Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

Archives for July 2009

Boxing After Dark tripleheader Aug. 22 on HBO

By

HBO SPORTS HOSTS THREE SIZZLING SHOWDOWNS WHEN

HBO BOXING AFTER DARK®:  JUAN DIAZ VS. PAULIE MALIGNAGGI,

MALCOLM KLASSEN VS. ROBERT GUERRERO AND

DANNY JACOBS VS. ISHE SMITH IS SEEN SATURDAY, AUG. 22

HBO Sports hosts three sizzling showdowns in the Texas heat when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK:  JUAN DIAZ VS. PAULIE MALIGNAGGI, MALCOLM KLASSEN VS. ROBERT GUERRERO AND DANNY JACOBS VS. ISHE SMITH is presented SATURDAY, AUG. 22 at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT), from the Toyota Center in Houston, exclusively on HBO.  The HBO Sports team of Bob Papa, Lennox Lewis and Max Kellerman will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates:  Aug. 23 (9:00 a.m.) and 24 (12:20 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Aug. 23 (4:00 p.m.) and 25 (11:00 p.m.)

In the main event, Houston hometown hero and former lightweight champion Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) takes on Brooklyn native and former junior welterweight champ Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (26-2, 5 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round junior welterweight bout.  The 25-year-old Diaz is a seasoned professional who won a lightweight title from Lakva Sim in 2004 and successfully defended his crown in eight subsequent bouts, including a unification showdown with Julio Diaz.  Impressively, he did all this while attending the University of Houston downtown campus, and received his degree earlier this year.  Now, he looks to rebound from his loss to the formidable Juan Manuel Marquez last February in a fight that thrilled the boxing world.

Malignaggi, 28, is no stranger to championship competition, having dethroned junior welterweight champ Lovemore N’dou to win a title in 2007.  He followed this impressive performance with two successful title defenses, then lost a high-profile showdown with hard-hitting British star Ricky Hatton last November.

The co-main event is a 12-round bout that features current super featherweight titleholder Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KOs) of South Africa defending his belt against west coast native Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KOs), who’s looking to add a second weight class to his championship repertoire.  A ten-year veteran, Klassen’s resume includes a victory over Manuel Medina and a TKO of fellow South African Cassius Baloyi, which earned him the 130-pound crown.  Challenging Klassen is two-time featherweight champ Robert Guerrero.  The 26-year-old Guerrero, from Gilroy, Cal., seeks to maintain his high percentage of KO triumphs.

The opening bout showcases another New Yorker, as Brooklyn’s Danny Jacobs (17-0, 15 KOs) takes on the more-experienced Ishe Smith (21-3, 9 KOs) in a ten-round middleweight bout.  A rising prospect in the middleweight division, the 22-year-old Jacobs is making waves in the boxing community with his exceptional knockout power, having scored nine of his 15 KOs in the first round.  Hailing from Las Vegas, Smith, 31, appeared on the boxing reality series “The Contender” and now hopes to hand Jacobs the first loss of his promising career.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Mike Sheehan.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

ESPN 2009 College Football Schedule Announced

By

Extensive College Football Schedule Features More Than 400 Games from Sept. 3 through the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi Jan. 1 and Citi BCS National Championship Game Jan. 7

Beginning of Landmark 15-year Agreement with the Southeastern Conference


ESPN’s 2009 college football schedule will feature more than 400 regular- and postseason games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN Radio, ESPN Classic, ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN GamePlan, ESPN’s outermarket pay-per-view service.

The season will begin with the second annual Dick’s Sporting Goods Kickoff Week (Monday, Aug. 31-Monday, Sept. 7) featuring extensive studio programming and 28 games on Labor Day Weekend, including Labor Day and will conclude Jan. 7 with the Citi BCS National Championship at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN Radio.

Regular-season coverage will conclude with Championship Saturday (Dec. 5) and include three conference championships — the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game, which will move from an afternoon kickoff to prime time on ESPN and ESPN360.com, the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Game in prime time on ABC and the Conference USA Championship Game on ESPN or ESPN2 and ESPN360.com — and three BIG EAST games that could play a role in the conference title. ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will televise the Marathon MAC Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m.

