January 5, 2024 • 15 mins
On this episode of "The Snap," Sydney Jones is joined by NFL on FOX sideline reporter Megan Olivi to discussed the Broncos’ season finale in Las Vegas. She details her expectations for quarterback Jarrett Stidham, the challenges that Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby presents and more. Megan also talks about her role with FOX and UFC, her path to get there and more. Want more of "The Snap"? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher or wherever you find your podcasts. Make sure to leave a rating and review.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey u Scorreland Sundon.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, this is Tim Patrick and you listening to The
Snap with Sidney Doones on.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Broncos Podcast Network. Here.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hello, everyone, Welcome back to the Broncos Podcast Network and
YouTube for the latest episode of The Snap. As always,
I'm your host is Sidney Jones and the Number. Broncos
are set to head to Las Vegas for their season
finale for the Raiders, So joining me here on today's
episode to get us up to speed on the matchup
is nfell on Fox Sideline reporter Megan o Levy.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Megan, it's such a pleasure to have you on the
show today. Thank you so much for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Hey, thank you for having me. It's honestly an honor
to be on here with such a great talent, so
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Oh, thank you so much. How's it going. How's the
season been for you?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
You know what, it's been great for me. The season
hasn't been as busy as other seasons, but I have
a lot of my plates, so it's been great. But
this final matchup taking place in Las Vegas, where I reside,
has been just a true gift because I just get
to drive down the street about twenty minutes to be
able to show up for the game. So I think
it's awesome. And you know, Las Vegas is really turning
(00:57):
it into a sports city and a lot of times
that also means having a huge amount of support for
the visiting team in Allegiance Stadium. And so I think
that Broncos fans will be pleasantly surprised to see so
many of their own jerseys in this Las Vegas strip
area come Saturday, it comes Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, I think it'll be fun in Broncos fans, they
travel well every single week, and I know Vegas is
always a spun fun spot to go. I look forward
to it every year since we get to go every
season too.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yeah, I mean who does Like, if you're gonna go
see your team play and you don't live nearby, like
you're probably going to pick a location and a destination
like Las Vegas as opposed to somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I completely agree. Well, my good.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I know you've already had a chance to do the
production meetings with the Broncos. So who were you able
to talk to this weekend? What did you guys kind
of talk about?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
You know, we weren't able to talk to a ton
of people. Coach Sean Payton is so wonderful with his
time and he really gives us a lot of insight,
a lot of depth to his thoughts. So we spent
a lot of time with him. We talked to of
course Jared Sidham and then Josie Jewel and that was
really fun because a lot of the guys who are
working this game, especially are to play by play announcers.
(02:04):
They worked with him in college, so that was kind
of a fun reason for them to have. Yeah, and
so it's been a It was a really nice experience
and you know, to talk to coach and just kind
of hear where he is at as we approach this
final game of the season. Obviously, the playoffs are not
in the sites this year for the Broncos, but there
was still so much positivity that there was a lot
to take away.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, I know the Broncos are looking to finish the
season strong here, you know, finish the year with a
winning record for the first time since twenty sixteen. Did
you know Jared, Josie Sean talk about that. How you
know they're approaching this game just like any other this season.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I would say that that was the number one theme.
It was like get win number nine. That's what every
person that spoke to us said. And there was also
a big theme of like, hey, we're not taking any
sort of day off here, We're not resting anyone. We
are playing this game to win, and we're playing it
as if there were another step, you know, after this Sunday,
And so that was a big theme. It was a
(02:59):
sense of not just pride for self, but pride for
the organization. And I think a lot of what is
this litmus test for the future as well? Hey, yes,
we want to be able to say we ended this
with a winning season. We want to be able to
end this one with a victory, which always feels a
lot better going into the offseason than the lat you know,
the opposite of that. However, I think that there's a
lot of being said about, hey, what does this also
(03:22):
say about where we could be next season and where
does it put us when we begin, you know, preparation
for twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, absolutely, I know.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You know. Quarterback Jared Sidham, he's getting a second start
for the Broncos this weekend, heading back to Las Vegas,
where he played the final two games last season. You know,
head coach on Payton, he seemed really pleased with Sidham's
poise his ball security last weekend versus Chargers. So McGan,
how do you think he could just build off of
that in this really his final opportunity this season?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
You know, Number one, I think he's really comfortable in
the place that he's going to be playing in Allegiance Stadium.
