In a new series profiling alumni media professionals, Breland Moore, KLN '14, explains her meteoric rise through the sports broadcasting world. It dates back to her humble beginnings doing morning announcements in middle school and runs right through her time at Temple. She considers her experience at the university a crucial aspect of her current success as a sports broadcaster at FOX 29.
For as long as she can remember, Breland Moore, KLN '14, wanted to be a sports broadcaster. She recalls wanting to marry her inquisitive nature with her love of sports and eagerness to talk to people. As she grew up, she became increasingly determined to make a career out of her passion, something she couldn't have done without her experiences at Temple University. Currently a sports broadcaster for Philly's own FOX 29 and a recipient of Temple's prestigious 30 Under 30 Award, she looks back at the essential skills and connections she honed for four years, and the advice and humility she now has to offer to current students in the same spot she was nearly a decade ago.
Breland became involved in broadcasting in middle school, eager to do the morning announcements and drawn to being in front of the camera. "I was never a math or science kid," jokes Breland. "I was definitely an English kid, who loved to ask questions to anyone who was willing to give an answer." Growing up, her passion lay in the sports world. This passion for sports became something that Breland and her grandfather bonded over. Traveling with him to games and sharing the excitement with someone she loved was even more of a catalyst to propel her passion in the field.
By the time she reached Temple, she was laser-focused on getting involved in as many extracurriculars as she could. She joined Temple News, Owl Sports Update and the Office of Sustainability as well as securing two internships. She even donned the uniform of our mascot, Hooter, for four years. She was determined to use her time here to expand her network and connect with as many people as possible.
It may come as a surprise to many, but being Hooter for four years was one of the best networking opportunities Breland could've had. It became an important part of her identity while at Temple. Not only was it naturally fun and exciting because it allowed her to travel to games and other events, but it also opened up many doors for her. She says, "You're in the costume, but you also show up and get to meet media people and alumni. Just to have that face-to-face conversation, you'd be surprised at how many connections I was able to build off of it."
With those connections in hand, Breland was excited to get to work following graduation in May 2014. She landed jobs in Allentown, Rochester and Kansas City, before learning about an opening back in the City of Brotherly Love, at FOX 29. Breland instantly jumped at the chance to return to her hometown, and thanks to not only her resume but her connection to Temple, she landed a position as a sports broadcaster in May 2021. She's been there ever since.
"If you know yourself and you apply yourself, you can be anything you want to be." –Breland
Living your dream isn't always easy. She says constantly starting over was taxing on her, as it would be on anyone. However, she found that this made her resolve even stronger. She learned a lot about herself, personally and professionally, in the process. Despite it all, she remains humble and focused, adding, "You have to go through a lot to make it in this industry. It takes a lot of heart and hustle. Blood, sweat and tears. It's not just gonna be handed to you. But it's so worth it in the end if you just trust yourself and the path you know is intended for you."
What would she tell her younger self after this lengthy journey back to her hometown? "I would absolutely tell myself to just relax! There's so much pressure and competition. I think that takes a level of maturity and just a level of life experience that I didn't have in college." Breland can see the anxiety among the kids and students she mentors, and how the pressure to compare themselves to others has hit an apex in the current environment. "You just have to relax and focus on your own journey. Just be patient and trust your own process. If you know yourself and you apply yourself, you can be anything you want to be."
Being a Temple alumna has been a crucial aspect of Breland's success. "It's such a wonderful network; it's almost family-like where we take care of our own." Moving through the ranks in her career, her experience with Temple has been an invaluable resource. "The benefits are massive. It's hard to even put into words how much the alumni network has helped me and I know has helped other people through the decade I've been around."
Thinking back to her time at Temple, she remembers feeling immediately at home as a freshman. "It was such a melting pot; everyone's intermixing and everyone's friends with everyone." That sense of belonging and that anyone could "find their people here" quickly became a core memory for her. And she did find her people. She says that while she still has some friends from high school, her main group of long-term friends is from Temple. "Besides the education and the tangible takeaways, the best thing to come out of Temple were these lifelong friendships."
"Besides the education and the tangible takeaways, the best thing to come out of Temple were these lifelong friendships." –Breland
As for what her favorite food on campus was, she raves about Temple Teppanyaki, the Japanese and Korean food truck. "I will never stop shouting these people out! They kept me alive, my whole existence at Temple!" Whenever she finds herself back on campus, she still visits the truck to this day, and you can usually find her ordering a #2 noodle or #4 noodle order.
The past few months have been a whirlwind in the Philly sports world, with the Phillies in the World Series and the Eagles with a 13-1 record. "The past month or so was an insane time to work and was a lot of hard work, but those are the moments you dream of as a kid. These are the teams I grew up rooting for. It's hard to put into words exactly how special it has been."
Catch Breland on Fox 29 as the Eagles continue to push forward this season. You can also find her on social media.