Schedule highlights include (the majority of game selections will generally be made 12 or six days before the date as the season progresses):

  • the Citi BCS National Championship Game on ABC Jan. 7, the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi Jan. 1 on ABC and the addition of the Texas Bowl to ESPN’s highly rated Capital One Bowl Week Dec. 31 on ESPN;
  • the first year of a landmark 15-year agreement with the SEC providing ESPN rights to televise every game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) across multiple ESPN entities;
  • Saturday primetime action highlighted by Saturday Night Football on ABC, weekly games on ESPN and ESPN2 and the first year of ESPNU’s Saturday SEC primetime game;
  • Weekly ESPN Thursday primetime telecasts, including the first Thursday night game ever from North Carolina and Oregon and first from Missouri since 1992, plus ESPNU Thursday night matchups;
  • Saturday afternoon games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, including the return of “reverse mirrors” featuring ABC split national games offered regionally on ESPN or ESPN2 and ESPN360.com;
  • more than 325 games on ESPN360.com, including approximately 40 exclusive games; a weekly broadcast on ESPN Radio; ESPN Mobile TV simulcasts; ESPN Regional Television syndication; extensive ESPN GamePlan schedule; and select games on ESPN Classic;
  • every ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 telecast and all live Thursday and Saturday ESPNU games produced in high definition.

BCS National Championship Highlights Schedule of 30 Bowls

ESPN on ABC will offer extensive coverage of the Citi BCS National Championship Game from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, Jan. 7 on ABC. In addition to the National Championship, ABC will televise the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi Friday, Jan. 1. For the first time, ESPN will televise the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

Overall, ESPN will present 30 bowl games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. ESPN and ESPN2 will televise 24 bowl games, highlighted by Capital One Bowl Week, one of ESPN’s most-viewed weeks of the year, from Dec. 19 – Jan. 2. ESPN Radio will broadcast 19 bowl games, including all five BCS matchups. ESPNU, ESPN2 and ESPN will also offer extensive coverage of the NCAA playoff contests from the Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III (Dec. 5-19).

Beginning next season, ESPN will televise all five games of the BCS – including the National Championship Game – as the result of an agreement with the BCS. It will include the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls each season and the BCS National Championship Game in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Through a separate agreement, ESPN will also televise the Rose Bowl Game beginning in 2011.


New Agreement with SEC

This year will mark the first of ESPN’s landmark 15-year agreement – the longest national rights agreement in ESPN history – with the SEC resulting in an ESPN entity televising every conference home football game (excluding those on the network broadcast package).

ESPN and ESPN2 will televise an extensive schedule of 20 games annually, ESPNU will add an exclusive package of SEC football for the first time, including a Saturday game of the week (generally in primetime); ESPN Regional Television will become the official over-the-air syndication home for the SEC and feature a game of the week; ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV will provide live national simulcasts; and ESPN GamePlan, ESPN’s out-of-market college football pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action outside the local territory from the syndicated and regional cable packages.

Weekly Windows

The networks will offer an extensive schedule of games each Saturday as well as matchups every Thursday and Friday and on select Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. Highlights include:

· ESPN on ABC: ESPN on ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Southwest Airlines, broadcast television’s first-ever weekly college football primetime series, will highlight the network’s 44th season of college football coverage with showdowns between top programs every Saturday at 8 p.m. (except Sept. 12 and Oct. 17). The series will kickoff with Alabama vs. Virginia Tech in a showdown of top power programs from Atlanta, Ga. September 5. In addition to Saturday Night Football, ABC will continue to broadcast top matchups every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and select Saturdays at noon involving teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, ACC and BIG EAST.

Last year’s Saturday night series — the highest rated and most-viewed college football window on television – averaged a 4.9 rating, 5,651,000 households and 8,001,000 total viewers for increases of 20 percent (vs. 4.1), 22 percent (vs. 4,644,000) and 24 percent (vs. 6,442,000) over the previous year.

· Saturdays on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU: ESPNU’s Saturday schedule will be highlighted by an exclusive SEC primetime game for the first time (generally at 7 p.m.). On most Saturdays, ESPN will offer a noon and 7:45 p.m. game, ESPN2 a noon and 7 p.m. telecast, and a “reverse mirror” (see below) of ABC’s 3:30 p.m. split national broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2, while ESPNU will offer four telecasts generally at noon, 3:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

· Weekdays: In addition to a weekly Friday primetime series on ESPN or ESPN2, the networks will offer games on select Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the season.