I mean, he had he starts for the Raiders there.
He's going back there for a third time, and you
know his four starts in these past two years. So
I think that's a huge thing already having comfort in
the location and what to expect there. But I think
he took a lot from the confidence that not just
coach but also the entire team had in his play
(04:11):
last week. I think he's more comfortable with practice reps.
But it seemed like a huge positive to be able
to understand that somebody of Sean Payton's quality and character
and expertise really thought that he was playing like a
tested veteran as opposed to someone who is relatively new
to the football field in the starting quarterback position.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Role.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Absolutely, And you know, will be a tough challenge going
up against this Raiders defense who've been performing really well
in recent weeks. In Max Crosby, He's always dominant against
the Broncos every time we see him. So what challenges
do you really think this Las Vegas defense is going
to provide for this Broncos team.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I mean you just mentioned it Max Crosby, right, And
you know, we talked to Jared about that a little bit,
saying that's my dog coming in. We talked to Jared
about that, and he said, listen, we were really good
friends on the Raiders. He had nothing but high praise
for Max is both a player and a person off
the field. And he said, you know, I was on
the practice squad, so I used to talk all this
shit to Max and try to get him to kind
of get riled up. But there were no consequences because
(05:08):
you know, I'm here on the practice squad and he's
out there, you know, as a starter. And so he said,
I am sure that Max is going to try and
you know, prove a point here and try to get
at me. And he said multiple times throughout the medium,
we just have to try and control that defense as
much as we can. We have to try and control
Max Crosby are at least keep him at arm's length
as much as we can. So I think that's going
to be something really fun to watch because of the
(05:29):
relationship that they have had already. And of course it's
Max Crosby is Max Crosby right, like he does what
he does at the highest level in the NFL. He's
so thrilling to watch. But I think knowing that there's
this little personal degree is going to be great as well.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, and Megan, on the other side of things here
in Denver, you know, this Broncause defense has made quite
the turnaround this season. I mean they're allowing just over
I think eighteen points per games since Week eight. They
have two Pro Bowlers in their secondary. You know, what
are your just expectations for them going up against this
Raiders offense who's kind of been struggling in the past
few weeks.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
You know, I think I think you just nailed it.
Is they really turn things around. And obviously credit to
Vance Joseph and what he has been able to do
with this defense and how those players really rely on
Vans and and you know, believe in what he is
asking of them on the field. And so you mentioned
those Pro bowlers and obviously, you know they're going to
play a huge role here. As long as everyone is
(06:22):
healthy and able to play in this game, I think
that there's a lot to be stopped. As DeVante Adams playing,
we don't know, you know, there's there's there's a lot
going on with who the Raiders are going to start.
But I think for this Broncos defense, not only is
the future very bright, but Sunday is very bright for
their capabilities and what they will be able to do
against this Raiders offense.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, definitely, I can kind of going off with that.
I know you haven't had production meetings with the Raiders yet,
but you know, how do you think the Raiders are
just going to approach his final game them having been
eliminated from playoff contention too, And I know the Broncos,
you know they've lost seven Strade games to the Raiders too.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah, I think they're having a very similar approach that, Hey,
we are playing for Pride, we're playing for the organization,
We're playing for our fans. They've mentioned that, you know,
I've seen in a lot of media these people pay
a lot of money for these hard earned tickets. We
owe it to them to give it to our best,
but also I do believe they're playing a lot for
the future of coach Antonio Peers. There's so much support
(07:17):
in the building for him to obtain that permanent position
as the head coach. You've heard players talk about it
throughout these past couple of weeks, been very vocal this
is the man that they want in that role, and
I do think with a great outing, they feel like
they might be able to solidify that a little bit
more than say a poor showing. So I think not
only is it about pride and professionalism and personal goals,
(07:40):
and of course, you know, I used to work with
a keep to leave who said, hey, they're playing for
the bag. You know, whether they're in the playoffs or not,
they're playing for their own bag and their own contracts.
