← Sunday Sports Club with Allison Kuch
Sunday Sports Club with Allison Kuch
Pumping at ESPN & the NFL Draft with guest Laura Rutledge
01:12:41
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- [00:00]
Laura Rutledge
The following podcast is a Dear Media Production.
- [00:03]
Alison Cooch
What's up, guys? Welcome back to Sunday Sports Club Podcast, a podcast all about sports told by a woman, and that woman is me. Hi, guys, I'm Alison Cooch. And speaking of iconic women and the sports arena, yes, I'm going to put myself into that category. Today we have on a special guest, Laura Rutledge. If you guys aren't familiar with Laura, she is host of NFL Live and SEC Nation on espn. She. She is also a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football and also a mother of two. You guys, she is taking this interview straight from the ESPN offices. She wears so many hats. And today we're going to talk about how she balances motherhood and working and also the NFL draft coming up. And you know, how I'm balancing my workday today. I have an accelerator. So accelerator has been my favorite energy drink lately. It is always my go to. I'm currently drinking the cotton candy flavor and it's sweet, but not too sweet, which is my cup of tea. So good. So this is going to be keeping me energized all interview and all day long. No crashes and really clean energy. Laura, tell us a little bit about yourself and give a people a gist of you in the sports community.
- [01:21]
Laura Rutledge
Well, it's so cool to be doing this with you. I think your community and what you do is absolutely amazing. So I, I'm so excited to just talk. Right. But, yeah, so I work in.
- [01:32]
Alison Cooch
I actually have to interrupt you because you sound like you belong on espn. You're. You have the voice.
- [01:41]
Laura Rutledge
That's funny because I always feel like people think that I'm doing a voice when I'm on tv and I'm like, no, no, this is just actually my voice. But when I first started.
- [01:51]
Alison Cooch
Sorry, I, I just had. I just had to say that. But continue on.
- [01:54]
Laura Rutledge
Well, you have a great voice, too. I'm here at ESPN right now because the show that I host every day here, NFL Live, is happening in a little bit. So that's why we don't have like that cute of a background. Although there are some cute backgrounds here. I just. The one I thought I was going to go in, somebody was in the room, so I was like, oh, no, I'm going to have to go somewhere else. But anyway, I host NFL Live. I do Monday Night Football sideline. I do all kinds of different things in college football. SEC Nation is our weekly show leading into the action on Saturday. So I host that show and then I am about to go to the Masters, which is one of my favorite events of the entire year. It's the best. I host a show called welcome to the Masters there, and then we're gearing up for the NFL draft. So. Yeah, just a lot of different things here. And I am always. I can't believe that I get to do this. It's. It's beyond a dream job. It's a job I couldn't have even dreamed up for myself.
- [02:51]
Alison Cooch
It's crazy because that's a lot. Like, I thought I had a lot on my plate, but you are big busy. So, like, is there. You're doing a ton of different sports in a ton of different areas. And I also have to say, I'm going to the Masters as well, and I'm so excited. I'm taking my dad, and he has been, like, a lifelong fan of golf, and I surprised him, and it's going to be so exciting, But I just chills Monday Night Football, like, you won. I would love to see how many miles you have built up. Yeah, I'd love to see that.
- [03:28]
Laura Rutledge
It should be more than it is, honestly. I'm like, how do I not have more? I don't know.
- [03:32]
Alison Cooch
But, yeah, I also would love to see your calendar, because color coding, like, it. It takes on a new level when you're on tv, you're traveling, you're also a mom, and you have family. And it's crazy because I look up to women like you who can genuinely do it all and look good doing it.
- [03:56]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, goodness. You're too kind. And, you know, from, like, everything that you have going on, and you constantly feel like you're not fully present in all the different things. And I think just as moms, as women in general, we're always thinking like, okay, so did I order that extra package of diapers that I needed to get? And then I'm like, oh, shoot, you know, so what's the draft order again?
- [04:21]
Alison Cooch
Like, you're, like, living two different lives.
- [04:24]
Laura Rutledge
It is. And what I found is that we are capable of so much more than we think we are. And I wish that I wouldn't have wasted so much time feeling like I couldn't do things. I mean, even when my daughter was born, she's five now. I told myself that entire pregnancy that my career was over. There was no way that I could possibly continue doing the level that I was doing at espn, even at that time, and also be a mom. I couldn't fathom how it would happen. Um, and I beat myself up over it so much. And then now I'm thinking, oh, man, you know, when she was born was actually a real turning point in my career here, and I started to do more. So there's just, I think, this constant battle of, like, juggling it all and you don't know what's going on, and you feel like a mess all the time. And half the time, if I ever even just sit down in the car, I'm just, like, driving in silence when there's no kids there. Like, when I'm driving to work, I'm just like, okay.
- [05:18]
Alison Cooch
And I'm like, all right. I'm like. I'm like, wait. There is beauty in the silence. And I recently listened to Ellen Pompeo on Caller Daddy's podcast, and she mentioned that, like, you are. You can't give a hundred percent to your job because you are a mother and you are doing so many different things. But it's crazy because I thought the same thing that when I got pregnant, I was like, oh, nobody. Like, I'm. I, like, I'm done. Like, I should just kiss everything that I've been working towards goodbye. And it's so much the opposite. I feel like now I even have a different vision of what I want my life to look like, and it's easier to. To pick, okay, this brings me happiness. This is what I'm passionate about. And then leave all the other stuff behind. Whereas in before I became a mom, I was like, yes, yes, yes. And now it's just such a different lens, and I'm so appreciative of it. And speaking of being a mom and working, what is a typical. This is. I'm like, I already know this is going. I know where this is going to go. What is a typical day in the life look like for you?
- [06:22]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, my goodness. I mean, it does depend on the day, but I'll use today as an example because this is a relatively normal time of the year. Football season is just nuts, and it's. It's crazy. But today. So I. The great thing about when I'm home and not traveling is I can get up with both kids for, you know, when they wake up in the morning and their breakfast time. So I'm, like, doing all that, you know, which is juggling a million things. It's like, inevitably somebody's, like, peed on something, and then we're trying to, like, get that thrown in the laundry and then clean something up while somebody else is yelling. And I'm, like, running around. And I try whenever I'm home to let my husband, like, sleep in as Much as he can because he has to shoulder so much of this when I'm not there. And I. I always feel guilty about that. So I'm like. I'm like, is he gonna wake up? You know? And I'm like, okay, no, he's not. So I'm gonna just keep doing this. And then. And then we like roll downstairs and do breakfast, get Reese to school. And then Jack is my almost 2 year old, so I'm running around with him, and he's just a maniac. Like, I don't know, but little boys. I'm obsessed with him. He is everything to me. But it's like the second that he's opened one cabinet and like thrown something out, I'm trying to clean it up, and then he's already spilled like three or four more things, and he's like thrown his full croissant in the trash. I'm trying to figure out, can I pull it out? Like, what has it touched? You know, is he still gonna eat it? It's crazy. So then all that's going on, and then I'll. I'll be on our NFL Live production call. And I'm always thinking like, please, God, do not let me unmute, because I don't know what you would hear. It would be so embarrassing. Like, they know me and they'd be like, oh, okay, it's just her being crazy, but it would be embarrassing. So I do that and like, a lot of prep for the show. Try to like, get a workout in when I can. Try to get dinner prepped a lot of times around that middle of the morning time. If I can do something that's crock pot related or like, get the vegetables already chopped. I really enjoy cooking, so it's like something I look forward to. But it's crazy when you try to just like, do it when you get home. And then I was. I did an interview earlier with a college student for her project. So she had asked me to do this, which it was really adorable, really sweet. I know she did a great job. I was really proud of her. And then, like, come to work. I've been kind of writing the show all day, so I'll get in the rundown a little bit, write some things, then step away from it. I'll go back like I'm talking to you. I'll go back and then work on it a little bit, then do the show from 4 to 5, and then get home as quickly as I can to hang with the kids and do bedtimes and all that. So I, I think it's just, it's. It's crazy. There's no. I know you can relate to this. There's no, like, open space. And I'm, I'm trying to work on maybe a couple more of those. This is a fun fact that I shouldn't reveal, but I will to you. So here at ESPN we. I know.
