ESPN writer Brendan Hall visits class

ESPN reporter Brendan Hall at UMass

By: Nicole B. Dotzenrod

Be it putting into words the unforgettable atmosphere of the Boston Bruins game two days after the Boston Marathon bombing, capturing a coach’s emotional and inspiring speech to his team following their devastating loss in the Division 1 state championship basketball game, or sharing in the enthusiasm of a special needs team manager who scored his first basket at TD Garden in the final seconds of the game, ESPN reporter Brendan Hall has made a life of capturing special moments in sports.

 “Once the moment is gone, it’s gone forever and there’s no getting it back … when moments like that happen you just become a fly on the wall and let it roll,” he said.

Hall, a 2007 University of Massachusetts Amherst grad, returned to his Alma mater last Monday to speak to current journalism students about his experiences as the high school sports editor and reporter for ESPN Boston since 2010.

 With his easy-going demeanor, Hall shared many stories with the students about the day-to-day life of a sports reporter and his passion for creating new ideas and ways to cover sports.

 “I’m never going to have this much creative autonomy in my life,” he said. “I use this as a cool thing to give to the kids. It’s not a bad way to live.”

Prior to joining ESPN, Hall has worked for a series of news organizations, including the Sentinel in Fitchburg, the Telegram and Gazette in Worcester, and The Boston Globe. The veteran reporter shared some advice with the college students: “You can have all the practice you want, but if you don’t know your subject, you’re gonna suck,” he said.

He also told students the importance of being a tough editor on yourself, and surviving in a changing field of journalism. “If you’re worried about your future, as there’s a lot of change as we morph into an online medium, you have to cast a wide net,” he said.

Hall shared with students that as a young reporter, he did everything necessary to stay afloat, picking up substitute teaching positions during the day, working as a basketball coach in the afternoon, and then driving to Boston to cover the Celtics at night.

Still, “It’s not a bad way to live,” he said. “One hundred years from now when people are looking at this in history, they’re going to pull up your account of it.”

Hall’s dreams go further than covering high school sports – he said his ultimate goal since playing football as a child has been to work covering the NFL.

“It’s been my biggest passion since I was five years old. As soon as I was heavy enough to be eligible, I was on the field. I’ve always been attracted to it.”

Hall’s laidback temperament shined through when he described one of his experiences interviewing New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. “His eyes have a way of piercing through your soul,” he said, laughing.

Student Katie Bowler said, “I thought Brendan Hall was hilarious. He didn’t hold back and gave great advice, especially on broadcasting your horizons and writing about a range of subjects. It was really cool to have him come in for the day.”

Hall told the students that the biggest reward of his job as a reporter is seeing other writers come along.