Interview with Jill Arrington
Charliy Nash
Tuesday April 17, 2001
Let me start off by saying that I’m not an experienced sports journalist, I just play one on the Internet – really I’m a total rookie. My approach to writing for ArenFan.com has been to try to find answers that fans want to know to the questions the rest of the media never seem to ask. One thing I had wondered last season is “What is Jill Arrington really like?” When the opportunity presented itself on opening night, I pulled out my trusty tape recorder and approached her. She graciously agreed to spend a few minutes with me in the midst of all the pre-game craziness. What is she like? Genuine. She’s not some “spokesmodel” standing there reading words off a teleprompter; she genuinely knows and loves football. She has a particular passion for Arena Football and its fans. I hope that comes across as well reading this transcript as it did speaking to her in person. And yes, she is definitely as pretty up close as she is on television.
 Jill Arrington in Tampa Bay during the 2000 season Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
CN: First, the question everyone’s been wondering since last year; is it serious with Ike the Mannequin or are you just friends?
JA: Oh, we’re just friends. I wonder if they’ll be showing up this year. I look forward to seeing that group of guys.
CN: I wonder if changing the name is going to help anything there.
JA: Yeah, I know. Well, we’ve made some adjustments. I think it’s great that we’re in some bigger cities and bigger markets. We’ve added some teams which I think is real exciting. I’m looking forward to going to these new places and developing some new rivalries.
CN: You’re working college games, NFL games, and AFL games. What differences or similarities have surprised you?
JA: It’s exciting covering football year round. That’s a big plus for me, so I’m thrilled to be doing that. I don’t know, they are different. Obviously the Arena League is different than the stadium-played game. I came back because I love the people. The league is great. The coaches and players are great to cover. I think that the fans in Arena Football are a lot of fun too, and you get to be so close to the field and so close to the fans that that’s a lot of fun to meet all of them and to really interact with them.
CN: How did you first get involved with Arena? Were you aware of it first or did TNN approach you?
JA: I think they must have seen some of my work when I was at Fox Sports covering some events there and hosting Under the Helmet for Fox. I knew of Arena Football when I went to school at the University of Miami. The Miami Hooters were down there, so I had been to a couple of those games. So I was aware of Arena Football. I wasn’t a close follower of it; didn’t realize how much it had grown, but when I met with them I was very excited to be a part of it.
CN: So how is life on the road, being away probably three days out of the week?
JA: Oh gosh yes. It’s interesting. Traveling is fun, but it can get old real quick. I’m starting right now my 42-consecutive weeks of traveling cross-country. I live out in LA, so it’s a lot of travel for me. But it’s fun and I like to go to new cities and meet new people and be near the action, so I look forward to it. I had two months off so I’m rested and ready to go.
CN: What is your typical schedule? Do you get in town two of three days before the game?
JA: Exactly. We come in a couple days before and we meet with the players and coaches, offense and defense, and go over game scripts and of course our broadcasting site as well. We do some rehearsals the day before, make sure everything’s all set up, and then here we are at game day.
 Arrington has earned the respect of her followers by asking the right questions Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
JA: I’m flattered, who doesn’t want to be called sexy? I didn’t have anything to do with the contest, obviously, and I chose not to pose for Playboy; that’s not something that fits my personality -- that I’d want to do. But I didn’t really think too much of it either way.
CN: Have your looks opened some doors, closed some doors?
JA: I don’t think really that what I look like has anything to do with the type of sportscaster that I am, or the type of job I can do. I’m sure in some instances, it’s television so image is important, and people want to look at pretty faces, so I’m sure that helps in some ways. At the same time you’ve got to know your stuff. I always say, I can get the interview but you’ve got to ask the right questions to get their respect.
CN: And the AFL broadcasts definitely give you the chance to show that you know your stuff.
JA: Oh yeah. The TNN broadcasts for me and covering the Arena League has really helped me with being able to do more live work in the spring and summer, and that’s something that we all can use. It helps all broadcasters. So I really look forward to doing that and being out there. And again, you’re working with a great group of people. TNN has a whole new image this year, so I’m excited to be a part of their new image and helping them with that, and of course to keep growing the Arena Football League.
CN: Did the XFL try to recruit you?
JA: Oh they sure did. They recruited me quite steadily. It was a tough decision to make, being on NBC on a national broadcast, and again I could have continued to do the football, it kind of worked out time-wise, but I thought about it and it was a decision I decided with myself and my agent that I would turn down and decided not to do it. I’m excited just to be back with the Arena League.
CN: What would be your ideal arena game?
JA: I’ll tell you that Arena Bowl last year was pretty exciting. It doesn’t get much better than those two rivals, between Nashville and Orlando. It’s hard to say. I enjoy a lot of the different cities that we go to. Phoenix has a great atmosphere there; they always pack the house. Of course Tampa and Orlando and Nashville are always great crowds to work in. So it’s hard to pick a favorite or two favorite teams because they’re all so good. I just like to see how things unfold and the best two teams get in it.
CN: Anything you want to tell the fans?
JA: Oh, I just think they need to come out and check out the new cities, the new teams. Gosh, it’s going to be an exciting year! With the growth we’ve had in the offseason, I’m real excited to be a part of it this year and I hope they’ll come join us.
Charliy Nash has covered both incarnations of the Nashville Kats, and now has make the 2 hour drive to Huntsville for an Arena Football fix. He also covers the Tennessee Titans as a blogger for nfl.com and still hopes this will eventually lead to a paying gig.
