How I got involved with sports

I'm working on an introductory speech for a class and I felt like to figure out my story, why not share it here? I'll post a copy of my speech when it's finalized too.

Well, growing up I had a few influences in my life that led me to my love for sports.

1. Daddy. My father has been into sports as long as I can remember. He used to work the ticket gates at Auburn games and we'd go in and watch the tail end of games. He would go out in the yard and throw the football with me and taught me how to throw a spiral. He also bought me a basketball goal when I thought I wanted to learn how to play. I still have the basketball goal, but no height. He taught me about sports and continues to share my passion for sports and the dreams I have of covering sports for a living.

2. Obed Ellis. Big brother. Not by blood, but he might as well be. He played for Troy State University and we used to make the trip to Troy to watch him and even went all the way to Marshall to a nasty, rainy game just to see him. He's now a football coach in Wetumpka, Alabama (my hometown) and he got me involved with working with the Wetumpka High School football team my junior and senior year. I went to every game and took stats for the team. That was one thing that sparked me wanting to get involved in sports on a more permanent basis.

3. Beth Lauritson. My childhood best friend. We watched football together nearly every Saturday growing up. We taught ourselves things about the game, went out in the yard and tried to learn how to play, and fell in love with the sport. The first season we really got completely enthralled by the game was the 2004 season, and we were both Auburn fans (good year to pick to really pay attention right?). I remember watching the LSU v. Auburn game, the 10-9 game, and going outside and jumping on the trampoline screaming after Auburn won. Good times.

My senior year of high school, I got the opportunity to work with SportsRadio740, a Cumulus radio station in Montgomery, and Faulkner University's athletic department. Doug Amos gave me the chance to be an "intern" and shadow him in his profession as a sports radio personality and the voice of Faulkner athletics. I was "Danielle the Intern" and got my first chance to get on the airwaves and the television. I filled in for Doug's co-host Josh when he was out of town and had my own segment on the television show Faulkner This Week called the Student Spotlight.

I was also able to get on the field and cover football games during the 2009 season and being on the field made me know more so than ever, this is what I want to do. I filmed the home football games that season and got the opportunity to do the same for basketball that year.

Then I graduated high school and moved to Troy. 

New town, same story? Sort of, but not really.

When I got to Troy, I became involved with Troy TrojanVision, the campus news station. Turns out, there weren't that many people involved with sports. However, I was shy. I didn't want to just jump in as a freshman. So, I didn't do very much reporting, but I did get involved with the weekly sports show Trojan Sports Now, where I became Jonathan Sellers co-anchor and began to write my own scripts and was guaranteed a spot on TV once a week.

When spring semester rolled around, some of the sports reporters had moved on, and there were openings. I was also braver. So, I got involved covering some basketball games and softball when the season started. Including getting the chance to cover a touching story about Morgan Hasty.

When football season rolled around, that's when I jumped head first into reporting. I attended media day to start the season and became the football beat reporter. I got the chance to be on the sidelines for the first game on Larry Blakeney Field and cover the win against Middle Tennessee. I attended each home game and the press conferences each week in preparation for covering that week's match up.

I also got the opportunity to make my high school football sideline reporting debut on the radio with Jonathan Sellers and Buddy Johnson when the high school playoffs rolled around. That was a dream come true. I absolutely loved being able to be on the field and contribute to the broadcast. If I'm lucky enough to join them again next year, I'll be thrilled.

Now, it's basketball season and I'm covering the Troy Trojans each time they're home. And I'm learning more about the game each time (I might know about sports, but football is my main focus, so I'm trying to get caught up on all the others!).

There's nothing better than being down on the field covering football. And in second? Covering any other sport while living out my dream!