Anna Across America - Tour Finale (Graduating To The Next Adventure)

Anna Trundle, 2014 Graduate of Mississippi State University

                  
                                                Thank You, Dr Pepper!

Encore Presentation Of Anna's Appearance On FoxSports......

  http://www.foxsports.com/watch/fox-sports-live/video/dr-pepper-cfb-highlights-082614?vid=340253764002

...and a final farewell

As the curtain comes down on the Anna Across America tour, we want to say a Big Gosh Thank You to all those that made the past year possible.  First and foremost, thanks to the always humble Anna who patiently endured numerous extensions of the AAA tour.  Many thanks to the "Dr Pepperazzi" who so generously provided photo contributions.  And thank you to the scores of Anna Fans nationwide who consistently checked in to see where the Anna / Dr Pepper Can had popped up next.  The Anna Nation wasn't confined within America's borders, though.   Our website had viewers from all over the planet- a fitting tribute to Anna who appreciates the beauty and diversity of our world.  So to many of those countries, we say Thank You in your native tongue.

France - Merci

Germany - Danke schoen

Poland - Dziekuje

Korea - Kamsa hamaido
Ukraine - Diakuju

China (Mandarin) - Xie-Xie

Indonesia - Terima kasih

Bangladesh - Dhonnobtd

Brazil - Obrigado

Russia - Spasiba

Finland - Kiitos

Serbia - Multumesc

Spain - Gracias

Sweden - Tack

Turkey - Tesekkurler

And now we close out our year of blog posts with a selection from The Sound of Music, a favorite song of Anna's grandmother "Momma Laura",  one of Anna's biggest fans.   It is a song that captures the sweet and adventurous spirit of Anna Trundle - a truly deserving recipient of the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway.

http://youtu.be/jvDFoF9sfQA

-30-

Anna Across America - By The Numbers

111,600 - miles by plane
  12,400 - miles by automobile
    3,120 - miles by train
        77  - cities
        28 -  states
        21 -  countries who viewed this blog
        15 -  state capitols
        14 -  times the word "nationwide" is mentioned
        12 -  months of blog posts
        11 -  Major League Baseball parks
        10 -  references to Charles Alderton (inventor of Dr Pepper)
          6 -  National Football League stadiums
          6 -  automobile race tracks and speedways
          5 -  foreign countries visited
          4 -  amusement parks
          3 -  presidential libraries
          3 -  college football stadiums
          2 -  aircraft carriers

            In Honor of One Amazing Dr Pepper Scholarship Winner



     

Anna Across America - New York City (A 'Big Apple' Adieu)

A year ago today the Anna Across America tour debuted in New York City.     We revisited the Big Apple in early May and now, we return one more time to the greatest city in the world.

We begin our visit to one of the most recognizable buildings in the world -- the Empire State Building.  The iconic skyscraper was built in just over a year, opening in 1931.  Its 103-floors rise more than 1,500 feet over Manhattan.   For years, the Empire State Building was the tallest structure in the world.

Let's take a ride up to the top of the Empire State Building for a view of  "the city so nice they named it twice."

http://youtu.be/3XLjLx5fvsM

Central Park is an 843-acre urban oasis in the heart of Manhattan enjoyed by more than 37 million visitors a year.

 Dogs come from all around the city to enjoy the vast green space of Central Park.  Professional dog walkers are often seen in Central Park exercising the prized pooches who live in tony high-rises that surround the park.  Dog walkers in Manhattan can command six-figure salaries.

Dr Pepper has fun with this profession in this advertisement filmed in New York City.

http://youtu.be/XESOJJcxXFI

In Central Park, a 2.5 acre area called Strawberrry Fields pays tribute to singer, songwriter, musician, and peace activist John Lennon.   The former Beatle lived nearby at the Dakota Apartments before his untimely death.

More than 120 countries contributed to the creation of Strawberry Fields, reflecting the peacefulness that Lennon wrote and sang about in his son "Imagine".  A mosaic in the center of Strawberry Fields (also a Beatles song) is visited by thousands each year.

