Overtime, or “OT,” is an opinion column series where the Collegian takes national sports headlines or polarizing topics and gives them a Butler-centric angle.
On Sept. 12, the nation watched as the then-No. 4 Texas Longhorns scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to complete an improbable comeback and stun the then-top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23.
Although the Longhorns’ late-game rally was electric, it was not the most memorable part of the night for many fans. That came when Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian — awaiting a post-game interview with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe — suddenly shouted “That’s called Texas fight, hook ‘em,” flashed a “horns up” to the camera, turned around and walked away into a sea of Longhorn players, leaving a seemingly frustrated Rowe alone at midfield with no interview.
That was not the only time Sarkisian hightailed it from a sideline reporter during that game. Laura Rutledge approached him for a halftime interview but left empty-handed as technical issues made it take longer than usual for questioning to begin. After waiting a minute, Sarkisian declined to comment and jogged back into the locker room.
After a situation like this, fans began to debate who was in the right and who was not. But from those conversations, a concerning sentiment arose — one that sideline reporters are unfortunately all too familiar with.
Fans have begun to ask again whether sideline reporters should be done away with.
While some wonder if sports broadcasts would improve without sideline reporters, others are adamant that they would. They argue that they provide nothing of substance to a program — only reciting bland and basic information — and that the position exists only to employ women on a broadcast team.
Disgustingly, some even say these reporters — assuming they would be women — are just paid to “look hot” and be ogled by thousands at home.
Contrary to popular belief, women do not dominate sideline reporting. Although some of the largest names in that role are women, in general, only 20.9% of all sports reporters are women. Yet, they seem to receive the most criticism compared to their male counterparts.
Eva Hallman, a freelance reporter and Butler alum who has experience sideline reporting, believes much of the disdain for the occupation is rooted in who is delivering the information.
“[Women sideline reporters’] voices are amplified because of the heightened criticism [they receive],” Hallman said. “What they’re wearing [and] what they say [is always under scrutiny].”
Hallman received hate in the past for her sideline work in the Indoor Football League, where she experienced firsthand how misunderstood the job is.
“Last year, I received a lot of those sentiments of, ‘You’re useless, you’re just something to look at,’” Hallman said. “But when I was [there], I had all-access [to the field]. I was actually encouraged to be on the field the entire time … If I wanted to get a coach’s play call, I could [get it]; if I wanted to interview an official because of a controversial call, I could do that.”
When it comes to the “dull” questions these reporters ask coaches, fans must remember they may not have the final say in what gets asked. Depending on the network and its creative choices, the sideline reporter may have to pivot to what the network wants out of its reports, leading to easy questions for easy answers.
Sideline reporters are also not on air for very long. Halftime interviews rarely run over a minute, and post-game interviews do not exceed two minutes. These reporters are on borrowed time to get a statement and capture some of the coaches’ emotions, so asking deep questions in those moments is actually counterproductive to their overall goal.
Nick White, lecturer professional in practice and general manager of Butler Sports Live, knows what role these reporters play and how meaningful they are to a broadcast.
“Saying we shouldn’t have sideline reporters is very dismissive of what they do and the importance they bring to a broadcast,” White said. “The job of a broadcast is to bring the television audience to the event and to the field. Fans don’t even realize all the information they’re getting [about injuries and personnel developments from the broadcast booth] is coming from sideline reporters [first].”
Even though their detractors are some of the loudest within this conversation, sideline reporters are still held in high regard for many fans.
Julia Veres, a senior strategic communications and sports media double major, believes that sideline reporters are great to have as long as there is mutual respect and understanding between themselves and the players and staff.
“I generally love sideline reporters,” Veres said. “I think that having someone who is not [reporting from] a press box is a really interesting perspective because, as a sideline reporter, you get such a different look at the game. But I do think that there needs to be some understanding [that] not every situation is going to be a good [one] to do sideline reporting and interview those coaches. At the end of the day, [coaches are] not there to give you a quote; they’re there to coach their team.”
Just because our phones buzz us with injury reports or coaches give the same old answers to every question, people believe that sideline reporters should go the way of the dodo. But that could not be any more off course.
Sideline reporters are integral to today’s sports, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon.