ESPN’s Maria Taylor: College athletes are playing tonight for an audience of ONE

For college basketball fans, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

There were 64 teams competing in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tournament. Exciting play will come to and end soon, and ESPN and SEC Network commentator Maria Taylor will be there for the action.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Magazine profiles Taylor in the “6 Questions” feature of their newest issue, where she says that she finds her identity in Christ rather than in her high-profile occupation.

Over the past several weeks, Taylor has been at the biggest games that secured teams their spots in the bracket. She’s the one interviewing tense coaches just before halftime and jubilant players just as the buzzer sounds. And she’s ready for the “mad” tournament of March.

Taylor, a Georgia native, is also a reporter for ESPN’s “College GameDay” and ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” and was the host of “SEC Nation” from 2014 to 2017, as well as served as an ESPN sideline reporter. In college basketball, she is a host of “Big Monday” and the NCAA’s Women’s Final Four studio coverage. She is also an analyst on other SEC and ESPN telecasts, such as volleyball and women’s basketball.

“6 Questions with Maria Taylor”

My favorite Bible verse is: “Ephesians 2:10. It tells us that every person is a handiwork of God and that we were placed on this Earth to do works that He has already laid out for us.”

I intentionally bring my faith into my work by: “Always remembering that my job is not my identity. I find my identity in Christ.”

Something most people don’t know about being on TV is: “That there are hundreds of people who aren’t on-air talent that make the broadcast happen.”

The ministry of FCA is important because: “It reminds athletes that they are performing for an audience of ONE on and off the court or field and that there is nothing they can do or say to gain more love than they have already been given by Jesus.”

One piece of career advice I’d share is: “Choose a career path that matches the strengths that God has blessed you with. Everyone was put on this earth to serve a unique purpose. Find that and a career that helps you live out your purpose.”

One piece of spiritual advice I’d share with kids is: “Never stop praying. Even the shortest prayers can keep you close to God and relying on Him. When I find myself not praying as much I also find myself drifting away from God. But when I talk to God about everything I can feel Him working in my life and working on me.”