DETAIL, HAS TO BE CARED FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR AND THROUGH THE GENERATIONS.
SO IF YOU WERE GOING TO ADD ON TO YOUR HOME, WHAT WOULD YOU ADD? HOW WOULD YOU DO IT? MSU IS A LITTLE LIKE THAT.
IT REFLECTS WHAT WAS, IS, AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE GOING ON IN SOCIETY.
LINDA STANFORD: THE CAMPUS IS A REFLECTION OF -- IT'S A REFLECTION OF A SOCIETY, BUT ALSO AS PRESIDENT HANNAH SAID, IT IS MEANT TO BE A DEMONSTRATION MODEL.
SO AS POPULATION CHANGES, AS WE BECOME MORE URBAN, THE CHALLENGE IS NOT TO PRESERVE THIS AS A BUCOLIC MUSEUM, BUT TO MAKE IT BE A WORKING, LIVING ENVIRONMENT -- A LIVING, EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
IF YOU GO ALONG CIRCLE DRIVE, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE GROUPING OF FOUR OR FIVE BUILDINGS THAT WOULD TRANSPORT YOU BACK TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1890 AND 1910, IF YOU WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THAT.
AND YET YOU CAN WALK ON OTHER PARTS OF CAMPUS AND FEEL AS THOUGH YOU WERE IN THE 1960s, AND OTHER PARTS THAT REALLY LEAD YOU INTO THE FUTURE, AND THAT'S THE BIG CHALLENGE.
SO IN MAKING THE DECISION TO ADD TO THE STADIUM, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WAS A RADICAL DECISION, THE IDEA WAS ALSO TO ADD TO A BIG BUILDING AND MAKE IT MULTIDIMENSIONAL IN ITS USEFULNESS.
AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS.
IT'S FAIRLY UNIQUE FOR A SCHOOL OUR SIZE TO HAVE THE STADIUM STILL ACTUALLY BE ON THE CAMPUS, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH MORE A PART OF THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEN WE BUILT BIOMEDICAL PHYSICAL SCIENCES, WHICH IS NOW BECOMING MORE -- LESS -- NOT LESS NEW-LOOKING, BUT MORE A PART OF THE CAMPUS AS TREES GROW AND AS ART IS PLACED AROUND IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THAT FOR ALL NEW BUILDINGS.
AND THEN IN THE FUTURE, THE ART MUSEUM.
JIM PECK: THE ART MUSEUM IS COMING.
THE LONELY SPACE THAT'S JUST SORT OF HANGING OUT ON THE EDGE OF CAMPUS IS GOING TO BE ANYTHING BUT LONELY WHEN THE BROAD ART MUSEUM CASTS ITS EDGY SHADOW, WHEN IT CRACKS OPEN ITS DOORS AND REVEALS THE TREASURES INSIDE WHICH CAN BUT HOPE TO RIVAL THE AUDACIOUS DESIGN OF THEIR HOME.
LINDA STANFORD: WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE MEMORABLE, THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE -- THE DUOMO, THE CATHEDRAL IN FLORENCE, IS MEMORABLE BECAUSE IT IS -- THE TEXTURE OF IT OUTSIDE IS STONE, AND GREEN AND WHITE, OR GREEN AND BEIGE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE REMARKABLE BECAUSE OF ITS USE OF GLASS AND METAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.
JIM PECK: IT WILL BE, BY DESIGN, ICONIC.
IT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.
LINDA STANFORD: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD IT, BUT THAT'S THE TERM THAT OUR PRESIDENT USED, AND THAT WAS THE CHALLENGE WAS TO FIND A FIRM THAT WAS WILLING TO CREATE A BUILDING THAT YOU COULD THINK OF AS THE LARGEST SCULPTURE ON CAMPUS, AS THE HOME FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S ART COLLECTION, AS A PLACE THAT BRIDGES BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CAMPUS, AS A PLACE FOR CHILDREN, STUDENTS, ANYONE OF ANY AGE TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT THE ARTS -- THE VISUAL ARTS.
JIM PECK: ONE LOOK, ONE SINGLE GLANCE, AND YOU KNOW IT STANDS OUT.
LINDA STANFORD: WE WANT A DESIGN THAT'S CHALLENGING, AND IT WILL BE DEFINITELY DIFFERENT FROM ITS NEIGHBORS.
JIM PECK: BUT ITS NEIGHBORS WILL UNDERSTAND.
THEY'LL GET USED TO THE NEW FAMILY NEXT DOOR, JUST AS THEY HAVE THROUGH THE YEARS.
