Original Dream Job winner Mike Hall, who beat out more than 10,000 competitors to land a one-year contract with ESPN, will become the signature anchor for ESPNU. He will host ESPNU's studio programming from Charlotte, N.C., headquarters of ESPN Regional Television (ERT) which will handle the primary production responsibilities for ESPNU. The Chicago native and University of Missouri graduate (2004) recently reflected on ESPNU's upcoming launch.
What makes college sports so special?
Hall: "There is something different about the atmosphere in college games. There is a different connection that all of us have to our college teams. Maybe it's because we look at college as some of the best years of our lives."
What were your college sports passions growing up?
Hall: "I grew up in a family of Illinois Fighting Illini. My father, mother, two sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, everybody wore orange and blue. I remember once a year my dad would take me down to Champaign to see a football or basketball game. When I got to the University of Missouri, obviously my loyalty changed and my interests were extended to include other sports. In fact, I played ultimate frisbee in college, which certainly is not a mainstream sport; it was more like a club, but we got to travel to tournaments. I had a great time playing for two years."
Is there one college sports event that you would like to attend?
Hall: "I think the Final Four would be cool because of how massive an event it is. Also, I think seeing a great rivalry game in person is like nothing else. I've been to the Kansas-Missouri games whenever possible. It's just that different environment about rivalries. You can see it in the players and fans. I would love to go to an OU-Texas football game or a Notre Dame-USC game. Those rivalries are just so passionate."
Can you talk about your unconventional path to your current ESPNU gig?
Hall: "Exactly one year ago, it was five or six days before the first Dream Job. I was studying a mid-term and it was the day that we (Missouri) beat Oklahoma St. in double overtime on ESPN. It was still this pipe dream. It was still this image or mirage in the distance that it would be so cool to be there, but I needed to be realistic. One year later, I'm working on a new network and will be involved in all the shows. It is too cool to put into words. I feel I can continue to get better everyday and I think ESPNU can be incredible. I'm so happy to be part of it from the beginning."
You are being billed as the face of ESPNU like Chris Berman and Bob Ley were the faces of ESPN from its launch. How do you feel about that?
Hall: "I am lucky. Chris Berman, Bob Ley and the others that helped start ESPN had no road map. There was no set way to do SportsCenter when Boomer or Bob started. Unlike them, I have the great benefit of a larger company that has a successful formula in place. Those guys did so much for this business, it's an honor just to be mentioned in the same question as them. It also drives me to succeed and leave a mark like they continue to do."
You're one year removed from college. Can you describe the meaning of the ESPN brand on a college campus?
Hall: "In addition to college students watching SportsCenter every morning, when ESPN is covering your basketball game, everybody goes. There is something about it that you feel like you are big time if ESPN is there. When Dick Vitale comes do to the game, as fans you need to get the crowd to wear the same colored shirts and you need to be the loudest you can be."
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