- [09:07]
Alison Cooch
I love a tea.
- [09:08]
Laura Rutledge
This is like, no, like, not secret. Everybody loves tea. Yeah, no one's gonna. You guys, don't tell me. So when I, When I was first, after Jack was born, I was exclusively pumping, so I needed the breastfeeding room here.
- [09:23]
Alison Cooch
Round of applause. I exclusively pumped. It's awful when people, when I tell.
- [09:27]
Laura Rutledge
People that's for you.
- [09:28]
Alison Cooch
The Internet's like, do you want a cookie? I'm like, yeah, I actually, I do deserve a cookie.
- [09:32]
Laura Rutledge
I deserve like five. Right?
- [09:34]
Alison Cooch
Exactly.
- [09:34]
Laura Rutledge
Because that was a lot. But so, you know, I needed the mother's room, so you can only get access, like with a key card, whatever. So there are many days where I will. I'm not do. I'm not anymore. Like, he's almost 2. But I'll be like, shoot, let me see if my badge still works for that mother's room. There's nobody else using it. I make sure that I'm not taking the time away from anybody else. They could always knock and I, you know, come, but I'll just go in there and like, lay down and take like a 10 minute nap.
- [10:01]
Alison Cooch
Can we normalize mother's rooms in addition to. To nursing and pumping, but also just to like, Can I take a deep breath?
- [10:09]
Laura Rutledge
Like, I just need to go in there for a minute and then I come back out. I'm gonna be better than I was when I went in, but it's like.
- [10:14]
Alison Cooch
This is the only silence I get all day.
- [10:17]
Laura Rutledge
It's so true.
- [10:18]
Alison Cooch
Not even at home in the bathroom. Like, that's not even silent because somebody's.
- [10:22]
Laura Rutledge
Always in there with me. Like, the amount of time I'm like.
- [10:24]
Alison Cooch
Okay, like, mom, Mom, Mom. I'm like, oh.
- [10:27]
Laura Rutledge
The other day, Jack, my almost two year old, was trying to wipe my butt. Like, well, obviously I was pooping and I had no choice. He was in there and he's like. I'm like, no, baby, like, thank you, but please, this is not a learning moment. We don't need you to do that.
- [10:42]
Alison Cooch
Like, I understand Montessori teaching, but, like, we're not going that place.
- [10:45]
Laura Rutledge
No. And I wipe your butt, but you don't wipe mine. So sorry.
- [10:49]
Alison Cooch
You're like, oh, My gosh. Like, so many different lives, and I'm sure your day is just, like, hectic all the time, and there's so many twists and turns. How, like, what. What did your journey to becoming a female reporter look like?
- [11:03]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, so it was kind of weird because I never grew up wanting to do this. I was a serious ballet dancer. I wanted to do that. I thought I was going to be a professional ballerina. And then toward the end of my senior year of high school, I started realizing, like, oh, man, I don't know if, you know, the level that I was. I was good, but I wasn't, like, good enough. So I wasn't going to really make a living. I was going to have to have multiple jobs. And I. I had applied to Florida and Florida State because we lived in State in Florida. And so I. I kind of could flip a coin between the two of them. I ended up choosing Florida. I really had no reason why, except I just had a gut feeling going there. And it. That ended up really being. I know. And that was the reason why, like, I have this career because I. I had. I was trying to, like, find a job to make extra money to actually pay for ballet classes that I was still taking because I couldn't give it up. I. I was like, I can't just stop doing this. And the only opening they had was in sports. So I didn't even think, and I just said, sure, I like sports. You know, I'll take it. And then I thought, oh, my goodness, I don't know anything. Like, I. What am I gonna do?
- [12:06]
Alison Cooch
This is a big mistake.
- [12:08]
Laura Rutledge
But I. I was obsessed with the fact that I didn't know it and I needed to get good at it. And it was a way to sort of, like, pour all of that desire to be perfect, which was, like, very much part of the ballet thing, and to. To pour that energy into something else. And so I think that's what hooked me initially, is that I, um. Which I, you know, I want more young people to understand that, like, we. None of us that are on national TV started out good. We just didn't like it. It takes so much time, and I have had so many embarrassing faux pas, like, terrible mistakes on tv. Yes. And so. So that was it. So basically, I started. I only wanted to do radio. I loved that most, but then got some more opportunities in TV and started to do it. And anybody who knew me when I was, like, you know, in elementary, middle, high school, they're like, wait, you do what? Like, nobody ever would have seen that coming.
- [13:02]
Alison Cooch
So it's so interesting to me that you didn't know anything about sports and now you are quite literally on the sidelines. And it's so interesting hearing the journeys to get into this world. And I feel like no journey is the same. I feel like luck is always a little bit involved, which is kind of crazy. And it's just such an interesting thing to hear from so many different people. So what, what it. When it comes to sports, obviously once you get to sports, you kind of just fall in love. Like, there are so many interesting parts of it. What is your favorite part? And do you have a favorite sport?
- [13:41]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, I was hooked the second that I started realizing, oh, wait, this is human connection and telling stories. And I always have. Have loved telling stories. And so that's what really, I think drew me in. And that's true even on the sidelines. It's certainly true for like, a feature story or a show or, you know, something that you're hosting. But even in sideline reporting, we're constantly telling the stories, and we're telling the stories of the game and, you know, interviewing and pulling those things out. Right. So I think that's why I will always love this and I'll keep coming back to it as long as it'll come back to me. And then my favorite sport is football. I mean, I, I love baseball. My husband was a base player. I feel like it's, it's a sport that probably doesn't get enough credit for some of the ins and outs that are just fantastic and the details and the, the cat and mouse game that can be played. And then I also love golf, so those are. But I honestly, I haven't met a sport that I didn't like, so. I mean, gymnastics, basketball, like, all of it. I feel very fortunate to have been able to cover a lot of those at espn.
- [14:46]
Alison Cooch
Yeah. And one more thing about, like, your, your becoming into the position you're currently in. Do you like, specifically remember having to do anything different that maybe your male colleagues didn't have to do?
- [14:59]
Laura Rutledge
Yes. I think I have to be more prepared. I, I think that's still true. Now I always feel like if I can come to the table with the most knowledge and maybe even more research and prep than they do, and it's different roles. Right. But in general, then no one can catch me being unaware. No one can catch me making a mistake. And that's not always true because, believe me, I make a million mistakes every single day. But I think it's always been about that I made a decision very early on to say I'm not going to use being a woman as an excuse. I'm going to use it as an advantage and say what I bring to the table is a different perspective. And I found that to grow even more, becoming a mother and just seeing my life change, you know, with adding children into it and all of that. But I've tried to lean into that while also not making it a thing, if that makes sense. And I think for what I found especially here is that we're really lucky. Mina Kimes is an amazing woman who's on our show, who is an NFL analyst and she's truly a trailblazer. She'd be an amazing guest too. You would love her. She's fantastic. But absolutely, she's amazing.
- [16:07]
Alison Cooch
Like any producer. Please.
