On January 1st, 2018, when Alabama was set to play Clemson that night in the Sugar Bowl, I was proud to be standing inside the Mercedes Superdome when a story I worked on with ESPN/SEC Network producers aired nationally on SEC Nation. The producers allowed us to be on the field and by the set when ESPN/SEC Network Reporter Lauren Sisler introduced our story and when she closed it out to thank us for working with them on the story.

 

This happened after I pitched the producers the story we had about retired Coach Gene Stallings’ influence on Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. The two were meeting on the gridiron that night, and we were the only one who had the story that told how a legendary football coach had a major impact on both of the current head coaches’ life. After talking through the interviews and content we had, the producers and editor said it would have taken them three months to put together the story we helped them produce in just a couple of weeks. I worked with the producers throughout the edit using our footage and verbatims, and after it aired nationally they thanked us on air and in a commendation letter as well.

 

By the story airing on SEC Network, the feature had a potential audience of 61.4 million and with the length of the feature it had an estimated airing cost value of $4.76 B.  I also secured us credentials to go on the field pre-game to document Coach Gene Stallings being honored on the field where he was honored as the inaugural class of the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame. We were the only crew allowed on the field besides ESPN.