A look behind the scenes of ‘SEC Nation’ and their visit to UGA

The SEC Network sent their traveling pregame show ‘SEC Nation’ to Athens, Ga. this past Saturday, and the crowd on a cool, misty fall morning had a lot of fun with the crew and guests.

The good folks at ESPN and the SEC Network were kind enough to give me a behind the scenes tour, and allowed me to speak with producers and the on-air talent prior to the show airing live from Myers Quad.

Sept. 20, 2014 – The SEC Nation tour bus, parked in Myers Quad at the University of Georgia. Photo Credit: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

I actually arrived at the quad at 8:00 am on Saturday, but the crew from the show had been there all night getting equipment set up, building the stage, assembling trusses and lighting towers, and getting things completely put together for a professional looking show.

The first thing fans saw when they meandered into the quad was the huge tour bus emblazened with with the smiling faces of all the show’s on-air talent. Inside the bus, hosts Joe Tessirore, Tim Tebow, Marcus Spears, Paul Finebaum and field reporter Kaylee Hartung were inside getting ready for the broadcast which would begin live in less than two hours.

Not only does the show have a bus that provides a place to relax for the on-air talent, as well as where they can get makeup and wardrobe changes complete, but a complete production truck rolls in with the show as well.

The truck — which is the size of a small semi trailer — is equipped with an endless stream of high-def monitors, kind of a mancave on wheels. I didn’t ask if HBO was available on any of the monitors.

I did get to speak to ESPN VP of Production and one of the braintrusts of the SEC Network, Bob Rauscher, and I asked him about the dizzying array of equipment squeezed into such a small space.

“We basically have to tie everything in with both the studios in Charlotte, and with the feed in Bristol,” Rauscher stated. “We have spots to go on-air during the SportsCenter broadcasts, and then we monitor all the games going on in the SEC to be able to give live updates.”

The truck is filled with producers, graphics technicians, video editors, and more producers.

Coffee and 5-Hour energy are the diet of choice for these non-stop workers.

There’s never a shortage of chit-chat going on between crew members inside the truck, and with the talent on stage, as well as the cameramen positioned all over the campus.

It can be a jumbled, garbled mess if you just stand an listen in as an observer, but each crew member seems to know which three-to-fifty people they are speaking with at the same time, and nothing gets lost in translation.

Inside the SEC Nation production truck – Image: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

And its not just roadies and production crew that have to get an early start. Even two hours before showtime, host Joe Tessitore is sitting and going over his show notes, making sure that he’s prepared for the green light.

I asked Joe what the toughest part of doing a weekly traveling show like this was as opposed to what he was used to in calling live games (which he still does, by the way, and quite well).

“I have very high standards of preparation,” Tessitore told me. “So for me it’s managing my week.

“I do an ESPN game on Saturday nights, so from the moment I get off a plane on Sunday morning headed back to Connecticut, until I get on a plane on Thursday, I’m watching every game from the week before, reading every single article, making every single phone call for my preparation.”

He continued, “Because my thing is, once you arrive on site,  you had better have done all the work.”

I had spoken with Joe a number of weeks back, just as the SEC Network was ready to launch, and we had joked about the levity on the set of SEC Nation, and how it was kind of a loosey-goosey atmosphere.

I asked him if things had been reigned in now that the show was in its sixth week of running.

“No, it has not,” Tessitore chuckled. “It has not been reigned in…at all. I can sense today that that’s the case too.”

The visit to Athens seemed to be a successful one for the show. The crowd was large and energetic (for an early Saturday morning), and the cheerleaders, mascots, special guests (Tim Tebow’s sister for one) all helped keep the audience charged up.

A few brave Tennessee fans on the set of SEC Nation in Athens, Ga. – Photo: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

Even as early as 8am when I arrived, there were Tim Tebow fans, and other autograph seekers awaiting a glimpse of their favorite ESPN talent. There were even a few brave Tennessee Volunteer fans who I had the chance to speak with.

I asked them if they had been watching the show every week, to which they all nodded in agreement (the coffee hadn’t kicked in yet), and then asked them what their favorite part of the show was.

*Crickets*

We’ll give them a pass. It’s tough on Vols when you put them on the spot.

But with all the hard work that is put into a show like this, there is never any lack of fun or smiles from the ESPN folks. Even ESPN Sr. Director of PR, Keri Potts (who is one of the busiest people on the set) managed to take a few minutes to play a little cornhole, while reporter Kaylee Hartung enjoyed some of the food supplied by local Athens restaurant, Mama’s Boy.

ESPN Sr. PR Director Keri Potts tries her hand at a little cornhole, while SEC Nation host Kaylee Hartung enjoys some food on the set. Photos: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

Below are some more photos from an enjoyable day with the crew and Georgia fans from SEC Nation’s first visit to Athens. Can’t wait to have them back again.

Georgia fans arrive early to get the best spot to see SEC Nation live on campus in Athens. Photo: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

Nothing was too early for the Dawg fans above, who were already in their places by the time I arrived at 8 o’clock in the morning.

Joe Tessitore and Tim Tebow getting ready to go on-air. Photo: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

Hosts Joe Tessitore and Tim Tebow are looking dapper as the show gets ready to go on the air.

Georgia mascot Uga at the SEC Nation set in Athens. Photo: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

Famous Georgia mascot Uga IX made an appearance, and took quite a liking (or licking) to SEC Nation host Paul Finebaum.

The UGA cheerleaders hanging out on the set of SEC Nation. Photo: Michael Collins, Dawn of the Dawg

Of course, the UGA cheerleading squad was on hand to help keep the energy up for everyone in attendance.