Few people see a football game quite like Sherree Burruss ’12. Whether she’s on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football or reporting from the sidelines of college games for ESPN, she transforms the chaos of game day into vivid stories that drop fans right into the action.
A typical workweek for Burruss is anything but nine to five. Burruss begins each week buried in research — studying teams, players, and trends in preparation for an upcoming matchup. The days leading up to kickoff are a whirlwind of meetings with coaches and her play-by-play analyst, where she works to uncover key storylines that will come to life once the game begins. “Most of the legwork is done before the game kicks off,” Burruss explains. “Once the game begins, it’s my role to use my senses and be observant of all the things happening on the sideline.”
Those sharp senses were honed years ago in the stands of none other than Camp Randall. As a UW student, Burruss spent countless Saturdays soaking in the sounds of “Jump Around,” the crisp scent of fall air, and the contagious energy pulsing through the stadium. Now, she may have traded bleachers for turf, but that Badger spirit still fuels her work. “I give my time at Wisconsin full credit for my career path and how I do it,” she says. “I remember the passion and excitement and try to channel the fandom for any fan base of news I’m trying to provide.”
Since leaving Madison, Burruss has reported from some of sports’ biggest stages — from the grueling chase for the 2018 Stanley Cup (which she considers the hardest trophy to win) to the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, where the Chiefs triumphed in overtime during her first time covering the big game. No matter the stakes, Burruss approaches every broadcast with the same goal: to highlight the human side of sports. “Not often can we relate to pro athletes,” she says. “So finding the ‘human’ element makes these incredible athletes relatable — and most appealing — to viewers. I try to find the story that would make any fan root for the player.”
Burruss may have Super Bowl stories now, but she had to earn her way to the top. She is quick to remind aspiring journalists that persistence is everything. “There’s a chance you’ll hear a lot of ‘no’ in your journey,” she admits. “Take it as a learning point, try not to get discouraged, and remember it takes just one person to say yes to give you a chance.”
That life-changing “yes” for Burruss came from a news director in Columbia, Missouri, who hired her a few months after graduation. From there, her knack for capturing the emotion and energy of sports propelled her into a successful reporting career. To today’s Badgers finding their own path, Burruss offers up a dose of tough love: “Take any job you can to get your foot in the door! Don’t be too picky. The more you can do and offer an employer, the more appealing you’ll be.”
From a cheering fan in the stands to a commanding voice on the sidelines, Sherree Burruss continues to embody the Wisconsin spirit and what it means to be a Badger. Whether she’s breaking the latest NFL news or keeping up with college athletes from the field, she’s doing what she’s always done best: telling stories that remind us why we love the game.