· “Reverse Mirrors”: As many as 11 Saturday afternoon windows will feature ABC’s split national telecasts offered regionally on ESPN or ESPN2 and ESPN360.com to markets that are getting another game on ABC.

Thursday Night Firsts

ESPN’s highly-rated Thursday night series will originate from two new venues this year: the University of North Carolina (vs. Florida State, Oct. 22) and Oregon (vs. Oregon State in the annual Civil War Game, Dec. 3). The three Big 12 home games will mark the most for the conference on an ESPN Thursday night telecast in a season and the first for Missouri since 1992 and Oklahoma State since 1996.

In addition to ESPN, ESPNU will air a weekly Thursday night game. Both will generally begin at 7:30 p.m. For the second consecutive year, every ESPN telecast will feature a team from one of the six BCS automatic qualifying conferences. The schedule will be highlighted by a season-opening doubleheader pitting South Carolina at N.C. State followed by Oregon at Boise State (Sept. 3); Ole Miss, the only team to defeat eventual National Champion Florida last year, at South Carolina (Sept. 24); and Texas at Texas A&M on Thanksgiving for the second straight year (Nov. 26).

ESPN360.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN GamePlan and ESPN Classic

ESPN will provide extensive coverage across multiple platforms in addition to a regular time slots on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

· ESPN360.com: In addition to approximately 40 exclusive games, ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband network, will offer simulcasts of every ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic and ABC split national telecast, and every GamePlan pay-per-view game.

· ESPN Radio: ESPN Radio, ESPN’s national radio network – with more than 750 non-duplicative stations reaching more than 20 million listeners – will broadcast a weekly game as well as a minimum of 14 post-season bowl games.

· ESPN Mobile TV: For the third year, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN’s first 24/7 channel for wireless platforms available on MediaFLO USA’s mobile entertainment service FLO TV and on multiple carriers via MobiTV, will simulcast approximately five games a week from ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. In addition to live game coverage, ESPN Mobile TV will provide highlights, news and updates via ESPNEWS and other news and information programming.

· ESPN Regional Television: the nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming and the new syndication home for the SEC will produce more than 40 games from the SEC, BIG EAST, MAC and WAC.

· ESPN GamePlan: ESPN’s outermarket pay-per-view service will offer season-long action including 10 unique games each week.

· ESPN Classic: The network will televise select games throughout the season.

High Definition

Every ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 game and every live Thursday and Saturday ESPNU telecast will be provided in high definition on ABC HD, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNU HD, respectively. This marks the first year every game in the split national window on ABC will be produced in high definition. ESPN, ESPN2 and the majority of ABC telecasts have been produced in high definition since 2006 while ESPNU has offered its Thursday and Saturday games since 2008.

Every Corner Covered Through ESPN and ABC Outlets

In addition to game coverage, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN Classic, ESPN Radio and ESPN Mobile TV will provide news and features throughout the season, including those on popular studio programs College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, the daily College Football Live, College Football Final and College Football Countdown. ESPN’s multiple media outlets — ESPN.com, ESPNEWS, ESPN MVP on Verizon and ESPN The Magazine – will also offer extensive season-long coverage.

For the third consecutive year, ESPN will be the only network to offer coverage of home games from all six of the BCS automatic qualifying conferences (SEC, Big Ten, ACC, BIG EAST, Pac-10 and Big 12) in addition to the MAC, WAC, Conference USA and Sun Belt. ESPN will also televise road games featuring Notre Dame and teams from the Mountain West Conference.

Story-Line Games to Watch/Listen to (from Games Already Selected)

Game

Network, Date and Time (ET)

Storyline

Oregon at Boise St.

ESPN / ESPN360.com, Thu., Sept. 3, at 10:15 p.m.

Defending WAC champion Boise State finished last year’s regular season undefeated, including a 37-32 victory over Oregon which finished at 10-3.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Cowboys Classic Presented By Hampton Hotels: Oklahoma vs. BYU (From Cowboys Stadium)

ESPN / ESPN360.com, Sat., Sept. 5, at 7 p.m.

First college football game from new Dallas Cowboys stadium features second meeting ever between perennial powers. BYU won the first 31-6 in the 1994 Copper Bowl.

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Presented By Southwest Airlines from Atlanta)

ABC / ESPN Radio, Sat., Sept. 5 at 8 p.m.

SEC power Alabama, which returns to open the season at the Georgia Dome following 34-10 victory over Clemson last year, takes on defending ACC Champion Virginia Tech.