But I do think a lot will have to do
with with their hopes for coach Antonio Peers.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
And you can see the difference in the culture the
attitude over there since Antonio Peers has taken over.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I really appreciate your insight on the matchup. But before
you go, I want to switch gears for a bit here.
You know, as many of my listeners know, One of
my main goals here on this map is to highlight
women's impact in and around the NFL. So I want
to ask you about your career. Can you just tell
me a little bit about what your role with Fox entails.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Yeah. Sure. So I am a sideline reporter. I am
Team seven. So I've been really fortunate. This is my
sixth season with the NFL on Fox. The way I
got this role is I was working I still work
for the UFC. That is my main role. I am
the lead broadcast reporter there. And you know, we were
partners with Fox with that's who aired our fights. And
(08:36):
one year they needed somebody to fill in on a
game and they said, hey, we're going to give you
a shot. You've done a great job for what you
do with UFC. Don't mess up essentially, and yeah, I
got a game, and then I got a bunch more,
and so it's you know, it's been six seasons and
I'm eternally grateful. It's very different from what I do
on a normal basis with the UFC broadcast and so
(08:58):
to be able to just flex different muscles. But at
the end of the day, the NFL, this is America's sport.
This is what America is doing on Sundays, you know,
and to be able to play a very small role
in that, like feels very special. And so it's it's
an honor that I don't take for granted. Whenever I'm
assigned a game, you know, I do whatever I can
to make sure I'm putting all of my heart and
(09:19):
sole into my knowledge and my research and the way
I am telling these stories on air. And so it's
been a really great journey. NFL and Fox in Fox Sports,
They're just a brilliant company to work for, and I
just I feel very fortunate to be able to be,
you know, a player in this whole atmosphere of the
NFL on Fox and just NFL coverage in general.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, you mentioned, you know, flexing different muscles when covering
NFL versus UFC. What's kind of the difference between you know,
interviewing maybe fighters versus football players.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
You know, when it comes down to that, I always say,
like athletes are athletes, and they all have the same
competitive fire. I would say the difference is like a
lot of times I interview fighters on Friday and Saturday,
So Friday day weigh in Saturday, they compete on Fridays
unless they're a heavyweight. They're a cutting weight, so they're hungry,
they're tired, they're thirsty. That's a little bit different than
(10:11):
an NFL player who's eaten real good you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Know, that's franky.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. But I think that competitive fire is
the same for both of them. And you can kind
of you kind of know when you walk up to somebody, Okay,
this is an athlete at the highest level. You might
not even know what sport they participate in or whatever,
but they just have this aura about them or the
way that they speak about whatever is in front of them.
It's very evident and obvious. And so in terms of
(10:38):
the interviews, they're very similar. It's just like the broadcast
responsibilities that are different for me with UFC, but you know,
it's for me, it's always just fun to get to
the core of who these athletes are like as human
beings and find out what makes them tick or how
the heck did they get here, And so for that
for me, you know, being able to do that storytelling
for athletes across the board is really great.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Mentioned six seasons with the NFL. How many years have
you been doing UFC now?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Oh, so this is my tenth year with the UFC.
Oh wow, Yeah, it is flown by Prior to that,
I did a couple of years of UFC coverage before
they actually got a television deal. And so yeah, it's
been I would say almost fifteen years of my life
in sports broadcasting and I wouldn't change a thing. And
you know, the landscape is ever changing. But as long
as as the details you know, in my role are
(11:27):
dialed in and I'm doing whatever I can to present,
you know, the best whole story, you know, we just
we just roll with it. Whether it's broadcast, whether it's streaming,
you know, wherever in the world these things take place.