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The Beatles Link To Dr Pepper:   The Beatles eighth album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - often said to be the group's greatest work - was originally titled Dr. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The British pop group changed the title when it was realized that a great American soft drink company owned the trademark to the name.

Chinatown in Manhattan is home to the largest largest enclave of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere.

More than 800 languages can be heard in New York City, one of the most diverse cities on the planet.   Take a listen to the Oscar-winning title song of the Disney animated hit Frozen sung by Broadway star Idina Menzell (Rent, Wicked, If/Then) and 24 other singers from around the world in this unique compilation, which celebrates the diversity so evident in this city of endless possibilities.

"Let It Go" - In 25 Languages

http://youtu.be/BS0T8Cd4UhA

....and Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Bridge takes Anna & Dr Pepper to the borough of Brooklyn, the largest of New York City's five boroughs.  Completed in 1883, this iconic bridge spans the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Almost 2.6 million people call Brooklyn home.  A number of notable people in American history, entertainment, politics, media, and sports hail from the borough

And some of those know a good soft drink when they taste one such as actor and Brooklyn native Tony Lo Bianco in this Dr Pepper advertisement from yesteryear.

http://youtu.be/c3VB67P91ek

The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower is a architectural landmark of Brooklyn.  At 512 feet, it is the second tallest building in the borough.   The tower, which opened in 1929, also features one of the tallest four-sided clock towers in the world.    In 2007, the building was converted into condos and is a centerpiece of the urbam renaissance occurring in Brooklyn.

The Barclays Center is the new home of the Brooklyn Nets (formerly the New Jersey Nets) of the NBA.  The arena opened in 2012 and it has spurred tremendous redevelopment in the area.  The New York Islanders of the NHL will begin play on the home ice of the Barclays Center in 2015.

Anna Across America - Syracuse, New York

The predominantly fall color of orange is ablaze on the campus of Syracuse University these days- an appropriate salute to the school whose nickname and school color is Orange.   At left, the Hall of Languages is the original building of Syracuse University.  It housed the entire university when it opened in the early 1870s.

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The Anna Across America tour enters the homestretch of its one -year run.  Here's the lineup of the final days....

October 31 - Syracuse, New York
November 2 - New York City finale
November 5 - AAA By the Numbers
November 9 -  Blog Finale

 The Carrier Dome is the home of the Syracuse Orange football and basketball teams.  The domed edifice on the Syracuse University campus opened in 1980.  It seats 49,000 for football and 33,000 for basketball.

The Carrier Dome is named for the Carrier Corporation, which made a sizable contribution toward the facility's construction.  Despite being named for an HVAC manufacturer, the Carrier Dome does not have air conditioning.

One ot the most dramatic wins in the University of Tennessee's magical 1998 season occured in the Carrier Dome.  The Volunteers won the season opener on a Jeff Hall field goal in the final seconds.   Let's revisit that first win of UT's national championship season.

http://youtu.be/ItC00WEDxzo

Anna Across America - Plano, Texas (Home of Dr Pepper!)

We pay tribute today to Dr Pepper as we visit the corporate headquarters in Plano, Texas.  Look closely for the Anna Can...it's there! Fittingly, the headquarters of Dr Pepper is only a couple of hours away from  Waco where Charles Alderton concocted the most original soft drink ever.

We salute Dr Pepper and its commitment to the educational endeavors of Anna and so many other deserving students nationwide.

Time for more shameless plugs for the greatest soft drink ever.  Dr Pepper - a presenting sponsor of the College Football Playoff - is putting together a nice run of winning commercials featuring Larry Culpepper, the self -proclaimed architect of the playoff.

Let's check in with Larry on a few of his recent commercials from the college football season.

http://youtu.be/fu2rmeZhj0k

http://youtu.be/ZI5_dpUVwgk

http://youtu.be/2UkQueQWnxw

The actor who brings the Dr Pepper concessions guy to life is James M. Connor, whose movie credits include Watchmen (2009),  Blades of Glory (2007), and About Schmidt (2002).