Grambling St. vs. South Carolina St. (from Orlando, The MEAC•SWAC Challenge)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com, Sun., Sept. 6, at

2 p.m.

Fifth annual event pits MEAC defending champion South Carolina State against 2008 SWAC title winner Grambling State for the first time since 1994.

Miami at Florida State

ESPN / ESPN360.com, Mon., Sept. 7, at

8 p.m.

Special Monday night college football telecast (one week before ESPN’s Monday Night Football kickoff) marks the first time the intrastate ACC rivals have played on Labor Day since 2006, which was ESPN’s most-viewed college football game ever – regular-and post-season — with 6,330,000 households (based on a 6.9 rating).

USC at Ohio St.

ESPN / ESPN360.com, Sat., Sept. 12, at

8 p.m.

USC defeated Ohio State 35-3 last year in Los Angeles, their sixth consecutive win against the Buckeyes.

Utah at Oregon

ESPN / ESPN360.com, Sat., Sept. 19, at 3:30 p.m.

Perennial Pac-10 power Oregon goes from defending WAC champion Boise State in the opening weekend to defending MWC champion Utah, the only undefeated Division I team last year.

Texas Tech at Texas

ABC, Sat., Sept. 19, at 8 p.m.

Last season’s thrilling matchup featured Texas Tech defeating then-#1 Texas on a last-second touchdown pass, giving Texas its only loss of the season.

Ole Miss at South Carolina

ESPN / ESPN360.com, Thu., Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m.

Heisman Trophy candidate QB Jevan Snead leads Ole Miss, an early favorite to compete for the SEC title, against South Carolina, led by legendary coach Steve Spurrier.

Iowa at Penn St.

ABC or ESPN, Sat., Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.

Iowa, which has won six of the past seven games against Penn State, was the only team to beat the Nittany Lions in the regular season last year with a 24-23 victory on a last-second field goal.

Oklahoma vs. Texas (from Dallas, Texas)

ABC, Sat., Oct. 17, at noon

Texas has won three of last four against Oklahoma, including a 45-35 victory over last year’s National Championship Game squad. Heisman Trophy-winning QB Sam Bradford will lead Oklahoma while Heisman Trophy runner-up QB Colt McCoy will lead Texas.

Oregon St. at USC

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2,

Sat., Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.

Oregon State handed USC its only loss of the season last year with a 27-21 victory in Corvallis. USC went on to defeat Penn State 38-24 in the Rose Bowl Game while Oregon State beat Pittsburgh 3-0 in the Sun Bowl.

Other Top Matchups (From Games Already Selected)

Date

Time

Game

Network

Sat., Sept. 5

3:30 p.m. ET

Georgia at Oklahoma State

ABC and ESPN2

3:30 p.m. ET

Missouri vs. Illinois (from St. Louis)

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Sept. 12

noon ET

Fresno State at Wisconsin

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Michigan

ABC

4 p.m.

UCLA at Tennessee

ESPN / ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

South Carolina at Georgia

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Sept. 19

noon ET

East Carolina at North Carolina

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Nebraska at Virginia Tech

ABC / ESPN360.com

Arizona at Iowa

ABC / ESPN360.com

Fri., Sept. 25

9 p.m. ET

Missouri at Nevada

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Sept. 26

8 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Purdue

ABC or ESPN

9:15 p.m. ET

Texas Tech at Houston

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Oct. 3

TBD

Oklahoma at Miami

ESPN Radio

Thu., Oct. 8

9 p.m. ET

Nebraska at Missouri

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Oct. 9

9 p.m. ET

Louisiana Tech at Nevada

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Oct. 17

TBD

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech

ESPN Radio

Fri., Oct. 30

8 p.m. ET

West Virginia at South Florida

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu., Nov. 5

7:30 p.m. ET

Virginia Tech at East Carolina

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Thu., Dec. 3

9 p.m. ET

Oregon State at Oregon

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Dec. 5

TBD

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2

2009 ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com, ESPN Classic, ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN Radio College Football Schedule

Note: All ABC split national, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic games will be simulcast on ESPN360.com.