We just have to kind of roll with the punches
and continue to evolve as the rest the rest of
the coverage does.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Absolutely, as you know, things changed by the minute in sports,
in this industry for sure. Yeah, Megan, can you kind
of walk me through what that path has looked like
to get to where you are today?
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah. I went to college at Seatin Hall University in
New Jersey. I did not have any indication whatsoever that
I wanted to do this. I was a sports lover.
I a would say the first love in my life
was the New York Yankees, and so I grew up
watching the Yankees, grew up watching the Giants, and I
was an intern my sophomore and juniors of college in
New York City, and some of the guys would be like,
(12:16):
you talk to us about the Yankees and the Giants
every day, Like why aren't you doing something in sports?
And it had just never occurred to me. It wasn't
that I didn't think I could do it. I just
I don't know. It just wasn't even an option in
my brain. And then I started kind of looking into
it and realized, you know, as a year or two
went by, I was junior senior in college, like, hey,
I can't just you know, be a political science major.
(12:36):
I need to have something to back this up, because
there's a lot of people who want to do what
I now have decided I want to do. So I
got my master's at Fordham University, and then I got
offered a job in Las Vegas, where I didn't know anybody,
which was like twenty five hundred miles away from all
of my friends and family, and I figured I'd give
it a try. I gave myself one year. You know,
if this doesn't work out, I could move back. And
(12:58):
you know, I was like super super poor, living beyond
paycheck to paycheck in New York cities. I'm like, I
can go back to that, no problem, right, And yeah,
I've never I never looked back. I started covering the
UFC because they didn't have a TV deal, so we
were kind of like their partners and coverage. And then
one thing led to another. I got, you know, asked
(13:19):
to join the UFC as an official staff member and
work officially for them. And then with our different TV deals,
I've worked with Fox. Now the UFC is on ESPN,
and so I'm I'm one of the really fortunate broadcasters
that gets to work with these two huge networks that
do so much in the sports space, and they do
it at the highest level. So yeah, it's just been
(13:39):
it feels like when you're in it, it feels so
long and impossible and like you're not really getting anywhere,
Like but then you look back and you're like, oh, wait, no,
I did swim the length of you know, this ocean
where I really want to spreading water.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yeah, well last one, you're you refer you Megan.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
You know, I like to finish these episodes just inspiring
the younger generation. So what's one piece of advice you'd
give someone who's looking to get into this industry really, no.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Matter what area of it they want to work in.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Yeah, I would just say, like, stay true to yourself.
If you believe that you can do something, have that
self belief and then work towards it. Don't let anyone
ever say that it wasn't because you weren't informed enough
or you didn't work hard enough. Control the things that
you can control, which is the information that you take
in and how hard you dedicate yourself to that goal,
(14:27):
that dream, and so stay true to yourself throughout that.
There's a lot of there's a lot of things that
go on around these worlds where you're like, oh, maybe
this is a shortcut or whatever. Just stay on the path,
the tried and true path, and never let anyone say
that you didn't work as hard, or you weren't as informed,
or you weren't as educated as you could be. Never
never give anyone else an excuse, and you will hear
(14:50):
a lot of no's, but just continue to press forward.
If you do things the right way, things will work out.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I love that stay true to who you are. That's perfect. Well, Megan,
I truly can thank you enough for joining me today.
It's been such a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Oh my god, it is my pleasure. Thank you so much.
You are so talented and keep doing what you're doing.
I think it's really really important to hear from women
in these spaces where there's not a lot, but they're
certainly making a difference and working so hard, so you
being one of them, so I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing you
in Vegas this weekend.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Yes, let's go.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Let's going to do it for this week's episode, out
this snap Broncos Country. Thanks so much for tuning in
all season long, and thank you again to maging A Levy.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
For joining the show.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Make sure to meet me right back here on the
Broncos podcast network and YouTube on Monday for a game recap.
