September 13, low 60s, a brisk breeze and a waning gibbous. It was my first time working a game on Kyle Field and for ESPN, and I definitely should’ve brought a windbreaker instead of a rain jacket. I was there for the experience; for the chance to be a part of something that I one-day hope to list as my career field. Anything I could do to get my foot in the door was more than good enough, and I was ready to prove myself worthy.
My task was simple: serve and protect the cart. Don’t let anyone get in the way of the cart, don’t let anyone get run over by the cart, and most importantly, don’t get hit by the cart. Still don’t know what I’m talking about? Well it’s this giant thing. It has super thick tires, and IT MOVES REALLY FAST!
Granted, this isn’t the one I was guarding, but you get the idea.
Anyways, there were a lot of people on the sideline that weren’t happy with me. Kyle Field’s sidelines are a lot smaller this year, and there were way too many people crowding around. You’ve got the football players, the coaches, the media and even some spectators just standing there watching the game. Because I had to make sure nobody came near the cart, there was even less room to walk or run around. My experience was, needless to say, very interesting. Some people understood that I was just doing my job; others wanted to bite my head off. Either way, I served my purpose.
I love working sidelines. I’ve been doing it since high school, and I’d choose working the field over sitting in the stands nine out of ten times. I am very grateful to ESPN for allowing me to work with them and for all the access and knowledge I gained. Let’s just say that the next time I work a game, I hope I get to experience a different aspect of it. The goal with these kinds of gigs is to become a well-rounded employee, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.
Thanks and Gig ‘Em,
ESPN Sideline Girl