Exclusive: First look at Finebaum’s two days with Apple CEO Tim Cook

In 2015, Apple CEO Tim Cook famously said, “The sidelines are not where you want to live your life. The world needs you in the arena.”

It’s unconfirmed whether he was thinking of Jordan-Hare Stadium when he delivered that quote, but ESPN’s Paul Finebaum spent two days with the Auburn alum hoping to find out.

Today, SEC Network, ESPN’s television network devoted to the Southeastern Conference, announced the debut of a new special entitled Homecoming. Hosted by Finebaum, the network will air features periodically throughout the year highlighting notable SEC alumni returning to their schools.

In the debut episode (see highlight clip above) airing on Tuesday, Sept. 5 (8 p.m. ET), Finebaum visits Auburn University with Cook, who with a degree in Industrial Engineering and has been the CEO of Apple Inc since 2011.

“Despite being the best known and most influential CEO in America – if not the world, Tim [Cook] is transformed while walking on the Auburn campus,” said Finebaum.

What’s next for Finebaum’s Homecoming?

“That has been both an exciting and arduous challenge,” said Finebaum. “With lead producer Mark Kubiak, we have scoured hundreds of possibilities. We are looking to get out of the normal demographic and find voices that resonate but don’t necessarily scream their school or the conference. Think politicians, artists, and actors.”