ESPN’s eighth domestic network, SEC Network, launched one year ago today. Since August 14, 2014, the network has provided more than 1,500 live events surrounded by 1,400 hours of original programming. In its debut year, SEC Network received three Sports Emmy nominations and was also nominated for “Best in Television” by Sports Business Journal.
Accolades aside, ESPN Front Row asked SEC Network commentators, executives and the Southeastern Conference Commissioner to share their favorite moments of the network’s inaugural year:
Greg Sankey, SEC Network Commissioner:
“For me personally, it’s hard to top my press conference in Nashville, being announced as the next SEC Commissioner.”
My view now! pic.twitter.com/nmxT5jQYpt
— Greg Sankey (@GregSankey) March 13, 2015
Stephanie Druley, ESPN Senior Vice President:
“For me, two nights stand out. Launch night in Charlotte. It was the culmination of a year’s hard work by so many people. The energy and excitement from everyone involved was amazing.”
“The second night was opening football night in South Carolina. The opening segment of that game was fantastic. Our goal was to take make the fans at home feel like they were inside the stadium for the “Sandstorm” tradition in Columbia. The production team did a fantastic job. It was the perfect mix of pictures and natural sound with Brent Musburger’s voice coming and going at just the right time. That night set the standard for football on the SEC Network.”
Producers and director grinding less than 24 hours to launch. #SECNetworkLaunch pic.twitter.com/2IDNXcQ8hJ
— Stephanie Druley (@StephDru) August 14, 2014
Is it 6pm yet!!! Crew is ready. Time to launch this network. What an awesome @SECNetwork team. #SECNetworkLaunch pic.twitter.com/KgrWf1CgSP
— Meg Aronowitz (@megaronowitz) August 14, 2014
Live from the control room during the count in. WE ARE LIVE! @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/yosgbb6dKg
— Gracie Blackburn (@Gracie_ESPN) August 14, 2014
Maria Taylor, SEC Now Host, Sideline Reporter and Analyst:
“I have a few. On launch night, Dari (Nowkhah) and I hosted the first SEC Now and started a pre-show handshake tradition. It continues to be one of my favorite things.
“We had my old coach, Coach [Andy] Landers, on the set after the Georgia women’s basketball team won their first game in the tournament. It essentially ended up being his final live interview as the head coach of Georgia. He retired shortly afterwards.
“During the Tennessee Spring Game I was able to interview Peyton Manning and the defensive coordinator let me call plays for the defense during the game – wearing a [coach’s] headset was awesome!”
No coach has ever helped, taught or meant more to me than @UGACoachLanders #OneandOnly Epic career, Epic MAN @UGA_WBB @UGAAthletics
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor7) March 17, 2015
THANKS @Vol_Football @UTCoachJancek for making my final spring FB stop great! Loved calling plays for the D #FistsUp pic.twitter.com/nvJj1Ks0wQ
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor7) April 26, 2015
Paul Finebaum, Commentator:
“Kissing Uga (Georgia Mascot) during our SEC Nation show in Athens, and then being spurned by my Alma-Mater’s [Tennessee] mascot (Smokey) tops my list.”
Pucker up Paul! @finebaum and UGA get friendly on #SECNation. pic.twitter.com/AKs27NBWDH
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 27, 2014
Laura Rutledge, Reporter:
“I did the Arkansas spring game on SECN and head coach Brett Bielema got me involved in a play with the mascots. Unfortunately after two tries I still couldn’t catch the pass, so let’s just say I won’t quit my day job.
“I also had a fun interview at the SEC Baseball tourney with the winning coach Kevin O’Sullivan where we got a Gatorade bath together. We didn’t see it coming at all and it was a very cold surprise!”
Gatorade shower: before and after. (Photos by Paul Hummel) pic.twitter.com/U0pqxqv7xY
— Laura Rutledge (@LauraMRutledge) May 25, 2015
Peter Burns, SEC Now Host:
“I think the play of Lauren Haeger in Softball this year was amazing. She was so dominant both at the plate and in the circle. Watching them win it all was incredible. My favorite show was the Halloween Night SEC Now. Me, Booger [McFarland] and Greg [McElroy] all dressed up in Halloween Costumes. I could barely keep a straight face. I loved the guys talking football and trying to be serious while dressed up as a farmer and a Pez Dispenser.”
.@ASAUSASoftball POY: Lauren Haeger… the first D-1 player to go 60-60! The only other player to do it: Babe Ruth. pic.twitter.com/j0aJSCm9Fk
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) May 27, 2015
A photo posted by Peter Burns (@peterburnsespn) on
Dane Bradshaw, College Basketball Analyst:
“Dari was hosting Finebaum show in February and they checked in with me in College Station for pregame of Texas A&aM and Georgia. They pulled an old clip of me getting dunked on vs. Kentucky and had me take them through how it felt to get dunked on that badly.
“This hardly qualifies as athletic, but when they asked me to get up from the set as we were doing SEC Now from Rupp Arena to shoot a three and luckily it went in… after never making one there during my playing days.”
Kelly Moran contributed to this post.
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