An eye-opening voyage along the Eastern Seaboard aboard a U.S. Navy submarine is the centerpiece of the annual SportsCenter Veterans Day Special Presented by USAA that debuts tonight at 6:30 ET on ESPN.
In the 30-minute program, which is part of a week of Veterans Week-related initiatives on ESPN platforms, reporter Jeremy Schaap and an ESPN film crew board the USS New Jersey as it makes its maiden voyage. The submarine departed from Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey and traveled south to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
“I reached out to Naval Submarine Base New London with an idea to shoot a day in the life feature for our special,” said Tom Engle, a producer for SportsCenter, who has overseen the production of the Veterans Week special content for several years.
“They directed me to the USS New Jersey, which had just been commissioned,” he said. “I was able to coordinate a schedule with the public affairs officer of the ship, and we embarked on its maiden voyage as a commissioned U.S. submarine.”
Schaap was asked if he had any fears or trepidations before the trip.
“I’d say mostly I was excited, but knowing we would be incommunicado for an indefinite amount of time gave me pause,” he said. “I can’t remember the last time I was without any connection to the world wide web, or cell service, or, for that matter, a landline.
“I was probably most anxious about the sleeping situation,” he said. “Fortunately, I am not claustrophobic, but I am definitely ‘sleeping-in-top-rack-in-miniature-room-with-five-other-people’ phobic. Exhaustion won out, though.”
Engle relayed Schaap’s initial reaction when hearing about the voyage.
“When I called Jeremy, I started the conversation by telling him I have an opportunity for him to do something that he has never done in his career,” he said. “His response was, ‘I’m intrigued; you have my full attention.’ He was so excited about the opportunity and did a tremendous job.”
The ESPN guests interacted with Commander Steve Halle and other crew members on the Virginia-class sub during the two-night trip, and viewers will get an inside look at the life aboard.
“Anyone who has spent a couple of days on a sub could only emerge from the experience with profound respect for the people who choose this life,” Schaap said. “It is not easy. It exacts an enormous toll physically and emotionally. Our submariners do it because we need them to.”
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