Anna Across America - Lookout Mountain, Tennessee

 Overlooking Chattanooga, Tennessee, the aptly named Lookout Mountain offers beautiful views of seven surrounding states.  It also played a significant role in the Civil War.  The National Park Service- run Point Park (at left) commemorates "The Battle Above The Clouds," one of the turning points in the War Between the States.

Nearby, the incline railway which was featured in a March 23rd blog post for Chattanooga, runs its mile-long journey up the mountain.  And nearby on the mountain are the caves featuring Ruby Falls and the unique rock formations of Rock City, a tourist attraction advertised on barns nationwide, and opened by the man who invented miniature golf.

This posting marks the final visit to Tennessee in the 12-month long run of Anna Across America (barring a last-minute invite to Capitol Hill in Nashville if the governor issues a proclamation for "Anna Across America Day".)

Anna Across America - Daytona Beach, Florida

It is with great excitement that the Anna Across America tour  descends upon Daytona Beach, Florida.    This beach town is steeped in historical significance and has been a destination for Anna and her family throughout the years.  We've been trying to get to this locale since our blog began last November...and it is a pleasure to bring Anna & Dr Pepper here in the final weeks of the nationwide tour.

So lather up with some SPF 30 and enjoy the sights of this Sunshine State gem.

The hard-packed sand of Daytona Beach along the Atlantic Ocean has featured beach driving since the early 1900s.  This has earned the 23 miles of shoreline the distinction of being "The World's Most Famous Beach".

Daytona International Speedway is the most prestigious race track on the NASCAR circuit.  Stock car racing traces much of its roots to Daytona Beach with stock car races taking place on the beach as early as 1936.

It is fitting that NASCAR's biggest race - the Daytona 500 - kicks off each racing season here in February.  The track, which hosted its first race in 1959, features high banks in the 2.5 mile oval.   The speedway has a current seating capacity of 147,000.

An iconic symbol of Daytona Beach is the clock tower, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.   The clock tower is built with coquina rock (meaning tiny shell in Spanish) which is a native rock od the Atlantic shoreline.  The clock tower was a part of the WPA project and was completed in 1938.

 In the background stands the 744-room Hilton Hotel.   The Hilton chain is the official hotel of Anna and her family.

Four jets from the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron appear to be racing toward the Anna / Dr Pepper Can during an airshow at Daytona Beach.

Below is a video of the Thunderbirds in action over Daytona Beach.

http://youtu.be/q2NwmIaAXPc

Anna Across America - Blacksburg, Virginia (Home of Virginia Tech)

We travel today to Blacksburg, Virginia, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech.  At left, Anna & Dr Pepper visit the Virginia Tech sports complex, the centerpiece of which is 63,000-seat Lane Stadium.  It has been rated as one of the top stadiums for home field advantage in the country.

The Southwest Virginia area is a part of the rich history of Dr Pepper.    Wade Morrison, a native of nearby Christiansburg, Va, owned the Waco Texas drug store where our favorite soft drink was created in 1885 by our favorite pharmacist Charles Alderton.  Dr Pepper lore has it that Morrison named  the drink after a nearby doctor of the same name...ans the rest is history for this one-of-a-kind soft drink.

Anna Across America - Alexandria, Virginia

 Alexandria, Virginia - the home of many of our country's forefathers - welcomed the AAA tour to the city on the banks of the Potomac River just downstream from the District of Columbia.   At left,  Alexandria City Hall is a prominent fixture in Old Town Alexandria It was a site of a public market beginning in 1749.  The current City Hall was built in 1871.

The Old Town section of the city is known for its historic buildings and is teeming with art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants.

The 333-foot  George Washington Masonic National Memorial has been an Alexandria landmark  since its completion in 1932.

Alexandria was a natural choice for the memorial to Washington - a Mason himself - because of his ties to the area.

 From 1792 until 1933, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary served the residents of Alexandria.  Notable patrons include President James Monroe, Robert E. Lee, and Martha Washington.