(ESPN Mobile TV schedule will be determined as season progresses; schedule subject to change;

windows may be added as the season progresses)

Date

Time (ET)

Game

Network

Thu., Sept. 3

7 p.m. ET

South Carolina at N.C. State

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

7:30 p.m. ET

North Texas at Ball State

ESPNU

10:15 p.m. ET

Oregon at Boise State

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Fri., Sept. 4

8 p.m. ET

Tulsa at Tulane

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Sat., Sept. 5

noon ET

Navy at Ohio State

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

noon ET

Minnesota at Syracuse

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

Kentucky vs. Miami (Ohio) [From Cincinnati]

ESPNU

1 p.m. ET

Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech

ESPN360.com

2 p.m. ET

Northeastern at Boston College

ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Georgia at Oklahoma State

ABC / ESPN360.com

Western Michigan at Michigan *

ABC / ESPN360.com

Baylor at Wake Forest *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Jackson State at Mississippi State

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

Missouri vs. Illinois

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

6 p.m. ET

Middle Tennessee at Clemson

ESPN360.com

6 p.m. ET

William & Mary at Virginia

ESPN360.com

6 p.m. ET

The Citadel at North Carolina

ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

Dick’s Sporting Goods Cowboys Classic Presented By Hampton Hotels: Oklahoma vs. BYU (From Cowboys Stadium)

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio / ESPN Mobile TV

7 p.m. ET

Louisiana Tech at Auburn

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Presented By Southwest Airlines: Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (from Atlanta)

ABC / ESPN Radio

10 p.m. ET

Maryland at California

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

LSU at Washington

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

10:30 p.m. ET

Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern ^

ESPNU

Sun., Sept. 6

2 p.m. ET

Grambling State vs. South Carolina St. (from Orlando, The MEAC•SWAC Challenge)

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Mississippi at Memphis

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Mon., Sept. 7

4 p.m. ET

Cincinnati at Rutgers

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

8 p.m. ET

Miami at Florida State

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Thu., Sept. 10

7:30 p.m. ET

Clemson at Georgia Tech

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

7:30 p.m. ET

Florida A&M at Winston-Salem State

ESPNU

Fri. Sept. 11

9 p.m. ET

Colorado at Toledo

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Sat., Sept. 12

noon ET

Fresno State at Wisconsin

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

Central Michigan at Michigan State

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

North Carolina at Connecticut

ESPNU

1:30 p.m. ET

Marshall at Virginia Tech

ESPN360.com

2 p.m. ET

Kent State at Boston College

ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Michigan

ABC

3:30 p.m. ET

BYU at Tulane

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TCU at Virginia

ESPNU

4 p.m. ET

UCLA at Tennessee

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

6 p.m. ET

Jacksonville State at Florida State

ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

South Carolina at Georgia

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

7 p.m. ET

Vanderbilt at LSU

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

USC at Ohio State

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

10:30 p.m. ET

Utah at San Jose State

ESPNU

Thu., Sept. 17

7:30 p.m. ET

Georgia Tech at Miami

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

7:30 p.m. ET

Howard at Florida A&M

ESPNU

Fri., Sept. 18

9 p.m. ET

Boise State at Fresno State

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Sept. 19

noon ET

East Carolina at North Carolina

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

California at Minnesota

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

Louisville at Kentucky

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

USC at Washington

ABC / ESPN360.com

Nebraska at Virginia Tech *

ABC / ESPN360.com

Arizona at Iowa *

ABC / ESPN360.com

Reverse Mirror of ABC: Nebraska at Virginia Tech and Arizona at Iowa

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Utah at Oregon

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

3:30 p.m. ET

Indiana at Akron

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

Middle Tennessee at Maryland

ESPN360.com

6 p.m. ET

Navy at Pittsburgh

ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

Louisiana-Lafayette at LSU

ESPNU

7:45 p.m. ET

Georgia at Arkansas

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

West Virginia at Auburn

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

8 p.m. ET

Texas Tech at Texas

ABC

10:30 p.m. ET

Hampton at North Carolina A&T ^

ESPNU

Thu., Sept. 24

7:30 p.m. ET

Mississippi at South Carolina

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Fri., Sept. 25

9 p.m. ET

Missouri at Nevada

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile TV

Sat., Sept. 26

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

California at Oregon

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

6 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Purdue

ABC or ESPN **

8 p.m. ET

Iowa at Penn State

ABC or ESPN **

9:15 p.m. ET

Texas Tech at Houston

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD ^

ESPNU

TBD

Miami at Virginia Tech

ESPN Radio

Wed., Sept. 30

8 p.m. ET

Hawaii at Louisiana Tech

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu., Oct. 1

7:30 p.m. ET

Colorado at West Virginia

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Alcorn State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

