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ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe was in Arkansas on Monday, making an appearance as the featured guest of the Little Rock Touchdown Club's meeting at the Marriott hotel in downtown Little Rock. Rowe began her career at ESPN in 1995 and became a full-time college football sideline reporter in 1998. Along with her college football duties, Rowe covers a variety of other sports and is well-known for her coverage of women's athletics. A native of Bountiful, Utah, Rowe attended Brigham Young University for two years before transferring to the University of Utah, where she earned a broadcast journalism degree in 1991. In a conversation-style interview with Little Rock Touchdown Club founder and moderator David Bazzel, Rowe explained her quick ascension through the ranks as a sports reporter. She began her career working for the Blue and White Sports Network in Utah. "One (BYU vs. Utah) game, ABC came in and took the game," Rowe said. "I noticed in the game notes they had two announcers listed, but no sideline reporter. "I still to this day don't know how I had this courage, but I called the producer for ABC that was going to produce that game and I said, 'I'm prepped and ready to do this BYU-Utah game. I know the coaches, I know the players, I'm ready to do this game.' And he said OK." As that football season progressed, she continued to volunteer for games where a sideline reporter was not assigned. While Rowe was grateful for the opportunities, she didn't realize at time how much exposure she was creating for herself. "What I didn't realize is those games were on a satellite system back to New York City," Rowe said. "The producers in New York City saw my work and the next college football season hired me full-time." Her career would blossom from there as Rowe has covered some of the premier events in American sports, including the Rose Bowl and the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament. Rowe stayed committed to providing quality coverage of women's athletics while football and men's basketball remained the top revenue generators. She has covered the WNBA, women's college basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer and others. Having grown up in the 1970s and '80s when women's sports were an afterthought for many, Rowe said she feels compelled to continue working to elevate women's athletics. "I'm really proud I've never given up my women's sports," Rowe said. "I think I'm really one of the only people -- maybe Beth Mowins at ESPN, we're the only two who have ascended in our male sports and we've never given up our women's sports. I'm really proud of that." Rowe spoke on some of her personal struggles toward the end of her time speaking to the club on Monday, including a battle with stage 4 skin cancer. After undergoing surgeries and treatment, Rowe beat the cancer four years after being diagnosed in 2015. Known for her work ethic, Rowe continued to cover games while undergoing cancer treatments. In her 30 years at ESPN, Rowe has only missed one scheduled Saturday college football assignment because she tested positive for covid-19. "I am really competitive," Rowe said. "I think it's served me well. Life is competitive, I think all of you can agree. When it really served me well was I started going through some really serious cancer treatments and I was struggling. ... My competitive spirit of, 'I'm going to get to this game. No one is going to tell me I can't work this game,' I really think it helped me." Rowe, who along with Bazzel became emotional at times during the event, talked about how the cancer diagnosis gave her an appreciation for the things in life that make her happy. She now writes a daily "joy journal" to document the little things in life that bring her happiness. "Now that I'm getting healthier -- I just had clean scans in September, my health is going well," Rowe said. "I want to try to teach all of us how we can tap into our joyful side. ... I am proud to be a working mom who has lived her dreams."