- [16:11]
Laura Rutledge
I love her, but you know, she's somebody who is sitting there analyzing the game right alongside our guys who played the game and, and what we found that's been so beautiful about our job on NFL Live for the last five, almost six years is that our guys don't treat us any different. They treat us as the exact same. We're group texting during games, we're saying like, oh, did you notice this? Or what did you think about what they did on third down? Well, I thought this and that. They never talk differently to us and they, they always treat us as though we're equals. So I think the support of male colleagues has been huge for us. But yeah, there's a lot of things that we have to do a lot differently in a male dominated world. And I think the main thing is you always feel like you're starting maybe at a disadvantage. So how do I overcompensate to make that not be a thing?
- [16:59]
Alison Cooch
The craziest thing to me is that you don't need to have played football to report on football or to analyze football. Like, there are GMs in the NFL that never played football before in their lives. And so when it comes to a woman reporting on sports, being on the sidelines, talking about it, analyzing it, I have so much like love for that person because I'm like, no, they don't need to play football to know what the hell that they're doing. And it's the way I can compare it is that like whenever you wear a band tee, people are like, oh, do you even know their songs? Like, I'm a fan of the Los Angeles Chargers. Oh, can you even name five player? It's like, like, are you okay? And like, stop, I'm like, have you played professional football before? No. Okay, we're in the same. We're in the same category then. And so it's so interesting that, like, women don't belong in this space. But I'm like, why? Because. Because you sitting at your couch said. Anyways, it's a sensitive subject for me. Big news for anyone looking to upgrade your energy without the crash. Accelerator is my favorite. Zero sugar energy drink is now offering a variety pack of the top three three flavors. Cherry ice pop, rocket pop, and tropical punch on Amazon. It gives me sustained energy with 100% natural caffeine. And if you are anything like me, there are multiple times throughout the day that you need to pick me up. And I am telling you that this is the best energy drink on the market. And with all the amazing flavors, I promise you will never get tired of it. I'm going to be linking this in the show notes. You need to run and get it now on Amazon. A few things that I love about Accelerator is that they have zero sugar and also it sustains energy. So throughout the day I'm constantly feeling energized. And also no crashes, which I can appreciate because I need energy until bedtime. It also accelerates your metabolism and enhances your focus. It is clinically proven and it is natural caffeine, which is just another win. I have been loving the tropical punch flavor, but I recently tried the cotton candy and I think they're both fighting each other for my number one. But no matter what, in the morning, I'm always reaching for them. And something I just really love about them is that it doesn't make me feel like I'm going to crash later on in the day so I don't have to compromise. Highly recommend trying out Accelerator. It is available on Amazon. Upgrade your energy here. After having a baby, my chest is no longer what it used to be, if you know what I'm saying. Like, I literally have to wear a bra unless I want my girls touching the floor. But that's besides the point. I want to talk about the Fits Everybody collection from Skims. I've been wearing this collection for the past few years. I think back when my husband and I lived in Indiana. I made a YouTube video all about the Fits Everybody collection. And I genuinely always have their bras and underwear on. I'm one of those girls that I don't really love to wear underwear if I don't have to, but their underwear makes you feel like you're not wearing any underwear in general, which is something I love about It. As for bras, I am not a huge fan of underwire at all. I like a bra so comfortable that I can go to sleep in it and I don't even notice that it's still on. Like, not one of those bras where you rip it off when you come home. No. And the Fits Everybody collection does exactly that. I never want to take it off and I never feel like I have to to be comfortable, so I'm such a big fan of it. Another reason I love the Fits Everybody collection is because it is so buttery soft, buttery smooth. My husband has even made compliments on how soft the fabric is. So we are all huge fans of not only Skims, but their Fits Everybody collection. And now that my chest looks and feels a little bit different, this is my go to bra every single day. Just from a comfort standpoint. And it's really easy to throw on, not uncomfortable, no underwire. And again, it is so freaking smooth. So if you guys are interested, I personally highly recommend checking it out. Shop Skims Ultimate Bra collection and more@skims.com and SKIMS LA flagship on Sunset Boulevard. And after you place your order, be sure to let them know that I sent you select podcast in the survey and make sure to select my show in the drop down menu that follows. Again, if you're interested in checking out the Fits Everybody collection, be sure to head over to www.skims.com SSC. You mentioned your husband might have a dabble in sports in his background. So how did you meet him?
- [21:40]
Laura Rutledge
Oh my goodness, it's like the funniest story. I love telling the story. So in 2011, he had been drafted by the Rockies his junior year. He played baseball at Alabama. So he was back in Tuscaloosa just training and everything that fall. So I was just freshly out of college. I was trying to cut my teeth. Like I, I, I was scrounging for any possible job because I was basically, I was probably making the same, like, no money that I was gonna make if I was a ballet dancer, but now I was making it doing something totally different. I was living off of like a bag of broccoli every week, which is just crazy. But anyway, so one of my connections that I had was this woman who wanted to go to Tuscaloosa to do this tailgate piece for the Alabama LSU football game, which was like the, the first game of the century that happened since. There have been a few more. But in 2011, that was the game in early November. So we went and she said, well, I Want to go to this Alabama baseball tailgate and we're going to do some pieces on these, you know, people tailgating. And I was like, that sounds terrible. Like a bunch of drunk baseball players. No, thanks. And ew. But she dragged me there and I was kind of like her camera woman. So I wasn't really doing anything on camera. I was just following her around and trying to get experience. So anyway, he was there and we had a mutual friend who introduced us. And he was like, oh, yeah, this guy's like such a big deal in Tuscaloosa. And I was like, well, that's a big turn off. Turning around like 180. But he also looks like, I think, a better looking version of Leonardo DiCaprio. So, you know, you have my intention.
- [23:13]
Alison Cooch
Oh, my God, he's real cute.
- [23:15]
Laura Rutledge
No, he's. He's cute. He's like 100%. We'll. We'll like, go to the nail salon together because sometimes, you know, he wants to get a pedicure. And they'll be talking about, like, I've literally been asked before, well, what does it feel like that your husband is so much cuter than you? And I'm like, I don't know, but I have a great personality, so who cares? But anyway, so like, jail.
- [23:35]
Alison Cooch
Jail to those people. Jail.
- [23:38]
Laura Rutledge
That's amazing what people say. But so. So we started talking, though, and I was like, oh, you know what? He's kind of cool, you know, so. But that was it. But this is when Twitter was pretty new, so I didn't know what I was doing, but I slid into his DMs. I didn't realize that's what that was, but I was like, oh, you know, this is that guy. So I sent him a message. So we kind of were like, DMing back and forth, and then we ended up back in Alabama. The week after that, we ran into each other randomly in this restaurant.
- [24:08]
Alison Cooch
I need to go back to find Leonardo DiCarrio.
- [24:10]
Laura Rutledge
I'm like, where's Leonardo? Like, oh, shoot, he's in the restaurant. I'm like, I told my mom about him. And so I went to the bathroom. I'm like, mom, that guy is here. And of course, you know, old fashioned, like, southern lady. She's like, do you have any lipstick on? Like, put your lipstick on. I'm like, mom, I don't think he's gonna care about that. But anyway, so that was how we started dating. And very quickly, you know, he was early on, like, just so awesome. We were super young. Obviously, we're like 22, 23. We got married when we were 25. But I loved that he was so sure of wanting to be with me. And I thought, you know, I don't know that I'm ready for like this serious relationship right now, but I thought, I cannot lose this guy, so I'm gonna have to get ready and figure it out. And we've been really fortunate to grow together over the last 11. We're, we're, we just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. We've been together for like 13 years, so crazy.
- [25:04]
Alison Cooch
Well, congratulations.
- [25:06]
Laura Rutledge
Thanks.
- [25:07]
Alison Cooch
That's so impressive. And I have to make note, I love when hot, when hot people marry hot people. Like when two good looking people get.
- [25:15]
Laura Rutledge
Married, you would know.