Hey u Scorreland Sundon.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, this is Tim Patrick and you listening to The
Snap with Sidney Doones on.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Broncos Podcast Network. Here.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hello, everyone, Welcome back to the Broncos Podcast Network and
YouTube for the latest episode of The Snap. As always,
I'm your host is Sidney Jones and the Number. Broncos
are set to head to Las Vegas for their season
finale for the Raiders, So joining me here on today's
episode to get us up to speed on the matchup
is nfell on Fox Sideline reporter Megan o Levy.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Megan, it's such a pleasure to have you on the
show today. Thank you so much for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Hey, thank you for having me. It's honestly an honor
to be on here with such a great talent, so
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Oh, thank you so much. How's it going. How's the
season been for you?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
You know what, it's been great for me. The season
hasn't been as busy as other seasons, but I have
a lot of my plates, so it's been great. But
this final matchup taking place in Las Vegas, where I reside,
has been just a true gift because I just get
to drive down the street about twenty minutes to be
able to show up for the game. So I think
it's awesome. And you know, Las Vegas is really turning
(00:57):
it into a sports city and a lot of times
that also means having a huge amount of support for
the visiting team in Allegiance Stadium. And so I think
that Broncos fans will be pleasantly surprised to see so
many of their own jerseys in this Las Vegas strip
area come Saturday, it comes Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, I think it'll be fun in Broncos fans, they
travel well every single week, and I know Vegas is
always a spun fun spot to go. I look forward
to it every year since we get to go every
season too.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yeah, I mean who does Like, if you're gonna go
see your team play and you don't live nearby, like
you're probably going to pick a location and a destination
like Las Vegas as opposed to somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I completely agree. Well, my good.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I know you've already had a chance to do the
production meetings with the Broncos. So who were you able
to talk to this weekend? What did you guys kind
of talk about?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
You know, we weren't able to talk to a ton
of people. Coach Sean Payton is so wonderful with his
time and he really gives us a lot of insight,
a lot of depth to his thoughts. So we spent
a lot of time with him. We talked to of
course Jared Sidham and then Josie Jewel and that was
really fun because a lot of the guys who are
working this game, especially are to play by play announcers.
(02:04):
They worked with him in college, so that was kind
of a fun reason for them to have. Yeah, and
so it's been a It was a really nice experience
and you know, to talk to coach and just kind
of hear where he is at as we approach this
final game of the season. Obviously, the playoffs are not
in the sites this year for the Broncos, but there
was still so much positivity that there was a lot
to take away.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, I know the Broncos are looking to finish the
season strong here, you know, finish the year with a
winning record for the first time since twenty sixteen. Did
you know Jared, Josie Sean talk about that. How you
know they're approaching this game just like any other this season.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I would say that that was the number one theme.
It was like get win number nine. That's what every
person that spoke to us said. And there was also
a big theme of like, hey, we're not taking any
sort of day off here, We're not resting anyone. We
are playing this game to win, and we're playing it
as if there were another step, you know, after this Sunday,
And so that was a big theme. It was a
(02:59):
sense of not just pride for self, but pride for
the organization. And I think a lot of what is
this litmus test for the future as well? Hey, yes,
we want to be able to say we ended this
with a winning season. We want to be able to
end this one with a victory, which always feels a
lot better going into the offseason than the lat you know,
the opposite of that. However, I think that there's a
lot of being said about, hey, what does this also
(03:22):
say about where we could be next season and where
does it put us when we begin, you know, preparation
for twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, absolutely, I know.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You know. Quarterback Jared Sidham, he's getting a second start
for the Broncos this weekend, heading back to Las Vegas,
where he played the final two games last season. You know,
head coach on Payton, he seemed really pleased with Sidham's
poise his ball security last weekend versus Chargers. So McGan,
how do you think he could just build off of
that in this really his final opportunity this season?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
You know, Number one, I think he's really comfortable in
the place that he's going to be playing in Allegiance Stadium.