ESPNU

Fri., Oct. 2

8 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh at Louisville

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Oct. 3

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

noon ET

TBD

ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

USC at California

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

Oklahoma at Miami

ESPN Radio

Tue., Oct. 6

8 p.m. ET

Middle Tennessee at Troy

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu., Oct. 8

7 p.m. ET

Colgate at Princeton

ESPNU

9 p.m. ET

Nebraska at Missouri

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Oct. 9

9 p.m. ET

Louisiana Tech at Nevada

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Oct. 10

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

noon ET

TBD

ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Michigan at Iowa

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

Auburn at Arkansas

ESPN Radio

Tue., Oct. 13

8 p.m. ET

Arkansas State at Louisiana-Monroe

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Wed., Oct. 14

8 p.m. ET

Boise State at Tulsa

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Thu., Oct. 15

7:30 p.m. ET

Cincinnati at South Florida

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Howard at Morgan State

ESPNU

Fri., Oct. 16

8 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh at Rutgers

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Sat., Oct. 17

noon ET

Oklahoma vs. Texas (from Dallas, Texas)

ABC

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

6 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

9:15 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech

ESPN Radio

Wed., Oct. 21

8 p.m. ET

Tulsa at UTEP

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Thu., Oct. 22

7:30 p.m. ET

Prairie View A&M at Southern

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

Florida State at North Carolina

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Oct. 23

8 p.m. ET

Rutgers at Army

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Oct. 24

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Oregon State at USC

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

Clemson at Miami

ESPN Radio

Tue., Oct. 27

8 p.m. ET

East Carolina at Memphis

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu., Oct. 29

7:30 p.m. ET

North Carolina at Virginia Tech

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Oct. 30

8 p.m. ET

West Virginia at South Florida

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat. Oct. 31

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

Michigan at Illinois *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

4:30 p.m. ET

Penn State at Northwestern

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

USC at Oregon

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

8 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

Ole Miss at Auburn

ESPN Radio

Sun., Nov. 1

8:15 p.m. ET

Marshall at UCF

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Tue., Nov. 3

7 p.m. ET

Bowling Green at Buffalo

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu, Nov. 5

7:30 p.m. ET

Virginia Tech at East Carolina

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Nov. 6

8 p.m. ET

Boise State at Louisiana Tech

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Nov. 7

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

USC at Arizona State

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN Radio **

8 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

Sun., Nov. 8

8:15 p.m. ET

Nevada at San Jose State

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Tue., Nov. 10

7 p.m. ET

Ohio at Buffalo

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Wed., Nov. 11

8 p.m. ET

Toledo at Central Michigan

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu., Nov. 12

6 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

South Florida at Rutgers

ESPN / ESPN360.com

9 p.m. ET

Texas Southern at Grambling State

ESPNU

Fri., Nov. 13

8 p.m. ET

West Virginia at Cincinnati

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Temple at Akron

ESPNU

Sat., Nov. 14

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

noon ET

TBD

ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD – reverse mirror *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

Florida at South Carolina

ESPN Radio

Sun., Nov. 15

8:15 p.m. ET

East Carolina at Tulsa

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Wed., Nov. 18

6 or 8 p.m. ET

Central Michigan at Ball State

ESPNU or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

6 or 8 p.m. ET

Buffalo at Miami (Ohio)

ESPNU or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thu., Nov. 19

6:30 p.m. ET

Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

Colorado at Oklahoma State

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Nov. 20

5:30 p.m. ET

Akron at Bowling Green

ESPNU

9:30 p.m. ET

Boise State at Utah State

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Nov. 21

noon ET

TBD

ABC

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPNU

2:30 p.m. ET

Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M (Florida Classic from Orlando)

ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD *

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

Reverse Mirror of ABC *

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

North Carolina at Boston College

ESPN Radio

Tue., Nov. 24

7 p.m. ET

Ball State at Western Michigan

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Thur., Nov. 26

4 p.m. ET

Tuskegee at Alabama State

ESPNU

8 p.m. ET

Texas at Texas A&M

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Nov. 27

2:30 p.m. ET

Alabama at Auburn

ESPN Radio

3:30 p.m. ET

Nebraska at Colorado

ABC

TBD

Rutgers at Louisville

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

Illinois at Cincinnati

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

Pittsburgh at West Virginia

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

TBD

ESPNU

TBD

TBD

ESPN360.com

TBD

Nevada at Boise State

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Nov. 28

noon ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

noon ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

3:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN / ESPN360.com

7:45 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Notre Dame at Stanford

ABC / ESPN360.com

TBD

ABC / ESPN360.com

10 p.m. ET

UCLA at USC

ESPN Radio

10:30 p.m. ET

TBD

ESPNU

Thu., Dec. 3

9 p.m. ET

Oregon State at Oregon

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Fri., Dec. 4

8 p.m. ET

Marathon MAC Championship Game

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Sat., Dec. 5

2 p.m. ET

Southern at Texas Southern

ESPNU

3:30 p.m. ET

Arizona at USC

ABC / ESPN Radio

8 p.m. ET

Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Game

ABC / ESPN Radio

8 p.m. ET

Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game

ESPN / ESPN360.com

TBD

South Florida at Connecticut

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

West Virginia at Rutgers

ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 **

TBD

Conference USA Championship Game

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

TBD

Wisconsin at Hawaii

ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

* Reverse mirror in which ESPN or ESPN2 will regionalize two games on ABC to markets no receiving the telecast

** Game not on ABC will be simulcast on ESPN360.com

^ Same-day delay

2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL POST-SEASON SCHEDULE


Date

Time

Game

Network

Sat., Dec. 19

4:30 p.m. ET

New Mexico Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

8 p.m. ET

St. Petersburg Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Sun., Dec 20

8:15 p.m. ET

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Tue., Dec. 22

8 p.m. ET

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Wed., Dec. 23

8 p.m. ET

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Thu., Dec. 24

8 p.m. ET

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Sat., Dec. 26

1 p.m. ET

Motor City Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

4:30 p.m. ET

Meineke Car Care Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Emerald Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Sun., Dec. 27

8:15 p.m. ET

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Mon., Dec. 28

5 p.m. ET

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Tue., Dec. 29

4:30 p.m. ET

EagleBank Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Champs Sports Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Wed., Dec. 30

4:30 p.m. ET

Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

8 p.m. ET

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Thu., Dec. 31

noon ET

Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

3:30 p.m. ET

Texas Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

7:30 p.m. ET

Chick-fil-A Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Fri., Jan. 1

11 a.m. ET

Outback Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

1 p.m. ET

Capital One Bowl

ABC

4:30 p.m. ET

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi

ABC / ESPN Radio

8:30 p.m. ET

Allstate Sugar Bowl

ESPN Radio

Sat., Jan. 2

noon ET

International Bowl

ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

2 p.m. ET

Papajohns.com Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

5:30 p.m. ET

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

9 p.m. ET

Valero Alamo Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com / ESPN Radio

Mon., Jan. 4

8 p.m. ET

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

ESPN Radio

Tue., Jan. 5

8 p.m. ET

FedEx Orange Bowl

ESPN Radio

Wed., Jan. 6

7 p.m. ET

GMAC Bowl

ESPN / ESPN360.com

Thu., Jan. 7

8 p.m. ET

Citi BCS National Championship Game

ABC / ESPN Radio

– 30 –

Quotes from ESPN NASCAR Media Conference Call

By

Highlights from ESPN NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Conference Call

ESPN will have live, high definition coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 26, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET, the first of 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races to be televised on ESPN and ABC to close out the 2009 season. Julie Sobieski, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions, and the members of the telecast booth – lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch and analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree – participated in a media conference call today. Some highlight quotes:

JULIE SOBIESKI
On the subjects of TV ratings for NASCAR and starting times for races:

“It’s fair to say that we certainly recognize that the baton is being passed to us with ratings down. While we certainly see as you do that there’s room for improvement in a lot of areas, we’re doing everything we can from a TV standpoint. Many of you on this call have written about different theories about why ratings are down, but it’s not really my place to get into those areas we don’t control. At the end of the day, we’re doing everything we can from a TV standpoint. We’re really lucky to be able to kick off our Sprint Cup coverage with one heck of a race.

“There’s definitely been a lot of dialogue about start times, and a lot has been written. With ratings being down, there’s lots of factors that are contributing to that. Can consistent start times make a difference? Certainly that’s possible. We’d be supportive of consistent start times with ESPN and we know that’s also been a priority for NASCAR to try and look at, so if it’s good for the fans, and we think it’s going to benefit ratings, then certainly we’re onboard with that concept.