- [25:17]
Alison Cooch
Opposed to what the people at the nail salon are saying. I'm like, I love when hot people end up together. And it's just gonna make our. I'm like, whatever. But so then after you guys got married, how quickly did you decide, okay, we want to start a family? And did your job go into play in that? Because I know being a woman in the workforce, I'm like, it's, it's so unfortunate, but it is something that you.
- [25:43]
Laura Rutledge
Think about, oh yeah, 100%. So early on because he was still playing baseball professionally. And I was, at first I said, I'm just not going to work and I'm going to go where you go. And that lasted for like barely a season. And he goes, you need to go back to work. You're annoying. And you're annoying me because you want to be working. And sometimes it's like, I admire women so much who are able to say, I'm going to stay home, I'm going to take care of the house. I'm going to do like, there's so much value in beauty in that. And I, I just couldn't do it. It wasn't, I, I felt that there was so much more that I, I needed to do and I wanted to do. And he was wonderful about, you know, sort of saying, like, yeah, let's figure something out. But I had given everything up. I, I had some great jobs with Fox Sports. I gave those up to say, no, I'm gonna focus on him and, and go where he goes in baseball. And so I kind of was back to square one, which is interesting. It's the reason why I ended up at ESPN is I, I basically was scrounging around for anything I could get. And finally somebody wrote me back. But I, early on we were, we knew we wanted to have kids. We were also like, we're too young right now. We didn't feel like it was the right time. But then, you know, probably two or three years into our marriage, we're like, all right, let's. Let's start trying. And we were. It just wasn't happening. And we were thinking, do we need to go, you know, some. The IVF route? What do we need to do? And we. We kind of had tabled it for a little bit just because it was becoming so upsetting. And I just. I feel for so many women and their husbands, their partners who are going through this, because it really does just wear on you, and you feel like something's wrong with you. You know, that why it's not happening. So then, funny enough, all of a sudden, when we. We had been married for seven years, it was like, you know, January, February of 2019. I'm like, huh, you know, something's weird. I don't feel right. Take a pregnancy test, and boom. And I'm like, oh, my goodness. Like, this is amazing. But then I do the math. Back to your original question about work.
- [27:40]
Alison Cooch
And I.
- [27:41]
Laura Rutledge
This baby is going to be born in October. And at this point, like, I really thought, maybe we can't get pregnant. We're going to need, you know, additional help, if it's even possible. So I. It wasn't even in my frame of mind at that point to think, and I was on this, like, kind of upward trajectory at that point. At work, I had just started doing more with get up on ESPN, which is ESPN's morning show. I was, like, spending a bunch of time in New York. I was working toward a new contract, and I'm like, I just ruined it all. Like, I really felt like, it's all over, it's not going to work. I was so scared to tell my bosses. They were great about it, but it was just a really tough thing for me to swallow, to feel. I felt like I had done something wrong. And I. I really. I mean, when my. When my daughter's old enough, I. I am going to apologize to her for thinking about it that way, because she is the best thing that ever happened to me. But I really did have a lot of anger about, like, the timing of it all. And it was so hard. It's so hard because when you tried that long to get pregnant and then it finally happens, then you're like, you're feeling anything but, like, not fully happy. But I just feel like women, I don't know, I'll never forget.
- [28:47]
Alison Cooch
And I have to. I have to say, it's not even, like, you feeling bad that you felt anything, like, except happy. It's kind of like society's fault. Because I feel like this world does not, like, value mothers in a way that they show that they are, like, appreciated. It doesn't give them this huge village that everybody talks about. Oh, my God. Your number one thing is you should have a village. I didn't have a village. So it's so real. And I'm sure so, so many women will relate to hearing your perspective with that, even having gone through infertility and not able to get pregnant super quick. And it is so interesting hearing your take on that. And it's so unfortunate. And I blame the world, to be honest.
- [29:30]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah.
- [29:30]
Alison Cooch
Because mothers, we shouldn't have to choose. Like, we shouldn't have to feel bad, but. But that goes above and beyond. I'm like, I don't know how to. I don't know how to solve that. But hopefully having conversations like this will at least contribute to that.
- [29:44]
Laura Rutledge
Well, I think what is so important to me, and I'm so glad you said that, is that I felt this pressure to. To go back to work. You know, like, three weeks after having Reese, I went. I was back to work wearing a diaper on tv. Like, couldn't get through airport security because they're, like, searching my pants and they're like, what is in there? Like, I don't want to know.
- [30:05]
Alison Cooch
Thoroughly impressed.
- [30:06]
Laura Rutledge
I.
- [30:07]
Alison Cooch
And like, I begged me to go to Target three months, three weeks postpartum, and here you are.
- [30:12]
Laura Rutledge
But I shouldn't have done that. And it was really bad. And it was bad for me and bad for her. And, like, I ended up getting mastitis. There were all these things, right? And I. I feel for so many women who, like, don't have a choice. They have to go back to work, and they have to. And that is. That's a societal problem. And it's also. There needs to be a switch. And. And so I do. I hope that women who, like, might be trying to figure out what they're going to do or how they're going to handle it, like, just take your time. It's going to be okay. And whatever was there for you before is going to be waiting. And maybe it's going to be even better than it was before, but if it's not, that's just not important. And I wish I could have understood that. I could not understand it at that time. I couldn't grasp it. I thought I had to race back. And then it was just way harder than it should have been, you know, and it was unnecessary.
- [31:01]
Alison Cooch
It's almost like you're trying to prove people wrong. Like, yes. Just, like, grow actively. So being postpartum, you're like, I need to get back out there and show people. And like, and then when people are like, wow, like, you're already back. Like, that's crazy. And you're like, yeah, like, not a big deal. And then in a few months, you're.
- [31:16]
Laura Rutledge
Like, wait, I'm not okay. I know. Like, nobody's okay. It's been so bad. I learned a lot from that. I did not do that with our second baby. I took some time, but even then, you know, you just feel like it's not enough and it's never enough. And, you know, I. I think that's like my biggest daily juggle is trying to figure out how do you give as much as you can possibly give to your children and to being a mom, but also still, like, maintain some sort of self preservation and like, whatever it is, you know that's going to make you happy in that day, aside from just your kids, because that's important too. And not letting guilt, like, consume all of that. It's just all these different.
- [31:57]
Alison Cooch
No, it's like you want to. Do you want to, like, be successful in your job because you love your job. But then you're. While you're at your job, you're like, I wish I was with my kids. And then when you're with your kids, you're like, okay, I wish I had a second alone. And then when you have a second alone, you're like, dang. Like, I feel guilty because now they're asleep and I miss them. And it's just like this constant, like, circle of life. How. How did you handle pregnancy while working at espn? Did you have an easy pregnancy? Were you bolting for the bathroom? Like, how was that?
- [32:25]
Laura Rutledge
I was so sick both times, which. Which I think was. I do think it was like, just trying to work too much. I. I needed to rest. And, you know, your body's telling you like, you're already right. Eat a salt. I was eating. The only thing I could really eat was like a pb. Just a pb, Not a PB and J. Oh, no. Eating like these peanut butter, peanut butter on bread. Like, now I even think about it, like, that makes me nauseous because it was throat dry.
- [32:53]
Alison Cooch
You're, like, disgusting.
- [32:55]
Laura Rutledge
You're like, it was nasty. And. And I think the other thing that was tough for me is, you know, like, and it's so vain because it's like, who cares? This is a beautiful thing that you're growing, this. This life inside you. And we're so lucky to be able to do that. And that. That was never lost on me. But getting, like, really big on national TV and like, people seeing the progression, that. That's just like, not for the faint of heart, you know?
- [33:20]
Alison Cooch
Like, I. Yeah, when.