I mean, he had he starts for the Raiders there.
He's going back there for a third time, and you
know his four starts in these past two years. So
I think that's a huge thing already having comfort in
the location and what to expect there. But I think
he took a lot from the confidence that not just
coach but also the entire team had in his play
(04:11):
last week. I think he's more comfortable with practice reps.
But it seemed like a huge positive to be able
to understand that somebody of Sean Payton's quality and character
and expertise really thought that he was playing like a
tested veteran as opposed to someone who is relatively new
to the football field in the starting quarterback position.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Role.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Absolutely, And you know, will be a tough challenge going
up against this Raiders defense who've been performing really well
in recent weeks. In Max Crosby, He's always dominant against
the Broncos every time we see him. So what challenges
do you really think this Las Vegas defense is going
to provide for this Broncos team.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I mean you just mentioned it Max Crosby, right, And
you know, we talked to Jared about that a little bit,
saying that's my dog coming in. We talked to Jared
about that, and he said, listen, we were really good
friends on the Raiders. He had nothing but high praise
for Max is both a player and a person off
the field. And he said, you know, I was on
the practice squad, so I used to talk all this
shit to Max and try to get him to kind
of get riled up. But there were no consequences because
(05:08):
you know, I'm here on the practice squad and he's
out there, you know, as a starter. And so he said,
I am sure that Max is going to try and
you know, prove a point here and try to get
at me. And he said multiple times throughout the medium,
we just have to try and control that defense as
much as we can. We have to try and control
Max Crosby are at least keep him at arm's length
as much as we can. So I think that's going
to be something really fun to watch because of the
(05:29):
relationship that they have had already. And of course it's
Max Crosby is Max Crosby right, like he does what
he does at the highest level in the NFL. He's
so thrilling to watch. But I think knowing that there's
this little personal degree is going to be great as well.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, and Megan, on the other side of things here
in Denver, you know, this Broncause defense has made quite
the turnaround this season. I mean they're allowing just over
I think eighteen points per games since Week eight. They
have two Pro Bowlers in their secondary. You know, what
are your just expectations for them going up against this
Raiders offense who's kind of been struggling in the past
few weeks.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
You know, I think I think you just nailed it.
Is they really turn things around. And obviously credit to
Vance Joseph and what he has been able to do
with this defense and how those players really rely on
Vans and and you know, believe in what he is
asking of them on the field. And so you mentioned
those Pro bowlers and obviously, you know they're going to
play a huge role here. As long as everyone is
(06:22):
healthy and able to play in this game, I think
that there's a lot to be stopped. As DeVante Adams playing,
we don't know, you know, there's there's there's a lot
going on with who the Raiders are going to start.
But I think for this Broncos defense, not only is
the future very bright, but Sunday is very bright for
their capabilities and what they will be able to do
against this Raiders offense.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, definitely, I can kind of going off with that.
I know you haven't had production meetings with the Raiders yet,
but you know, how do you think the Raiders are
just going to approach his final game them having been
eliminated from playoff contention too, And I know the Broncos,
you know they've lost seven Strade games to the Raiders too.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah, I think they're having a very similar approach that, Hey,
we are playing for Pride, we're playing for the organization,
We're playing for our fans. They've mentioned that, you know,
I've seen in a lot of media these people pay
a lot of money for these hard earned tickets. We
owe it to them to give it to our best,
but also I do believe they're playing a lot for
the future of coach Antonio Peers. There's so much support
(07:17):
in the building for him to obtain that permanent position
as the head coach. You've heard players talk about it
throughout these past couple of weeks, been very vocal this
is the man that they want in that role, and
I do think with a great outing, they feel like
they might be able to solidify that a little bit
more than say a poor showing. So I think not
only is it about pride and professionalism and personal goals,
(07:40):
and of course, you know, I used to work with
a keep to leave who said, hey, they're playing for
the bag. You know, whether they're in the playoffs or not,
they're playing for their own bag and their own contracts.
