BTS of The Undefeated’s A Conversation With The President

Stan Verrett (L) had not met President Obama "until five minutes before we went on stage," he said. For three days earlier this week, Stan Verrett traded his Los Angeles SportsCenter anchor chair to prepare to play host and moderator for The Undefeated program A Conversation With The President: Sports, Race & Achievement. The interview with President Barack Obama was taped before an audience of students and invited guests at the Alumni Foundation Event Center on the campus of North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. The school is a leading Historically Black College and University (HBCU) established in 1891. The show aired on ESPN - and was livestreamed on The Undefeated's website - little more than four hours after the taping ended. Byron Pitts of ABC's Nightline interviewed Verrett afterward for a segment on the news program slated to air next week. Verrett relished the chance to ask President Obama to discuss the issues of mentorship of young African-American males, sports and social activism and more. He also introduced his mother, Dr. Joyce Verrett, to President Obama after the ESPN program ended. "It was sort of surreal when I first met him. He's someone whom I've admired from afar. But I hadn't actually met him until five minutes before we went on stage," said Verrett, who is in Bristol, Conn., this weekend to anchor ABC College Football Saturday from ESPN's studios. "So, this is definitely a highlight of my career." After the show, Stan Verrett discusses interviewing President Obama with ABC Nightline's Byron Pitts for a segment slated to air next week. Dr. Joyce Verrett, mother of Conversation host Stan Verrett, meets President Obama. Verrett (L) prepares for a rehearsal with The Undefeated's senior writer Justin Tinsley playing the role of President Obama. Before the rehearsal, (L-R) senior coordinating producer Michael Fountain, host and moderator Verrett and The Undefeated's EIC, Kevin Merida, meet. A banner welcomes President Obama and The Undefeated to North Carolina A&T.

Verrett (L) prepares for a rehearsal with The Undefeated’s senior writer Justin Tinsley playing the role of President Obama.

Related Articles