- [33:23]
Laura Rutledge
When you're.
- [33:24]
Alison Cooch
When everybody sees you gaining and. And getting swollen the last two weeks, I'm like, it looked like I had lip injections, which honestly kind of loved.
- [33:33]
Laura Rutledge
But I know, lips back.
- [33:35]
Alison Cooch
But you're like, growth in, like, your journey to growing this child. Everybody gets to give their opinion on it, so. Oh, my gosh. Especially being on TV, I'm like, @ least if I have a bad angle, I'm deleting that and I'm gonna put on a filter and repost.
- [33:52]
Laura Rutledge
But I can only im.
- [33:54]
Alison Cooch
I didn't have control over the editing.
- [33:56]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, goodness. And I had. You know, there are some angles, like NFL Live. Like, it's a very. It's shot like a really unique way. So we have these cameras, like, moving all around. And I'd see that camera coming. It's like a rolly chair. And I'd be like, you can see my back. But otherwise it'd be like, you know, just belly. And I realized that very early on I was like, oh. You know, and like, like, who cares what people say on social media? But it's hard. Yeah. You're already really emotional and you're kind of feeling insecure. And so, I don't know, I look back at, you know, photos, and I'm like, oh, that's so cool. Because now I know the person who was inside that belly, and it means so much to me. I'm glad. Like, there were photos, but. And I think, oh, you know, it didn't look that bad. Like, what. What was I thinking? But anyway, in the moment, it was challenging and. And, you know, definitely I. With our first pregnancy, we had some third trimester complications that made it to where they. They told me I had to stop traveling. And I think about all that, and I think, you know, I was just doing too much. Like, I was already doing a lot to be like, carrying the child and. And all of that. And then to try to add on top of that was probably too much. But you couldn't have told me that. Then I would have been like, like.
- [35:11]
Alison Cooch
Don'T tell me what to do.
- [35:12]
Laura Rutledge
Actually, no.
- [35:13]
Alison Cooch
I literally look back to when I moved two weeks before he moved it 37 weeks pregnant. Oh my goodness. And I look back and like, why did I choose violence? Like, I really just should have sat down and made a cupcake and just.
- [35:28]
Laura Rutledge
Called it a day.
- [35:29]
Alison Cooch
But I do every time I have a mom on my show, I like to ask them how they got their pink back after having kids. So like, what kind of things did you do? Are you still doing them just to like give you like this new identity that you have. You're also a mom and what, what did you do?
- [35:47]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, you know, I am still, I think, struggling with that a lot. And I think some of it has to do with being someone who, you know, when you also have a job and a career that, that you're like balancing and all of this, it's like that comes first before getting yourself back. So you, right, you feel like you have to get back to that and you, you have to like just pour yourself back into that and you. And early on, I think in returning to work with both pregnancies, I felt very lost and very like not myself and trying to fake it. And the weird thing TV is we, we have to sometimes fake it anyway, so I, I'm kind of good at that, which is, I don't, I don't like that about myself, but that's just part of it. But I think this is funny. It's like a really relevant question right now because this was probably like two or three weeks ago. I just looked at my husband and I was like, I haven't worked out. Like, I haven't gone to a workout or really done anything beyond just like, I don't know, carrying kids around since like probably in like five years. Like five, five to seven years. Maybe even before having crazy because we were trying to get pregnant. I was like just, I was more focused on that than I was like working out. And I, I was reading everything about, you know, what you should be doing and shouldn't anyway, so I was like, I wanna, I wanna go to a class. Like, I wanna do something again, you know, and we found this like, it's called Solid Core. It's like actually kicking our butts.
- [37:09]
Alison Cooch
But no, I have been humbled by Solid Core. Me and Solidcore, we're no longer in a relationship.
- [37:15]
Laura Rutledge
No, I. Solidcore just hates to see me coming because all I do is flop down on the machine the entire time. Like, I'm literally like, like I can't do anything. It's terrible.
- [37:27]
Alison Cooch
These 20 year old girls shaking on the reformer and I'm like, my abs are separated. Why do I think I'm allowed in this class. I need to go to a PT appointment, and we'll talk soon.
- [37:40]
Laura Rutledge
Okay? So same. So, like, I. I had no strength. I had. I mean, I still don't. But we started. I said, no, I'm gonna make this a routine. I'm gonna make this, like, a habit. And I will say in. Probably in the last 10 days or so, I've, like, finally started to feel like myself again. And the interesting thing about it is I don't feel. I've finally gotten past, like, feeling guilty about leaving. Like, a couple times, you know, when I was going to the class, like, Jack would be upset, and he'd be like, mama. You know, And I'm like, just stay with him. You don't. You know, my inner talk is like, just stay with him. You don't need to go do that for yourself.
- [38:17]
Alison Cooch
Work out in the. In the living room. No, you're not. You're not.
- [38:20]
Laura Rutledge
No, you're not. Because I'm not. Because I'll just, like, try to do one crunch and be like, all right, that was doing anything.
- [38:26]
Alison Cooch
Yeah, exactly.
- [38:27]
Laura Rutledge
So I think just, you know, and it's. In some days, like, are better than others and. And all that, and you have a bad day, and you start feeling like a total bum, and you're like, who am I anymore? And that's just, I think, normal. But. But just whatever it is, you know, that. That works for whoever you are. I do think, like, getting past that guilt part of it is the hardest part, and then ultimately you're rewarded. And. And I do believe that, like, a happy mom or, like, a mom who feels empowered or whoever she is, like, that's the best for our kids. They. They want to do that.
- [39:00]
Alison Cooch
There is research that is backed on what, like, how successful a child is going to be in their life is dependent on their mom's happiness. And so whenever I. Whenever I think of me feeling guilty, I'm like, no, this is good. And I. I'm not a bad mom for wanting time away from my daughter. Makes me a better mom. And going to the workout thing, it is so relatable because I, like, I definitely struggled to find my identity outside of my daughter, but workout classes have became one of my favorite ways to feeling more me. And I'm not talking about bouncing back. I'm not talking about, like, looking in the mirror and having a six pack. It is genuinely like, if you go to a workout class, it. You're putting your phone away, you're there with other people, a lot of them. Typically are moms and women and you're able to. It doesn't matter if you're doing the workout a hundred percent. It's just genuinely, you're, you're gonna go to a workout class and you're gonna leave feeling better. Whether you like, gave a hundred percent or mentally, you were just like, like, hey, this is just some free time. So if, if there are any moms listening, I highly recommend workout classes. And there are so many that actually offer child care because I know that moms, like, without help or without their village, like, there are still ways not to bounce back, just to feel more like yourself. It's so crazy hearing that, like, you haven't like, taken that time for yourself. How, how do you balance everything?
- [40:30]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, man. I think half the time I'm thinking about that analogy of like, okay, there's some glass balls and there's some plastic balls, and like, you've got to just drop some of the plastic ones. And, and the hard part about that is that oftentimes the plastic ones for me are work related. So I think what it, what's happened is even in the last, like, year, two years or so, which some of this could be just a postpartum thing, but I've had a lot more anxiety, like being at work and being on tv because I think I feel not as prepared as I did before. And I talked about that, like the preparation, the research that's required, especially when you're a woman and maybe you feel like you have to do a little bit extra, which I certainly do. So I, I feel like it's, I have to drop some of that to balance all of it, because there's just no way. And, and there are things that are just more important. They just have to be like, no matter what, even if I lost my job tomorrow, my kids are always going to be the most important thing and, and my home and, and my husband and all of those things. But it's, it's, it does take a toll. I think balance. This is kind of weird, but I don't know if you feel this way. I think balance takes a toll. Like trying to figure out how to balance it because, because you are thinking, like, what can I sacrifice today? Okay, so today I'm gonna sacrifice this extra research packet I was gonna read. I don't really need to do that because instead it's better for me to run around outside with my son for like 20 minutes.