The Great Depression put the apothecary out of business.  But the American Pharmaceutical Association assembled private buyers to help preserve the pharmacy's historic collections and contents.   A museum has operated on the site since the mid 1930s.

Anna Across America - Legoland Florida

The fun-loving Anna / Dr Pepper Can completes the tour of America's  Legoland theme parks as she visiits Legoland Florida (Legoland California was featured back in February).

Legoland Florida, located in Winter Haven, is the second largest of the  five Legoland theme parks behind the Windsor UK location.   The 150-acre park features rides, shows, a waterpark, and the Legoland miniland attraction which is the centerpiece of all its parks.  Legoland Florida is built on the site of the state's first theme park Cypress Gardens, a venerable tourist attraction long before a certain mouse and his sidekicks put down roots an hour away in Orlando.   The botanical gardens have been preserved and a ski show has been incorporated into Legoland's entertainment in a respectful nod to its predecessor which occupied the site from 1936-2009.

Anna Across America - Starkville, Mississippi (Home of the Number One Bulldogs)

Anna continues to bring good fortune to the sports teams she visits.  Her visit to Kansas City coincided with the resurgence of the Royals baseball team, which is one win away from its first World Series appearance in 29 years.

But nothing can compare to the MoJo she has brought her alma-mater Mississippi State University football team.  The newly-minted alumnus has watched the Bulldogs ascend to a number one ranking in the Associated Press Poll.  Unranked at the beginning of the season, MSU became the first team in the 78-year history of the NCAA to grab the top spot in five weeks after being unranked to start the season (the previous best was six weeks by Ohio State in 1954).

The rise to the top of the football world became possible after MSU, ranked number three, convincingly whipped number two ranked Auburn on Saturday.  It was the Bulldogs third win of the season over a top-ten team.  And of course Anna and the good luck Anna / Dr Pepper Can was there to bring us the Game Day experience and to celebrate the historic victory.

With just a few hours sleep after a Friday night drive from East Tennessee, Anna and her namesake Dr Pepper Can joined a throng of cowbell-ringing Bulldog fans to provide the backdrop for Saturday morning's ESPN College Game  Day Broadcast.

Let's check in with Larry Culpepper, the self -proclaimed inventor of the college football playoff, in his latest spot for Dr Pepper.

http://youtu.be/aCM4V2umUXQ

The Anna / Dr Pepper Can poses with a larger than life Chris Fowler sign that Anna held aloft at the Game Day set.   Fowler - the longtime Game Day host - was joined by former Mississipp State pitcher  Jonathan Papelbon decked out in MSU maroon and puffing on a precelebration victory cigar as seen in the video linked below.  And then we turn our attention to Game Day analyst Lee Corso to find out who he picked to win the clash of SEC powers.

http://youtu.be/F7l_RNRHdZ8

Mississippi State raced to a 21-0 lead in the first nine minutes of the game and held off a stubborn Auburn rally  to beat the defending SEC champions 38-23 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.

Below are the highlights...

http://youtu.be/7bdx68-RHz4

 As day turned into dusk the celebration erupted at Mississippi State University.  The crowd of 63,000 danced victoriously and rang cowbells long after the final whistle.


http://youtu.be/V4JsepfveSw

Anna Across America - On National TV!!!

Anna's star continues to rise.  During Saturday's FoxSports1 broadcast of UCLA and Oregon, Anna appeared in a taped segment describing her experience in the Dr Pepper Tuition Challenge.

Copy and paste the link below to enjoy our favorite Dr Pepper scholar's interview at halftime of the nationally-televised game.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/video?vid=340253764002

Anna Across America - Bell Buckle, Tennessee

 We travel today to the most uniquely named destination in our 11-month tour of America with the Anna/Dr Pepper Can.  Bell Buckle, Tennessee sits 20 minutes off a busy interstate and yet it is a throwback to a simpler time.

