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The Rise of Kevin Sumlin
Outside the Lines (Sunday 8 a.m. ET, ESPN2)

In just two seasons, Kevin Sumlin has made a name for himself as Texas A&M head football. Guiding the Aggies through a challenging 9-4 year that included the Johnny Manziel saga, Sumlin earned A&M’s confidence and recently signed a six-year contract extension. As just the SEC’s third-ever African-American head football coach, Sumlin is aware of how his success could have an impact on those who follow in his footsteps and discusses his career with reporter Kelly Naqi.

Guests joining host Bob Ley: Turner Gill (Liberty University head coach, formerly Kansas head coach 2010–2011); Rod Gilmore (ESPN college football analyst); and Billy Liucci (Texags.com).

“I think any success that we have, I have, makes it easier to hire somebody that looks like me. Do you feel a little pressure in that? Sure, I’m not going to lie about that. You know, there’s, there’s only so many opportunities out there in the first place.” — Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M football coach

“I feel like Coach Sumlin is the guy for the future and the guy that can take this program somewhere that not many programs get a chance to go.” — Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M quarterback

 

Aaron Rodgers Raises Hope for Congo
Sunday NFL Countdown (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN)

Courtesy: Enough Project
Emmanuelle Chriqui, actress/friend of Rodgers, described to him the atrocities that civilians face in the Congo

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers achieved his ultimate goal by winning Super Bowl XLV, but felt he needed to make more of a profound impact in life beyond football. ESPN.com Senior Writer Greg Garber reports on how Rodgers found a global cause to champion: Raise Hope for Congo.

“I accomplished everything I wanted to do since I was a kid, and I kind of had a moment — I said to myself, ‘Is this it? Is there more to life than this?’ And the answer was resoundingly, ‘Yes.’” — Aaron Rodgers, on his internal thoughts hours after winning Super Bowl XLV

“I remember having a conversation with Aaron, saying to him, ‘Did you know that in the Congo they use rape as a weapon of warfare?’ And he’s like, ‘No.’” — Emmanuelle Chriqui, actress/friend of Rodgers, describing one of the atrocities that civilians face in the Congo

 

Jessica Jerome at Home with History
espnW.com

Bonnie D. Ford writes of Jessica Jerome, the Park City, Utah native who became the first U.S. woman to be named to an Olympic ski jumping team: “In 2011, when the International Olympic Committee scheduled its announcement regarding women’s ski jumping (on April 6, 2011 the IOC accepted the sport into the official 2014 Olympic program), Jessica Jerome realized she would be halfway around the world from Park City, on vacation in Thailand. She decided not to change her plans. “Maybe it’s better that I’m out of town, away from all the drama,” Jerome recalled thinking. Instead, she listened in from an Internet café and celebrated the news with her friends.”

 

ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael honored for career excellence in boxing journalism

“Boxing is my job, but also my hobby,” Dan Rafael says, and last Friday (Dec. 27) the ESPN.com senior writer was recognized for both when he was named the annual recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism.

The path toward achieving his profession’s highest honor began on Aug. 12, 1996 when Rafael covered his first professional fight for the “The Saratogian” at the Saratoga (N.Y.) City Center. A punch from Buddy McGirt sent blood flying from George Heckley, some reaching Rafael at ringside.

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