- [41:53]
Alison Cooch
Exactly.
- [41:54]
Laura Rutledge
But then I'm gonna be really anxious when, when I'm hosting that show and I Didn't read that research packet, you know, So I don't know. It's. It's. I don't know.
- [42:03]
Alison Cooch
I wish there were more hours in the day.
- [42:05]
Laura Rutledge
That's it. That's what we need. And sleep, too.
- [42:08]
Alison Cooch
But, like, sleep is my least favorite activity because I'm like, it just takes up so much of my time and I don't have time to waste. So I literally. I'm like, I'm a night owl and a morning person. I just don't like sleeping. No, I. I will be on chat. GPT. Like, okay, here's everything I have to get done this week. Can you make me a list? List of like, how to do it, when to do it. And it's just like, oh, like, malfunctioning. Can't. Like, I'm like, okay, great, great. Like, that's exactly why my. I'm like, that's why my brain feels the way that it is. Right. But I mean, do you. Do you give yourself grace when it comes to balancing everything?
- [42:42]
Laura Rutledge
Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. And I can be really mean to myself, you know, and I'll look back and be like, well, that probably wasn't necessary. And one of the things that's been interesting, like, I think early on in my career, and not even that early on, maybe even just a few years ago, I really struggled with nerves all the time. I would be so nervous I was going to mess up. And I realized it was affecting the way that I was on air. Like, I just. I wasn't as good as I could have been because I'm thinking the whole time, like, I'm going to make a mistake and I'm going to misspeak or whatever it is. And so I've tried that sort of led me to thinking through things of like, hey, no, you've got this. Like, you can do this. And it seems simple, but constantly reminding myself of, hey, you did this so you can do this. And I think that's like, my form of grace that I give to myself is almost reminding myself of my own accomplishments or, like, hard things that I've gotten through or tough days that where I felt like I. There was no way I could go on air or I don't know if I'm feeling well. I'm like, hey, well, that one day, like, you know, you were so sick and you got through it and whatever it is, you know, it's just something like that, almost like your own path past being a way to amplify your future. And I. I don't know. I need to be better about giving grace to myself because I love giving grace to other people. But.
- [44:01]
Alison Cooch
Right. And then when it comes to you, it's like you are like your own critic. Like, and the hardest on yourself. Whereas in if you saw somebody in your shoes, you would give them totally different advice than what you're talking to yourself. Like your inner monologue. You're like, oh my God, just like shape up. And then just somebody else, you'd be like, can you go and have a glass of wine or something?
- [44:23]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, like you're doing great.
- [44:24]
Alison Cooch
Exactly.
- [44:25]
Laura Rutledge
Like, yeah.
- [44:28]
Alison Cooch
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- [50:53]
Laura Rutledge
It's more about her now for sure. This is funny because her half birthday was actually this week. I realized it and so I, I like did a little surprise like half birthday celebration. My husband was rolling his eyes. He's like are we celebr celebrating half birthdays now? Because like we don't have time for that. Like no, no, this just popped out of nowhere. But no, it's, it's like more about her. The funny thing is my mom, when my mom realized because I was being induced so when she realized that Reese was going to be born on my birthday she was like oh but that's your birthday, and I don't want her to have your birthday because it's about you. And she was so cute. She like brought a little cake to the hospital that she made. And. And at the time I was like, mom, who cares? Like, whatever, it's just a birthday. And now like having my own daughter, I think, well, I don't want anybody else to have your birthday because, you know, you're the best thing I've ever seen in my life. So my mom, I think is the key person who like still tries to celebrate my birthday, which is. Which is really sweet. But it's definitely all about Reese now, which I also the best. I know.
- [51:54]
Alison Cooch
It's actually funny that you celebrated her half birthday. I was three weeks postpartum when I had my birthday after having my daughter, and I was like, I don't want to do anything. My husband was so cute. He booked us like a staycation at a hotel down the street. I was like, you want me to bring all of my newborn. All this stuff in this hotel? Absolutely not. You get points for trying, but absolutely not. Different direction. And so for my half birthday, I was like, whatever you were planning to do for my birthday, now you have a redo and. And so it's half birthday.
- [52:28]
Laura Rutledge
That's awesome.
- [52:29]
Alison Cooch
I also have a January birthday, so I'm like celebrating in the summer. Sounds way better. Now transitioning into football, the NFL draft is coming up. So what are you doing to prep for that? Like, there are a lot of characters, a lot of stories. Like, do you have flashcards?
- [52:52]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, my goodness. It's so much. Right? I think the. The thing that helps me a ton with the draft is that it is the final intersection of colle football and the NFL. So I cover the college guys mostly sec, but throughout college football during the year. And so I actually get really excited about this time of year because I'll tell our guys, I'm like, hey, remember that guy I was telling you about? Like, look, now you're watching this film, you know, now you care about him. And like, Mina will ask me questions, you know, what did you think about this guy? And so it's. It's really cool. That part of it's great. And the neat thing about the prep for this, which I love, it's different from anything else that I prep for is on NFL Live right now, like every single day we are talking about all this stuff. Stuff. So I'll do an additional prep probably in the week or so, like after the masters next week. That next week I'll probably dial it in even more and just, like, get a little more nitty gritty with it. But right now, I'm kind of, like, daily doing the prep already, which is amazing because, you know, time is of the essence, as we know. But the unique role that I have, and you'll love this, this is, like, such a special thing to me every year. But I'm in the green room with the families when their son gets drafted. It, like, makes me emotional anytime we talk about it, because it's so jealous. It's so sweet. It's like, the sweetest thing, but yet, like, I'm kind of awkward. So it's, like, a really awkward thing because they're, like, having this big moment, and then you're like, the producers are like, get in there. Get in there. You know? And I'm like, no, I can't. Like, they're high. Don't want to be in their moment.
- [54:20]
Alison Cooch
You know, you're like, he's hugging his mom. Give me five seconds.
- [54:24]
Laura Rutledge
Give me a second. They'll be like, we're coming to you. And, like, okay, so. But anyway, so I. I'll do, like, it's. It's a really fun prep. I'll prep on their families, so I'll. I'll, like, look up their parents or their caregivers and their siblings, their girlfriends, wives, whatever it may be. So that part of it. Some of them have children, you know, so it. It is so cool and so fun. And that's, like, every year of prep that I. I really look forward to, it's a little different.
- [54:52]
Alison Cooch
I think that right now is the craziest time in football in your field, because the, like, all. All the free agency changes are happening. The NFL draft, which opens a new, like, huge group of men, and there's just so many changes happening. My. My husband's been trying to study, and so he literally. He did make flashcards, which I found adorable. I was like, this is adorable. But, like, now I know all of this stuff because I'm quizzing. I don't need to know all 32 head coaches GMs. Like, I'm like, this is too much for my brain. I'm like, I should be worrying about mom stuff. Like, what milestone does she need to accomplish?
- [55:35]
Laura Rutledge
I love this. You're. Now, listen, you need to be doing it, too. Like, we're getting you involved.
- [55:40]
Alison Cooch
Oh, yeah. Well, it's crazy. You talking about the NFL draft, I think, is such a magical day. It is my favorite day in the NFL. Slash, college in general. Just because it, it is so magical seeing something that these guys have worked their entire lives, some playing football since they were three years old, holding a football in the hospital all the way up into them being drafted. And it's so magical seeing like grown men get emotional. I'm like, I something about it. I just love it so much. So I'm like, one of these days I am going to work the NFL.
- [56:16]
Laura Rutledge
Draft because that's make this happen and.