This little hamlet (pop. 500) nestled in the rolling hills and horse farms of Middle Tennessee beckons those who know of its hidden secrets.  Antique shops, restored Victorian homes, and one of the best "meat and three" diners in the country await those who want to experience a slice of Southern Living.  The origin of the town's name is not fully known but believed to be related to cow bells and buckles used by early settlers.

By no means is this town a backwoods outpost.  Bell Buckle is home to The Webb School, a world renowned boarding school for boys and girls with a $49,000 a year tuition.

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The curtain will soon fall on the AAA Tour.   On November 1st, we will be closing out this fun-filled travel and tribute blog to Anna and the world's most original soft drink Dr Pepper.  It will mark the 365th day of the blog.

Anna Across America - Tennessee/Florida (The Checkerboard Comes To Life)

Tennessee came up on the short end of a 10-9 nail-biter with

Florida on Saturday.   But the Volunteer faithful proved their

support to the young team by filling Neyland Stadium in an

orange and white checkerboard pattern.  Attendance for the 

game was 102,455 and one well-travelled Anna/Dr Pepper Can.

Anna Across America - "It's Football Time In Tennessee"

It's game day in Knoxville!  A lot will happen before today's 12 noon kickoff between Tennessee and Florida.  Whether you you are a diehard Tennessee Volunteer football fan or one of our loyal blog viewers from France or Germany you will enjoy a look at the pregame pageantry that takes place in and around Neyland Stadium.

A little more than two hours before kickoff, the Tennessee football team arrives on campus and is greeted by a cheering gauntlet of Volunteer fans as they walk to the stadium.   The Vol Walk signals the start of the pregame festivities in Big Orange Country.

http://youtu.be/r6gnaagJjxc

A half hour later, The Pride of the Southland Marching Band makes its way to the stadium playing Rocky Top as the throngs in orange continue to grow.

http://youtu.be/WaTbniMUr8k

Now let's head inside the stadium as the UT band takes us through one of the most beloved pregame rituals in collegie football. As the excitement crescendos in Neyland Stadium, the band forms a T and the Tennessee Volunteers burst onto the playing field before a crowd of more than 100,000.

http://youtu.be/zXWtRPKjhrE

...and then ladies and gentlemen....well, let us have legendary Tennessee broadcaster John Ward do the honors.... http://youtu.be/Lj7UfmKw_wM

Anna Across America - Tennessee/Florida Week (Part III)

 In less than 24 hours, the seats and field below will be covered in orange and white of the Tennessee Volunteers and their fans... with a smattering of the most rancid blue you will ever see worn by the Florida Gators.  We are only serious of course as the two SEC foes hit the gridiron for the 44th renewal of their colorful rivalry (Florida leads the series 24-19).

Expect a sellout Neyland Stadium crowd north of 100,000 on a beautiful autumn day.

The 43 previous meetings between Tennessee and Florida have often been hard-hitting, exciting affairs with SEC supremacy on the line during much of the 1990s and 2000s.  Shields-Watkins Field which the Anna Can overlooks has played host to a number of those classics.  Let's take a look at a few of those during the past quarter century

The rivalry hit full stride in 1990 when a brash young coach named Steve Spurrier, a Tennessee native son no less, brought his highly-hyped Gators into Neyland Stadium.  And they were promptly handed a 45-3 defeat.  Who will ever forget Dale Carter's 90-yard kickoff return to begin the second half (see at the 1:40 mark in the video) or the 47-yard touchdown pass from tight end Von Reeves to Carl Pickens (see at 20:50) which put a dagger into the Gators.

http://youtu.be/gjUiPp7nGEw

In 1992 when our favorite Dr Pepper scholar was only four months old, the Volunteers won 31-14 in a rain-soaked Neyland Stadium.  Below is a video recap of that day.

http://youtu.be/LLF8nZjSikE

Perhaps the most momentous of Tennesse victories over the Gators occurred in 1998.  The Vols won an overtime thriller 20-17 and the march to a national championship in that magical season began.  Let's return to those memorable moments in 1998 when the  Vols stunned the Gators and the goalposts came down.