But I do think a lot will have to do
with with their hopes for coach Antonio Peers.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
And you can see the difference in the culture the
attitude over there since Antonio Peers has taken over.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I really appreciate your insight on the matchup. But before
you go, I want to switch gears for a bit here.
You know, as many of my listeners know, One of
my main goals here on this map is to highlight
women's impact in and around the NFL. So I want
to ask you about your career. Can you just tell
me a little bit about what your role with Fox entails.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Yeah. Sure. So I am a sideline reporter. I am
Team seven. So I've been really fortunate. This is my
sixth season with the NFL on Fox. The way I
got this role is I was working I still work
for the UFC. That is my main role. I am
the lead broadcast reporter there. And you know, we were
partners with Fox with that's who aired our fights. And
(08:36):
one year they needed somebody to fill in on a
game and they said, hey, we're going to give you
a shot. You've done a great job for what you
do with UFC. Don't mess up essentially, and yeah, I
got a game, and then I got a bunch more,
and so it's you know, it's been six seasons and
I'm eternally grateful. It's very different from what I do
on a normal basis with the UFC broadcast and so
(08:58):
to be able to just flex different muscles. But at
the end of the day, the NFL, this is America's sport.
This is what America is doing on Sundays, you know,
and to be able to play a very small role
in that, like feels very special. And so it's it's
an honor that I don't take for granted. Whenever I'm
assigned a game, you know, I do whatever I can
to make sure I'm putting all of my heart and
(09:19):
sole into my knowledge and my research and the way
I am telling these stories on air. And so it's
been a really great journey. NFL and Fox in Fox Sports,
They're just a brilliant company to work for, and I
just I feel very fortunate to be able to be,
you know, a player in this whole atmosphere of the
NFL on Fox and just NFL coverage in general.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, you mentioned, you know, flexing different muscles when covering
NFL versus UFC. What's kind of the difference between you know,
interviewing maybe fighters versus football players.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
You know, when it comes down to that, I always say,
like athletes are athletes, and they all have the same
competitive fire. I would say the difference is like a
lot of times I interview fighters on Friday and Saturday,
So Friday day weigh in Saturday, they compete on Fridays
unless they're a heavyweight. They're a cutting weight, so they're hungry,
they're tired, they're thirsty. That's a little bit different than
(10:11):
an NFL player who's eaten real good you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Know, that's franky.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. But I think that competitive fire is
the same for both of them. And you can kind
of you kind of know when you walk up to somebody, Okay,
this is an athlete at the highest level. You might
not even know what sport they participate in or whatever,
but they just have this aura about them or the
way that they speak about whatever is in front of them.
It's very evident and obvious. And so in terms of
(10:38):
the interviews, they're very similar. It's just like the broadcast
responsibilities that are different for me with UFC, but you know,
it's for me, it's always just fun to get to
the core of who these athletes are like as human
beings and find out what makes them tick or how
the heck did they get here, And so for that
for me, you know, being able to do that storytelling
for athletes across the board is really great.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Mentioned six seasons with the NFL. How many years have
you been doing UFC now?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Oh, so this is my tenth year with the UFC.
Oh wow, Yeah, it is flown by Prior to that,
I did a couple of years of UFC coverage before
they actually got a television deal. And so yeah, it's
been I would say almost fifteen years of my life
in sports broadcasting and I wouldn't change a thing. And
you know, the landscape is ever changing. But as long
as as the details you know, in my role are
(11:27):
dialed in and I'm doing whatever I can to present,
you know, the best whole story, you know, we just
we just roll with it. Whether it's broadcast, whether it's streaming,
you know, wherever in the world these things take place.
