Erin Andrews‘ journey to becoming one of the most prominent sports broadcasters didn’t start with expertise in every game.

Fresh out of the University of Florida in 2000, her first job as a rink-side reporter for the Tampa Bay Lightning in September 2001 was met with a major hurdle, as she knew almost nothing about hockey.

Determined to make the most of her opportunity, Andrews bought a copy of Hockey for Dummies to prepare for her interview.

Despite her lack of knowledge, she displayed her trademark drive by being honest with the team’s new coach, John Tortorella.

“I walked up to him and said, ‘Hi, I’m Erin Andrews. I don’t know anything about the NHL, but I’m willing to listen and learn,'” she recalled.

Her hard work paid off when, just two months into her job, she asked Tortorella a standout question during a media scrum.

Tortorella stopped to praise her for it, marking a turning point in her burgeoning career.

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Breaking barriers and perceptions

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Andrews has always been conscious of the perception that her success is tied to her appearance rather than her abilities.

“I worked my ass off, [and] it was never enough,” she noted.

Yet, she’s worked tirelessly to disprove such assumptions.

“I know what the perception is of women in the industry,” she said. “People think I have my job because I look a certain way. But when they see me interact with athletes, their expression is funny – like, ‘Oh, wow, you really do know a lot about sports.'”

Her authenticity, expertise, and passion have made her a respected figure in sports journalism.

In 2016, Andrews joined FOX, where she continues to shine as a sideline reporter.

“For me, when I first started, I was just so excited to have my job. I love sports so much,” she said.

“[I was] just so excited to learn, to read, to study about these athletes that I’m a huge fan of.

“I read a ton. We get clips sent to us every single day of all the teams and in the league and all the articles written about them. And then I go on a deeper dive after that. I pull up articles on different websites, I go on the team’s websites, I watch all their locker room interviews.

“We’re on calls with the players and the coaches every single week, then I get other players to call me where my group didn’t hear from. I can offer different things that could be helpful and useful.”