BRISTOL, Conn. — Growing up in Cranberry Township, Steve Braband lived for watching ESPN.

For the past year, he's been making a living behind the scenes as a program coordinator. Starting this week, others are watching him.

Braband, 25, has been appearing in a series of commercial spots that are shot live and unscripted to promote the network's upcoming live weekday morning version of its popular news and highlights show, "SportsCenter."

"They held auditions and over 200 people from the company were interested," said Braband, a 2001 graduate of Seneca Valley. "They sent a companywide e-mail, then they picked 15 out of 160, then narrowed it down and I got the job."

ESPN decided to have a fresh, updated morning studio show instead of rerunning the 2 a.m. show from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In the spots, Braband is performing duties at home or at the office with a clock around his neck displaying the time remaining before the new morning show debuts Aug. 11.

Braband will appear in at least 25 30-second spots a day over a two-week period, which will be between 350 to 400 live ads.

The idea of being part of that was very appealing to Braband, who was a linebacker and tight end for the Raiders.

"After talking to a casting agency and ESPN, they said they were looking for someone as a fan and someone who did not look like they were acting in front of the camera," said Braband.

"I was thinking if it happens, that's awesome. If not, it was real sweet anyway. I want to take a chance to further my career,"Braband added.

Braband aspires to be on camera at ESPN on a regular basis, although not in the usual way.

"I think I'm more suited for stuff not as formal as a news broadcaster. I see myself doing fun stuff, not 9-to-5 at a desk,"Braband said.

Which is basically what he does now in his regular gig at the network.

"It's 9-to-5 in a cubicle," said Braband. "I make schedule changes, make sure things are in order, schedule with planners."

Being on camera live is ideal for Braband's personality, which helped him get the air time, as well as possessing the background that helped him prepare for it.

"The people here have been phenomenal," said Braband. "Also, being at Clarion University, we had a student-run television station and the students decided what was on the air, and that was huge.

"I was able to learn on the fly at Clarion," Braband added.

The communications major served an internship at KDKAradio while waiting tables.

Braband eventually became a producer at the station for 1Z\x years before going to ESPN.

He landed the job of program coordinator by "being very persistent. Some might say I came across as pretty annoying.,"Braband said.

Braband, who resides in Southington, Conn., feels like a fish out of water after being away from Pittsburgh and on the turf of one of the Steelers' biggest rivals.

"I'm tired of being stuck in New England Patriots territory,"said Braband, who also misses the snow cones at Cranberry Township Community Park. "I try to promote the 'Burgh the best I can."

That's another benefit of Braband's on-air work. Because the spots are unscripted, he's free to incorporate anything he chooses, including his love for his home region.

But on the air, anything can happen. Braband loves that.

"It's shot live, so if I stutter or fall, that's what happens," said Braband. "We discuss what's important in the sports world before we go on, then 1-2-3, the camera is ready to roll and I try to rock."