Taylor McGregor had planned how she would navigate a pregame interview with Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders at the Valero Alamo Bowl, ensuring she addressed an important topic from the beginning. Sanders was preparing to coach the final game with his sons Shedeur and Shilo, and although McGregor did not know how she would ultimately phrase the question, it was situated at the top of mind. Aware that she may only get to ask one to two questions due to time constraints and the length of his answers, she planned to inquire about the game if there was additional time.
As Sanders walked on the field to participate in the interview, McGregor could see that he was tearing up. Recognizing what was taking place, she chose not to ask about the game and instead asked about what he was envisioning in the moment. Sanders gave heartfelt answers that helped provide context for viewers, denoting a compelling pregame interview that garnered plaudits from viewers.
“That interview was really just trying to be in the moment and give viewers an insight into what Deion Sanders was feeling in that moment,” McGregor said. “And to me, he was feeling the weight of being a dad and almost like your sons are leaving the house.”
Throughout the inaugural season of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, McGregor has been on the sidelines reporting and delivering information during games. Part of her job involves making astute observations and speaking to the right people, requiring that she does not become fatigued. Having recently broadcast the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which averaged 17.3 million viewers, she knows that moments can feel big when the entire country is watching.
“Sometimes it feels surreal, and there are often times in this business where you just get focused on the grind and you forget to take in the moment,” McGregor said. “If there’s been anything I’ve done over the last couple of weeks is I’ve really just taken in the moment and just been very grateful for kind of what I have in front of me because if you can’t enjoy these types of moments, then it’s like, ‘Why are you even doing this job?’”
Ahead of a typical Bowl game, McGregor is trying to determine the starting lineup and report on interesting stories with both teams. By watching film and conversing with players and coaches, she can accumulate intel that can help guide her reporting as the game is taking place. The conversations are especially valuable to glean insights on game strategy and real-time adjustments, and McGregor has been able to effectuate a proverbial formula throughout the week.
“For me, I love catching up with coaches before the game,” McGregor said. “I think you can get a lot of really great stuff, last-minute stuff. Bowl games are a little bit different, but during the regular season before a big game, even a little nugget from an offensive coordinator; like, ‘Hey, opening series – what are you seeing of this, this and this?,’ I’ve gotten some great stuff with that.”
McGregor primarily worked with Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek this past season, traveling the country to cover college football games on ESPN platforms. Within her profession, she is ultimately looking to impart candor and credibility, removing any potential sources of doubt and further cementing herself as a trustworthy journalist.
“We just want things that are factual and accurate, so as long as that’s like the bottom line – even if someone’s having a really tough season, it’s a fact,” McGregor said. “So I think ultimately if you can just kind of – Joe [Tessitore] says it to me all the time, ‘Say what you see’ – and I know that’s a little bit different in baseball, but if you’re saying what you’re seeing, your eyes aren’t lying. You’re just reporting the facts, and ultimately that’s what nobody could ever deny is the facts.”
Through growing up around the Colorado Rockies and developing a penchant for baseball, McGregor was able to leverage her familiarity and passion to disseminate insightful reports and stories surrounding the team reporting on regional broadcasts. The connection to the organization and city made it all the more difficult to depart when she learned of an opportunity to join the brand-new Marquee Sports Network working in a similar role on Chicago Cubs broadcasts.
McGregor initially declined the idea, but as people around her divulged that changes may not yield a full-time role with AT&T SportsNet, she recognized the value in relocating. The decision to join Cubs broadcasts was prudent with Warner Bros. Discovery divesting its regional sports networks three years later.
“We hear it all the time [that] people around Major League Baseball love our show because of the things that we do,” McGregor said. “We’re still investing in making our broadcast good. When everybody else is stripping back and cutting cameras and doing all the things because of money, Marquee is still willing to invest and make it a better show, which we’re very grateful for.”
Even though McGregor admits that baseball is challenging because of the sheer number of games, she also views it as rewarding for the same reason. Spending time around the team can foster more detailed reporting and anecdotal commentary, ultimately cultivating a more distinctive viewing experience. At the same time, she is able to learn from Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Jim Deshaies, broadcasters who have shaped her views and perspectives on the sport. No matter the event or the platform though, McGregor values authenticity and seeks to convey as such on the air.
“If you try to kind of hone it in a little bit or try to be more than you are, it’s just going to come across as disingenuous, and ultimately, I want to be genuine, and so I think the things that come across on TV are our genuine personalities,” McGregor said. “And when we’re off the air, we’re poking fun at each other, we’re laughing, and that’s a lot of what you see show up on the broadcast.”
Over the summer, McGregor made history when she took part in the first all-women broadcast team in Cubs history, taking part on an announcing crew with Beth Mowins and Elise Menaker. Reflecting on the venture with Marquee Sports Network, McGregor articulated that she had looked up to Alanna Rizzo and Charissa Thompson in her youth because they were reporters for the Rockies. Although they served as inspirations for her career path, the full breadth of the industry and where she could contribute was somewhat unknown.
“Well, it was only women on the sidelines,” McGregor said. “There was no such thing as a female play-by-play or a female analyst, and so I never even dreamt of that for myself because I never saw women in that chair. But the more we’re seeing females in these chairs, I think the more it’s giving young women an opportunity to dream and therefore become knowledgeable and being qualified to do so. So I’m really looking forward to 20 years from now looking back and seeing how it’s all been shaped.”
Amid her work with local and national entities, McGregor is keeping faith that things will move in her best interest and trusts that her future is bright. Whether she is broadcasting from Chicago or another locale, she is committed to broadening the scope of coverage with penetrating storytelling and reporting to keep viewers informed and entertained through the action. Although most of her work is concentrated in baseball, McGregor cherishes her time in college football and is grateful to have had opportunities to cover matchups with colossal implications.
“It’s a dream come true, and I mean that in the best way,” McGregor said. “I got into this business because I wanted to do college football, and I love baseball too, but I wanted to do college football. That’s what I wanted to do, and I wanted to do it on the biggest stage, and obviously these College Football Playoff games are the biggest stage, and I’m just so thankful to be in this position with ESPN.”
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Derek Futterman is an associate editor and sports media reporter for Barrett Media. Additionally, he has worked in a broad array of roles in multimedia production – including on live game broadcasts and audiovisual platforms – and in digital content development and management. He previously interned for Paramount within Showtime Networks, wrote for the Long Island Herald and served as lead sports producer at NY2C. To get in touch, email Derek@BarrettMedia.com or find him on X @derekfutterman.