http://youtu.be/vkWjoBZXmJw

Tennessee's last victory over Florida was ten long years ago.  It was a classic battle which saw UT kicker James Wilhoit miss a late fourth quarter extra point (the first of his career) that would have tied the game.  Wilhoit found redemption just minutes later with a 50-yard field goal in the waning seconds.  Tennessee 30, Florida 28.  Bob Kesling, the Voice of the Vols, brings back the memories of that unbelievable finish with his call in the video below.

http://youtu.be/2uIPgNsMzWk

Anna Across America - Tennessee/Florida Week (Part II)

Inside Neyland Stadium, the Anna/Dr Pepper Can visits the locker of quarterback Justin Worley, who will be a key part of the outcome in Saturday's clash between Tennessee and Florida.  The mojo generated by the Anna Can may figure prominently in Worley's performance.

A win will put Tennessee another step closer to restoring the prominence it held for decades in the Southeastern Conference.

The video below brings back memories of past glories and also points to the opportunity of a brighter future under Coach Butch Jones.

http://youtu.be/keUnCHfnKfM


Editor's Note:  Next Tennessee/Florida update is high noon on Friday.

Anna Across America - Tennessee/Florida Week

     It's Tennessee/Florida Week and time to Beat the Gators.  Not an easy task - it's been 10 hauntingly-long years since the Volunteers have prevailed.  We're betting the power of the Anna/Dr Pepper Can will end the losing skid this Saturday.
     The namesake Anna Can, which this time last year was sold in stores nationwide, visited the Tennessee locker room in Neyland Stadium recently.    A Tennessee football tradition is for the Vols to slap the sign at the locker room door before running through the "T" on the gridiron.  And so it is that the Anna / Dr Pepper Can taps the sign as so many other Vols For Life have done through the years.  Need more inspiration?
     Check out this video of Inky Johnson - a true Vol For Life.

http://youtu.be/MOWgQ7x63Vs

Anna Across (North) America - Toronto

Anna and father David closed out the baseball season with a trip to Toronto.   The Rogers Centre -- best known as the SkyDome -- beckoned the father/daughter travelers who have never backed down from a road trip opportunity...and of course the Anna / Dr Pepper Can came along for the 900 mile roundtrip ride.   A major league baseball expansion team in 1977, the  Toronto Blue Jays won World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.  The Blue Jays have called the dome home since 1989.  It features a retractable roof and hotel rooms surrounding the scoreboard that overlook the field.

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Kendall Graveman, a member of Mississippi State's College World Series squad in 2013, is a pitcher in the Blue Jays organization and was a September call up from the minor leagues to the big club.  On Sunday, Kendall pitched a scoreless inning in relief as Anna rang an MSU cowbell in support.    The presence of the Anna Can continues to be a force for those who recognize its powers.

At 1,815 feet, the CN Tower is the sixth tallest freestanding structure in the world.

Anna Across America - New Jersey (continued)

The well-travelled Anna / Dr Pepper Can visits the most expensive sports stadium ever built - the $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.   Just outside New York City, the stadium is home to both the New York Football Giants of the NFC and the New York Jets of the AFC.  MetLife Stadium is the largest in the NFL with a capacity of more than 82,000.

The stadium, which opened in 2010, was built without public funding -- each team entering into a 50/50 partnership.  The venue has also  attracted large crowds for soccer, concerts, and even WWE Wrestlemania.

The cohabitation arrangement of the two teams is incorporated into the design of the stadium.  The stadium can be converted to the color scheme of the Jets (green) or Giants (red and blue) in a matter of hours using aluminum louvers in the stadium's outer skin and interior lighting.   Take a look at this stadium transformation below.

http://youtu.be/zzr5NP3MiaE

Earlier this year, Super Bowl XLVIII was held at MetLife Stadium.  The title game between Denver and Seattle featured the NFL's top offense (Broncos) against the top defense (Seahawks).    The game did not live up to its super-hyped billing as Seattle provided all the offense in a 43-8 rout.

The halftime show did not disappoint, however.    The largest TV audience in Super Bowl history (115 million viewers) saw Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform to the crowd which was incorporated into the show, becoming a stadium-size LED screen.  Enjoy the show.

http://youtu.be/C8OAq3eQU9w

The New York Football Giants headquarters and training facility is located in the Meadowlands complex, across the parking lot from MetLife Stadium.

The Giants were one of the original five teams that formed the National Football League in 1925.  The team holds eight NFL titles, third behind Green Bay with 13 and Chicago with nine.

One of the most beloved Giants in recent memory is Michael Strahan, the hard charging defensive end who set an NFL record of 22.5 sacks in a season and played his entire career here.  He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Since his career ended in 2007, Strahan has shown his fun-loving side on FOX NFL Sunday and as a cohost with Kelly Ripa on Live! with Kelly and Michael.  But make no mistake, Strahan can flash a charming smile and take you down in a second as witnessed by this Dr Pepper commercial from a few  years ago.

http://youtu.be/U-J9NvAalco

A 45 minute drive away in Florham Park sits the New York Jets' training  facility.  The Atlantic Health Training Center features five full-length football field where the Jets prepare for the next loss.   But perhaps the appearance of the Anna / Dr Pepper Can will bring the Jets out of its decades-long doldrums.

Anna Across America - Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey is the latest stop for Anna & Dr Pepper.  Founded in 1666,  Newark - with the New York City skyline visible in the distance - is now a major center of commerce with more than 100,000 people commuting into the city's downtown each weekday.  It is the third largest insurance center in the country;  other major employers include sectors such as healthcare, government, import/export, and finance.

The visit to New Jersey means that Anna & Dr Pepper have been in 10 of the original 13 colonies/states (all but Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island).

The Generous Spirit of Dr Pepper

The generosity of Dr Pepper continues to help fulfill the dreams of college students nationwide.  Last week during the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dr Pepper and Ellen teamed up to surprise an LSU student and her mother.

http://youtu.be/Lf1-fDGmv40

AAA Exclusive - The Power Of The Anna / Dr Pepper Can

Baseball is a game filled with superstitions.  So no doubt that
Major League Baseball teams will have the Anna / Dr Pepper
Can on their invite list for next year.  Her visits have brought
good fortune to Washington and Baltimore, who have clinched
their respective divisions.  St. Louis is knocking on the door
for another division crown as well.  Another club, Kansas City,
is poised for a wild card berth.

Above,  Nationals Park in Washington D.C.

At right, Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore

Below, Busch Stadium in St. Louis

Anna On Location

Anna and Dr Pepper are teaming up again to promote this year's Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway!  Anna spent the day last week with a film crew and representatives from Dr Pepper and FoxSports in Starkville, Mississippi before, during and after Mississippi State's football game with the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

It was here in 2012 that Anna impressed Dr Pepper representatives with her extemperaneous video that ultimately won her a $7,500 scholarship, an all expense paid trip to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, and a photo shoot in St. Louis that put her picture on Dr  Pepper bottles and cans nationwide....not to mention a fan-supported blog with a worldwide following.  Accompanied by her mother Kathy and father David, Anna spent almost 12 hours with a film crew who are producing a video segment to promote this year's Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway.

Let's go behind the scenes with Anna as she returns to her alma mater to promote the scholarship program fueled by the "most original soft drink ever in the whole wide world..."

But First A Word From Our Sponsor...

http://youtu.be/1FnmC3fhFkM

Dr Pepper is the first official college football championship partner and a presenting sponsor of the National Championship trophy.   The exploits of Larry Culpepper, the Dr Pepper concession guy, will be an ongoing theme of Dr Pepper advertisements throughout this football season.

Anna -- resplendent in the colors of both Mississippi State and Dr Pepper -- takes a break during her morning interviews.

Anna and her father David spent an hour throwing the football before the film crew -- much like they did when Anna was younger.

Anna poses with the MSU mascot Bully as the pregame tailgating gets underway.

Anna and Dr Pepper / A Number One Ranked Combination