LINDA STANFORD: AND THAT'S, AGAIN, SOMETHING YOU FEEL ON THIS CAMPUS YOU DON'T FEEL ELSEWHERE -- THAT THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE CAMPUS WORK.
THERE ARE SOME CITIES IN THE U.S. OR IN THE WORLD THAT FEEL THAT WAY, AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT FEEL DISJOINTED.
AND HERE THERE'S A SENSE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK, THAT ARE MOWING THE LAWNS OR DOING WHATEVER ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE, ARE OFTEN CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING THIS ORGANISM THRIVE.
JIM PECK: THE BUILDINGS, THE LANDSCAPE, ALL OF IT COMES TOGETHER, AND HAS TO COME TOGETHER, TO MAKE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY A REAL COMMUNITY, NOT JUST A BUNCH OF BUILDINGS.
LINDA STANFORD: IT'S THE INTERPLAY OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE GREEN SPACE THAT MAKES OUR CAMPUS WONDERFUL, AND THE FACT THAT YOU CAN FIND PLACES THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN INHABITING, SITTING IN, WALKING THROUGH, THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE NAMES, AND YET THEY'RE PLACES THAT PEOPLE GO TO.
THE PLACE BEHIND THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING WHERE THE DUCKS ARE IS NOT NAMED, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS IF YOU SAY, "I'LL MEET YOU AT THE DUCKS," THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE LEARN WHEN THEY'RE ON THE CAMPUS IS THAT IT'S NEAT.
THERE ARE -- PEOPLE ARE NOT THROWING TRASH.
AND YET IT'S NOT ANTISEPTIC.
IT'S A LIVING, BREATHING ORGANISM.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S A ROLE MODEL THAT PEOPLE WILL KEEP WITH THEM WHEN THEY MOVE BACK TO -- THEY LEAVE SCHOOL AND THEY MOVE INTO BUILDING AND BEING A PART OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.
JIM PECK: THROUGH THE YEARS, BRICKS AND MORTAR BECOME BUILDINGS, BUILDINGS BECOME ICONS, AND ICONS BECOME TRANSFORMATIONAL.
BUT AT THE HEART OF IT IS MICHIGAN STATE.
AND BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS MICHIGAN STATE, THESE BRICKS AND MORTAR, THIS GLASS AND STEEL, ALL OF IT -- ALL OF IT -- FEELS LIKE HOME...AND ALWAYS WILL.
JIM PECK: WORDS THAT RING AS TRUE TODAY AS EVER, WORDS FROM A MAN WHOSE SHADOW STILL CROSSES THIS CAMPUS, WORDS THAT LIFTED THE REPUTATION OF OUR UNIVERSITY AND INSPIRED PEOPLE TO LIVE TO IT.
THEY ARE THE WORDS OF JOHN A.
HANNAH, PRESIDENT OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY FROM 1941 TO 1969, A TIME WHEN MSU -- AND AMERICA -- SAW EVERYTHING FROM WORLD WAR II TO VIETNAM, FROM BING CROSBY TO THE BEATLES, A MAN WHO GUIDED THIS UNIVERSITY AS WE GREW FROM 6,000 TO ALMOST 40,000 STUDENTS, A MAN WHOSE FAVORITE WORDS MIGHT JUST HAVE BEEN, "ONLY PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT.”
YES, WORDS FROM A MAN WHOSE SHADOW STILL CROSSES THIS CAMPUS, AND ALWAYS WILL.
JIM PECK: DO YOU THINK OF YOUR HOMEWORK IN TERMS OF CHAPTERS AND LECTURES? IT MIGHT BE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF "ZERO TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.”
ADAM GRYCZAN, MSU FORMULA RACING: IT'S A REALLY GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE -- YOU KNOW, GET THIS HANDS-ON WORK.
ADAM ZEMKE, MSU FORMULA RACING: THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING – [MACHINES RUNNING] WORKING ON ASSEMBLY, ON FABRICATION.
ADAM GRYCZAN: I WAS HOOKED INSTANTLY.
ADAM ZEMKE: WE PEAKED IN 2003 AT THIRD PLACE OUT OF 120 TEAMS.
[CAR RACING]
FORMULA RACING AT MICHIGAN STATE IS MSU's ENTRY INTO THE FORMULA S.A.E. STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION.
TODAY WE ARE RIGHT AT THE END, FINAL STAGES OF MANUFACTURING CAR 51, OUR 2008 FORMULA S.A.E. CAR.
ADAM GRYCZAN: A LOT OF FIT AND FINISH WORK, A LOT OF MAKING SURE THINGS DON'T HIT OTHER THINGS, THINGS THAT YOU MAYBE OVERLOOKED.