- [56:18]
Alison Cooch
Like manifesting right now. What is your NFL draft experience look like? Like morning of.
- [56:25]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah. Oh my goodness. It's. I get like so jittery about it because it's just, it is, it's. You're seeing dreams realized. But usually so Thursday of you know, the first round of the draft, we'll do a two hour NFL live show which is going to be very chilly in Green Bay. I've never been to Green Bay, so I'm excited about that.
- [56:43]
Alison Cooch
I haven't either.
- [56:44]
Laura Rutledge
We're gonna experience it for the first time. So we'll do NFL Live and then I will. I usually do like a quick change. I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do it this year because it's gonna be chillier, but I'll do a quick change like in the bathroom or like a porta potty. I, I've done it in porta potties most of the time because there's just like nothing else. I did it in the back of a car last year which was wild. But then to get to the red carpet. So as soon as NFL lives over race to the red carpet, it will do interviews with the players who are there on the red carpet and then do that for a little bit and then go inside that green room and get ready. And I'm doing reports and I'm just talking to the families before it actually gets started. And then when it gets started, just there all night, basically waiting to see who gets drafted and whether or not they're there. You know, some guys don't come now, but it's going to be. I mean this year is a fascinating draft. Like we think that Cam Ward's going to go number one overall, but like does Travis Hunter go to, to the Browns? The Browns decide to get a quarterback? Do they get Shador. Shador Sanders? Pro day is going on. There's so many teams that are there. The Giants have like every single person in their organization there. Which makes you think, okay, maybe they're going to take him at three, but if they don't, then who's going to take him. It's just, it's like it's a wild draft. I think with it is the Wild West. It is, yes.
- [58:02]
Alison Cooch
It's so crazy because if, if one team doesn't take a certain player, all hell breaks loose and they're like, okay, well this guy's available. Like, do we. It's. And so it's so, so fun watching the draft because you like, the unthinkable always happens. And that's what I love about sports in general is that you just expect the unexpected.
- [58:21]
Laura Rutledge
Right? It's the best. It's a thrill. Like that's. Yes, it is the ultimate thrill. There's nothing else like it in the world and especially on TV where you just have no idea what's going to happen and you decide to go with it.
- [58:35]
Alison Cooch
And I also have to assume, like I've never seen the MLB draft. I've never seen NHL. Well, I have watched the NFL draft every single year and it's, it seems like every football diehard football fan at least is sitting there like tuned in and it's just so adorable to see all these people cheering for like this. I mean, how old? 20, 21 year old?
- [58:59]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah. At the oldest. Right? Well, there is a quarterback, Tyler Shook, who you'll hear about who's like 25 and he's going to be 26, but he, he could end up, I don't think he sneaks into the first round, but he'll be, he'll be a second round pick for sure. But yeah, most of them are super.
- [59:13]
Alison Cooch
Young going into that. Like even my husband last or his, his last few years in the NFL, he was like, I'm old in terms of football years and like you're like, you're 26. Like, what do you mean? And it's so interesting and there's a changing landscape of college football with the transfer portal. How have you seen that affect NFL teams and do you think that impacts like draft decisions?
- [59:41]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, it's, it's really interesting because I do think it's actually impacted some of the draft decisions and the NFL in general positively, because some of these guys, like let's take Bo Nix for example, who's now a great quarterback, he had a great rookie season with the Broncos. Sean Payton loved him. He was a guy who started out at Auburn. I covered some of his first games news at Auburn and he wasn't very good and he was young and, and you know, there were a lot of people that expected more out of him and it was sort of like A bad story. Right? And he had not lived up to expectations. Well, he transfers to Oregon. He gets all this experience, you know, at these teams and he does so well at Oregon. He's, he's a Heisman finalist. He ends up being a high draft pick. It's just if he had not gone to Oregon, there's no way he's picked where he was picked. There's no way he gets the opportunity that he gets. And that's a quarterback as an example. There's so many other examples of players who are not quarterbacks, backs who end up because of the transfer portal, getting a better situation for themselves, getting noticed by these scouts and have more draft status than they would have otherwise.
- [60:45]
Alison Cooch
I love that positive view on it because every person I've talked to, usually there's a negative spin on, oh, I don't think that's fair. Or I think that, like, it kind of throws a huge mix into the NFL world and college football world. So it is interesting hearing that. And I do agree, like, allowing these guys to have an opportunity to prove themselves. Right. I don't see a huge issue with that. But I know there's so much that like, also plays into it. Are there any standout players or anybody with like a really cool story that you're. That we should keep our eye on?
- [61:23]
Laura Rutledge
I think Travis Hunter is just phenomenal. And the fact that he really is a transcendent talent because he truly is so high level on both sides of the ball. We just haven't seen anything like that. This, you know, in really probably ever that would be able to play at that level on both sides. And that's why like, all these teams that need a quarterback but also are picking in that top three, top five even to pass on him if he's there is such a pickle. Like they're in such a conundrum and he is, he's just such a, a sweet guy. I've got, I got to spend some time with him. He won the Paul Horning Award and I was, was there speaking and so we got to spend some time with him. And he, he just like loves to fish and he's not flashy. He doesn't do anything that's, you know, that you would expect from like a, a guy who could do anything that he wants. Right? He, he could be spending all this money. He could be. No, he, he spent money on his mom. He bought his mom a new house. But that's really it. You know, he, he's. He's so, he's just Got such a great head on his shoulder, so I love him. I think Abdul Carter is, is an incredible player and he's somebody that may actually be the best player in this draft and could end up falling a little bit, but, like, who cares? Because whoever gets him, it's going to be such a steal. So, yeah, those are two that I absolutely love. I mean, there's so many there, there. This is a great draft. This is a super deep running back draft too. So that's not like the sexiest thing to talk about. But I think when you look back on this draft, a lot of teams will be made so much better by being able to pick a running back even in like the third or fourth round, potentially, who I believe we'll see be like instant contributors even next season early on with whatever team they end up with.
- [63:03]
Alison Cooch
And it's funny that you, you emphasize, like, there are so many running backs and great running backs in this draft class. One thing I have to point out to the people listening to this podcast is that some players have the ability to declare for the draft early and leave college earlier where they have another year of eligibility. And I, I was so surprised how much that goes into play when guys are thinking to declare based on the draft class. Like how many quarterbacks are in this draft class, how many running backs, how many tight ends. And it's a huge game changer because it'll determine if you get drafted higher, what team you get drafted to, how much money you make, if you get an opportunity to prove yourself. Because unlike college, there's no transfer portal in the NFL. Like, if you're stuck behind a player and he's getting played a lot, the chances of you playing, very slim.
- [63:52]
Laura Rutledge
No, that's a really good point because I do think they can get their draft grades. You know, they can sort of like see where they might be slotted. And some of these players get bad advice and they come out anyway and then they don't get drafted, you know, nearly as high as they had hoped. And it does, I mean, that is really, it's like sad to say, but that's really a career maker or breaker. A lot of times is unless you're this like, you know, upper echelon top 10 level pick, but I mean, there's only 10 of those. There's seven rounds of the draft. So there's so many of these players, there's even like undrafted rookies who will end up getting an opportunity in camp and stuff. So, yeah, I, it's going to be interesting this year to See, you know how some of this is. I think there are players that are a lot better than what they'll end up getting when it comes to draft, because these teams know they don't have to draft them as high as they would have otherwise because there's so much depth.
- [64:44]
Alison Cooch
So crazy. My favorite undrafted free agent story is always Austin Eckler, like Hay Mouse, and he's still playing one of Isaac's teammates from Los Angeles Chargers. And I love stories like that. And I just want everybody to comprehend how many college football players are now entering the NFL. And to think that NFL players, there's only. I mean, 53, man. I'm like, geez, I've only been out of this for like a year. 53 man roster, and then 17 on practice squad. Like, think of all those college athletes going into the NFL, fighting for your job to make it in the NFL. I mean, longer than two years. Insane. Because it's crazy. So competitive and everybody wants your job. It's so hard.