We just have to kind of roll with the punches
and continue to evolve as the rest the rest of
the coverage does.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Absolutely, as you know, things changed by the minute in sports,
in this industry for sure. Yeah, Megan, can you kind
of walk me through what that path has looked like
to get to where you are today?
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah. I went to college at Seatin Hall University in
New Jersey. I did not have any indication whatsoever that
I wanted to do this. I was a sports lover.
I a would say the first love in my life
was the New York Yankees, and so I grew up
watching the Yankees, grew up watching the Giants, and I
was an intern my sophomore and juniors of college in
New York City, and some of the guys would be like,
(12:16):
you talk to us about the Yankees and the Giants
every day, Like why aren't you doing something in sports?
And it had just never occurred to me. It wasn't
that I didn't think I could do it. I just
I don't know. It just wasn't even an option in
my brain. And then I started kind of looking into
it and realized, you know, as a year or two
went by, I was junior senior in college, like, hey,
I can't just you know, be a political science major.
(12:36):
I need to have something to back this up, because
there's a lot of people who want to do what
I now have decided I want to do. So I
got my master's at Fordham University, and then I got
offered a job in Las Vegas, where I didn't know anybody,
which was like twenty five hundred miles away from all
of my friends and family, and I figured I'd give
it a try. I gave myself one year. You know,
if this doesn't work out, I could move back. And
(12:58):
you know, I was like super super poor, living beyond
paycheck to paycheck in New York cities. I'm like, I
can go back to that, no problem, right, And yeah,
I've never I never looked back. I started covering the
UFC because they didn't have a TV deal, so we
were kind of like their partners and coverage. And then
one thing led to another. I got, you know, asked
(13:19):
to join the UFC as an official staff member and
work officially for them. And then with our different TV deals,
I've worked with Fox. Now the UFC is on ESPN,
and so I'm I'm one of the really fortunate broadcasters
that gets to work with these two huge networks that
do so much in the sports space, and they do
it at the highest level. So yeah, it's just been
(13:39):
it feels like when you're in it, it feels so
long and impossible and like you're not really getting anywhere,
Like but then you look back and you're like, oh, wait, no,
I did swim the length of you know, this ocean
where I really want to spreading water.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yeah, well last one, you're you refer you Megan.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
You know, I like to finish these episodes just inspiring
the younger generation. So what's one piece of advice you'd
give someone who's looking to get into this industry really, no.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Matter what area of it they want to work in.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Yeah, I would just say, like, stay true to yourself.
If you believe that you can do something, have that
self belief and then work towards it. Don't let anyone
ever say that it wasn't because you weren't informed enough
or you didn't work hard enough. Control the things that
you can control, which is the information that you take
in and how hard you dedicate yourself to that goal,
(14:27):
that dream, and so stay true to yourself throughout that.
There's a lot of there's a lot of things that
go on around these worlds where you're like, oh, maybe
this is a shortcut or whatever. Just stay on the path,
the tried and true path, and never let anyone say
that you didn't work as hard, or you weren't as informed,
or you weren't as educated as you could be. Never
never give anyone else an excuse, and you will hear
(14:50):
a lot of no's, but just continue to press forward.
If you do things the right way, things will work out.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I love that stay true to who you are. That's perfect. Well, Megan,
I truly can thank you enough for joining me today.
It's been such a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Oh my god, it is my pleasure. Thank you so much.
You are so talented and keep doing what you're doing.
I think it's really really important to hear from women
in these spaces where there's not a lot, but they're
certainly making a difference and working so hard, so you
being one of them, so I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing you
in Vegas this weekend.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Yes, let's go.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Let's going to do it for this week's episode, out
this snap Broncos Country. Thanks so much for tuning in
all season long, and thank you again to maging A Levy.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
For joining the show.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Make sure to meet me right back here on the
Broncos podcast network and YouTube on Monday for a game recap.
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