MAN #1: DID YOU HAVE THAT PLUMBING LINE ALL FIGURED OUT?
MAN #2: YEAH, I CAN GO GET A NEW ONE.
MAN #3: NPT VALVE.
YOU PUSH THIS DOWN AND YOU PUT A POLYURETHANE HOSE IN HERE.
ADAM ZEMKE: IT'S ALL DONE BY STUDENTS IN-HOUSE, THE WHOLE PROGRAM, INCLUDING NOT ONLY JUST THE CAR, BUT EVERYTHING FROM THE PUBLIC-RELATIONS ASPECTS DOWN TO THE FUNDING IS ALL DONE BY OUR TEAM.
MAN: SO THEY GOT TO BE STIFF SO THE POWER IS STIFF, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE LOOSE SO THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH FRICTION IN THE BEARINGS.
ADAM ZEMKE: THIS PROJECT REQUIRES A BUDGET OF NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
KYLE BATEMAN, MSU FORMULA RACING: IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, SO I STARTED COMING TO THE MEETINGS IN THE FALL AND GOT REALLY INVOLVED WITH IT.
ADAM GRYCZAN: THEN WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.
I'M FINDING THE EDGE.
THIS IS CALLED AN EDGE FINDER.
ADAM ZEMKE: WORKING, RIGHT NOW, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 10, 12 HOURS A DAY ON TOP OF GOING TO CLASS OR...
ADAM GRYCZAN: START RUNNING THROUGH WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET THE ENGINE THERE, RUN THROUGH SHIFTS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S IN ITS PLACE AND THAT EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE NICE AND SECURE AND SAFE FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY DO DRIVE IT.
MAN #3: AND THIS IS JUST A STANDARD EIGHTH-INCH NPT PUSH-FIT IN.
ADAM ZEMKE: EVERYTHING IS PUT TOGETHER AT THE END, AND THEN THE CAR RUNS, HOPEFULLY, AT THAT POINT.
[ ENGINE RUNS ]
ADAM GRYCZAN: THIS CAR IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN.
IT BASICALLY IS SITTING AN INCH AND A HALF OFF THE GROUND.
YOU'RE STRAPPED INTO SOMETHING THAT CAN GO ZERO TO 60 IN 3 SECONDS, SO YOU'RE TALKING FERRARI-LIKE PERFORMANCE.
KYLE BATEMAN: PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO JUST, LIKE, ARE BLOWN AWAY AT IT, LIKE, "WOW!" [ COMPRESSOR HISSES ] THE RADIUS OF THIS TOOL RIGHT HERE AND THE CENTER OF THIS WILL BE EXACTLY RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THIS EDGE OF THIS -- THE PART THAT I'M MACHINING.
ADAM ZEMKE: IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO, LIKE, I WOULD SAY PASSION, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT, AND THEN THE WILLINGNESS AND EXCITEMENT TO PUT IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT REQUIRES.
KYLE BATEMAN: JUST COMING OUT HERE EVERY WEEK AND JUST GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY AND BUILDING A RACECAR FROM THE GROUND UP FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR IS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
AND WE TEST ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL COMPETITION, WHICH IS USUALLY THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY, THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY -- SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE -- AND THEN FROM THEN ON, WE START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN.
SO WHILE WE'RE RACING OUR LAST-YEAR CAR IN COMPETITION, WE'RE ACTUALLY DESIGNING THE NEXT YEAR'S CAR.
ADAM GRYCZAN: IT WAS WILD.
I MEAN, IT WAS LITERALLY -- I THINK ADAM MENTIONED -- 24 HOURS.
HE GOT A PHONE CALL AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER, AND WE'RE STANDING NEXT TO JAY LENO THE NEXT DAY.
JAY LENO: IF YOU'RE AN OLD GUY LIKE ME, AND YOU WANT TO HELP OUT SOME YOUNG KIDS...
ADAM ZEMKE: MAYBE JAY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SORT OF PROJECT.
MAN: THIS IS A COOL CONCEPT.
THESE GUYS GET TO WORK ON RACECARS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT BOOKS.
JAY LENO: EXACTLY.
ADAM ZEMKE: SO WE CONTACTED THIS GENTLEMAN WHO KNEW HIM, AND HE PROPOSED THE IDEA TO JAY, AND WITHIN 24 HOURS, JAY HAD INVITED US TO GO DO A SHOOT FOR HIS SERIES, "JAY LENO'S GARAGE.”
JAY LENO: THIS IS A VERY EXCITING PROJECT.