- [65:32]
Laura Rutledge
I know. Well, no. And, like, that's a really unique perspective that probably isn't out there enough and obviously is. Is personal to you. You've had to live it, like, to know that someone is constantly behind you, and God forbid you get injured or something happens and then somebody comes in and it is. It's. You know, I love football, but it is such a business. And oftentimes the personal side of it, I think gets lost in so much of it. I'll find myself even. It'll get real transactional on the show. We'll be like, all right, so this guy's going here, and this guy got traded or this guy got cut. And I'm thinking, man, you know, sometimes it'll hit me like, they've got kids, they've got wives, they've got. They've got to uproot their whole families. And no one's saying to feel sorry for people. They say, oh, well, they're making all this money and whatever. But it's not about that. It's about. It's about the uncertainty and about that just constant feeling of looking over your shoulder thinking, you know, am I still gonna have a job? I mean, I just. We went through that in baseball and. And, you know, again, we're not asking for sympathy, but I do think that it's probably an undertold aspect of all this.
- [66:35]
Alison Cooch
Yeah, that's when I have nightmares back to when my husband lost his job when I was 37 weeks pregnant. And, like, the NFL is a business, and a lot of the Time, like, it's just transactional and it's unfortunate. I remember making a video about my husband losing his job and everyone's like, I can't feel bad for a rich person. I'm like, hold on. I'm like, you're still able to feel those feelings. I'm not saying that the world's ending, but like, you're still able to feel that. And, and so it is, it is so interesting. And I'm, I'm so excited for the NFL draft this year especially because now my husband, husband's on a different side of it with like, looking into commentating and, and sports and all this. And, and so it's going to be really exciting for sure. So before we wrap up, do you have any advice to aspiring sports reporters who are listening?
- [67:29]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, I think the biggest thing is doing your research, doing your prep, getting any type of experience that you can get, whether it's just setting your phone up and trying to record yourself and look back at it and see what you did, you know, which is hard to do. I hate watching myself back even now. But doing everything you can to get reps. I know. Well, you shouldn't because you're great. But I know, I know that pain, it's like, yeah, but doing that. And then I think this is kind of like bigger picture. But I think just handling everything with class. You know, at times, especially in this business, it can be tempting to say, well, maybe I'm gonna, you know, wear this or post that or I'm gonna go do this. Like, you don't have to do all that. Just be classy, be professional. If you want to be fabulous in whatever way it is that works for you, that's great, I'm all for that. But don't ever diminish your values because you think it'll help you gain something in a male dominated business, it's just not worth it. And I promise you, if you stay true to who you are, it will work out. It may be a little bit of a longer road and may take some patience, but I have, I, I all my examples in, in a, a large sample size of many people in this business, the class wins out 100% of the time.
- [68:44]
Alison Cooch
I absolutely love that. I'm like, take note, take note. And then I always end each episode with a little motherhood football rapid fire question. So you can give me just like gist off the top of your head. Vintage jerseys are modern.
- [69:02]
Laura Rutledge
Ooh, vintage.
- [69:04]
Alison Cooch
Morning routine or evening routine?
- [69:07]
Laura Rutledge
Morning.
- [69:08]
Alison Cooch
Who is the goat? Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes?
- [69:13]
Laura Rutledge
I'm gonna say Brady, but that's a tough one.
- [69:16]
Alison Cooch
It's tough.
- [69:17]
Laura Rutledge
Pat's gaining on him.
- [69:19]
Alison Cooch
Yeah. I'm like, it's hard to say because he's still in it, so.
- [69:23]
Laura Rutledge
Right.
- [69:23]
Alison Cooch
To be determined, baby. Music playlist or adult songs?
- [69:27]
Laura Rutledge
Ooh, adult song songs.
- [69:29]
Alison Cooch
College football or the NFL?
- [69:32]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, I'm gonna say the NFL, but that's like my. My heart in two pieces. Because I love both. I'll say the NFL.
- [69:40]
Alison Cooch
Teething stage or toddler tantrums.
- [69:43]
Laura Rutledge
Oh, goodness. I'm gonna actually say toddler tantrums, which is crazy. But teething is no joke.
- [69:48]
Alison Cooch
No. And it's like they're in pain. And I'm like, I don't know what to do.
- [69:51]
Laura Rutledge
Take this. Feel bad banana.
- [69:52]
Alison Cooch
Like, what? I don't. I don't know, like, interviewing. Exactly. Interviewing players or coaches.
- [70:02]
Laura Rutledge
I actually like coaches better. I think I like. I love both. I mean, it's so great. But sometimes coaches will, like, give you a little more. Some players are. Are guarded, which I get. I'm always like, I know you can't answer what I'm asking you. I'm sorry, I have to ask it.
- [70:19]
Alison Cooch
Yeah. It's like, Isaac, how do you feel about your head NFL coach getting fired and a new person? And he's like, I'm excited.
- [70:27]
Laura Rutledge
Right. Like, what do you say? Like, they can't say what they actually think. It's.
- [70:32]
Alison Cooch
No, it's not. You can't even say you're excited. You just have to say, oh, it's a change up. Excited to see where the team goes.
- [70:36]
Laura Rutledge
Like, you say nothing.
- [70:38]
Alison Cooch
Exactly.
- [70:38]
Laura Rutledge
And they're good at that. That's the thing. Especially NFL players. They're. They're like, very well. Well rehearsed at that. I don't blame them.
- [70:45]
Alison Cooch
Not trying to lose my job. Like, I love that. Matching outfits for siblings or individual styles. Style.
- [70:52]
Laura Rutledge
I think individual style.
- [70:55]
Alison Cooch
And then NFL combine. Verse, Pro bowl, verse. Draft.
- [71:00]
Laura Rutledge
Ooh, I'm gonna say the draft. I just. I love it. Same.
- [71:05]
Alison Cooch
No, I love that. And where can the people find you on socials, on TV? Where can they find you?
- [71:12]
Laura Rutledge
Yeah, so TV every day at 4:00pm on ESPN and, you know, other places, I guess, but that's the main one. And then I think I'm at Laura Rutledge X and I think tw Instagram is at Laura M. Rutledge, because my maiden name was McKean. I don't know. I put the M in there. But yeah, that's. That's where I have tick tock. Too. I need to do more on TikTok. But you. You can find some funny stuff on there. Because I sort of. I don't know why, but I feel like I think TikTok, nobody's looking at, so I just go crazy over there.
- [71:43]
Alison Cooch
And that's. I have that same problem, except there's. I. I see 3 million followers. I'm like, that's fake. I know. I mean, that's so many. Like, that's.
- [71:53]
Laura Rutledge
I love your TikTok tos. I. I'm more of a. Like, I need to post more on TikTok again. I. I, like, lose my streak and then I stop doing it. But I'm gonna do.
- [72:02]
Alison Cooch
I need. I need to challenge you. I want to see, like, a. Come travel with me for the NFL draft. Just record it and do a voiceover after.
- [72:09]
Laura Rutledge
I love it. I'm doing that for you.
- [72:10]
Alison Cooch
Oh, wait. Okay.
- [72:11]
Laura Rutledge
I'm gonna add you.
- [72:12]
Alison Cooch
Okay. Perfect. No. Yeah, Tag me in it. Perfect. Well, thank you so much for coming on. This was so fun for me to listen to and to talk with you more. So I'm so excited. And to the listeners, thank you for tuning in. Be sure to tune in next Sunday. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.