I'M WITH A BUNCH OF GUYS FROM THE MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
ADAM GRYCZAN: IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
ADAM ZEMKE: THEY WERE DOING FIVE SHOOTS FOR THE "JAY LENO'S GARAGE" SERIES.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
MAN: I DIDN'T GET TO MEET JAY LENO.
ADAM GRYCZAN: WE WALKED INTO HIS GARAGE, AND THERE WAS THE MAN HIMSELF STANDING THERE.
ADAM ZEMKE: EVERYTHING YOU READ ABOUT JAY ON THE INTERNET OR MAGAZINES SAY THAT HE'S A REALLY NICE GUY.
JAY LENO: THIS IS HOMEWORK.
I HAD TO READ "WUTHERING HEIGHTS.”
[ LAUGHTER ] THIS IS GREAT.
THIS IS HOMEWORK.
ADAM GRYCZAN: BUT HE SAW US WALK IN, AND HE STOPPED EVERYTHING.
HE WAS LIKE, "HEY, GUYS, HOW YOU DOING? GO ON OVER HERE TO MY KITCHEN.”
HE HAS A LITTLE KITCHEN, BASICALLY, IN THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE.
"OH, GO GRAB YOURSELF SOME PIZZA.”
MAN: IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE TEAM, AND I REALLY WISH I WAS THERE.
ADAM GRYCZAN: HE LIKED THE FACT THAT WE'RE JUST A BUNCH OF COLLEGE GUYS THAT ARE DOING IT PURELY FOR THE LOVE OF THE RACING, LOVE OF THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A CAR FROM THE GROUND UP.
JAY LENO: I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS PRETTY COOL.
KYLE BATEMAN: IT'S JUST AMAZING.
LIKE, JAY LENO'S ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN HIS LIFE, AND THEN HE LOOKS DOWN AND HE SEES US DOING SOMETHING NICE, AND IT COMPLIMENTS ON US DOING SOMETHING THAT HE LIKES TO DO AND THAT HE'S INTERESTED IN, SO IT'S REALLY -- IT'S A GOOD FEELING TO KNOW SOMEONE THAT WELL-OFF LIKES SOMETHING THAT WE DO.
ADAM GRYCZAN: HE WAS VERY, VERY ADAMANT ABOUT TAKING SPECIAL TIME OUT OF HIS DAY TO TAKE US AROUND, EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS COLLECTION, ABOUT WHAT HE FINDS INTERESTING ABOUT CARS, WHAT HE FINDS MOST REWARDING ABOUT HAVING A COLLECTION LIKE THAT.
JAY LENO: WHAT DO YOU NOTICE, BERNARD?
MAN: WELL, HOW MUCH LEEWAY DO YOU HAVE IN DESIGN OF THIS CAR?
ADAM GRYCZAN: HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC THAT WE HAD, THAT HAD KIND OF BEEN TAKING US AROUND AS WELL REALLY EXPLAINED TO US -- HE SAID, "YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY LUCKY.
HE WOULD NEVER USUALLY DO THIS FOR ANY OTHER COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PEOPLE.”
BUT HE WALKED AROUND WITH US FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONE WITH US.
JAY LENO: HOW BIG A MOTOR YOU RUNNING?
MAN: 600 cc.
ADAM GRYCZAN: HE DEFINITELY GOT A KICK OUT OF IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE STARTED IT UP FOR HIM.
JAY LENO: NOW, CRUSTY OLD BERNARD WANTS TO HEAR THIS THING RUN.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS ]
ADAM GRYCZAN : THEY THOUGHT IT WAS DEFINITELY A LOT MORE THAN ANY KIND OF GO-KART.
IT'S A FULL-BLOWN RACECAR, AND THEY KNEW IT OFF THE BAT.
JAY LENO: GO CHECK IT OUT.
GO TO "MICHIGAN STATE FORMULA RACING TEAM," RIGHT?
MAN: YES, SIR.
JAY LENO: CHECK IT OUT.
THANKS, GUYS.
MAN: THANK YOU, JAY.
ADAM GRYCZAN: JUST OUT FOR REALLY LEARNING THE ROPES OF ENGINEERING AND LEARNING HOW THINGS IN THE REAL WORLD WORK WITH DESIGNING A RACECAR.
KYLE BATEMAN: WHEN I GRADUATE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING EITHER RACE-ORIENTED OR AUTOMOTIVE-ORIENTED AND JUST STAY IN THE CAR WORLD AND KEEP DESIGNING AND DOING WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW, BUT GETTING PAID FOR IT, OBVIOUSLY.
JIM PECK: WE LEAVE YOU ALONG THE RED CEDAR RIVER, SPILLING OVER ITS BANKS FROM THE HEAVY RAINS.
Announcer: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIG TEN NETWORK.
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