“It’s ultimately NASCAR’s call when it comes to the schedule of their races, and certainly the tracks as well. All we can do is have the open dialogue and support ultimately where NASCAR and the tracks feel (the starting time) is best to serve the fans. Nothing is set for next year, so I think that dialogue is ongoing and continuing, and we’ll see where that ends up. NASCAR is going to need to make the decision that they feel is best for all their constituents involved.”

DR. JERRY PUNCH
On the subjects of storylines for this year’s race and what is unique about Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

“I think this year’s edition of the Brickyard 400 has all of the ingredients to be the best one yet. Now people might say that’s just hype, but if you look at everything that’s lining up this week, this one has a lot to offer. When you couple the added grip of the new tire with the double file restarts, I think we’re going to have some ‘hold your breath’ moments throughout the race coverage.

“I’ve interviewed drivers who walk out of Gasoline Alley there at the Brickyard 400 for the first time and to them the massive crowd is exhilarating but also intimidating. It seems like each one of them says almost the same thing. You look down this long straightaway coming off of turn four, and there’s no other track in NASCAR where you look out your windshield and there’s a tidal wave of people on your right, and a tidal wave of people on your left in those paddock grandstands. And it’s so distracting and intimidating – you’ve got to somehow focus to get down the straightaway and turn left. It’s very difficult not to get distracted by the very large crowd.”

ANDY PETREE
On the subjects of last year’s tire problems at Indianapolis and surprising stories in NASCAR:

(Petree went to Goodyear headquarters in Akron, Ohio, after last year’s race) “All the big wheels were there and they were extremely concerned about how they were going to fix this. They take it extremely personally. They were starting to work on this year’s Brickyard that day (two days after the race). I tip my hat to them for what they’ve been able to accomplish. With what they (drivers) are saying about the tire, I think is going to add another twist to it. I think it’s going to be a Brickyard 400 like we’ve never seen. A lot of options for crew chiefs to make calls and gamble – it’s going to be very exciting and probably hard to keep up with. I’m going to have to be on my toes up in the booth to make sure I’m covering all the bases on what the crew chiefs are trying to figure out and trying to do for strategy. It’s a big race and it means a lot, and not just to the drivers. It also means a lot to the crew chiefs and crew members.

“There’s one story developing right now that can be a surprise and that’s Kyle Busch not making the Chase. Nobody ever would have thought that that he would go in there and not make it. He’s struggled when he did get in the Chase the past couple of years, and that’s not a surprise. But the fact is he’s actually got a chance of not making it, and I think there’s trouble brewing over there. This is a gut wrenching time for them as a team. You’re going to see what kind of character they have these next seven races to get into the Chase. I think it’s going to be very iffy that he gets in the Chase this year because of the way that car has performed, and now when you have this kind of a problem brewing, it can actually get worse.”

DALE JARRETT
On the subject of Kyle Busch:

“Kyle Busch is a tremendous talent. I think his win or nothing, we’re going to go for broke attitude about each and every race could put him in a precarious position in trying to keep himself inside the Chase because that’s his mentality that all he wants to do is win the race. We’ve seen him be extremely disappointed about finishing second whether it’s in the Nationwide Series or the Cup Series and that’s a great attitude to have, but it can also be your downfall too if you’re in a situation like this where you’re having to try to protect just a little bit. And to be quite honest you look at the next two races, these next two tracks aren’t his best. The flat tracks seem to be the ones that have given that race team more problems over the last 18 months than any others. I would look at him as the one person that is capable of winning every week, but he’s also capable of having some bad finishes and falling out.”

About NASCAR on ESPN:
ESPN and ABC have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All programming is produced totally in high definition. ESPN’s comprehensive, multimedia NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.

-30-

College Football Awards Watch Lists to be Announced on College Football Live Beginning Monday, Aug. 3

By

College Football Awards Watch Lists to be Announced on College Football Live Beginning Monday, Aug. 3
Winners Announced During The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Dec. 10 on ESPN
The watch lists for 10 of the major collegiate football awards will be announced on College Football Live on ESPN Monday, August 3 through Friday, Aug. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET each day. For the two weeks, each of the awards presented at The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards (Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. on ESPN) will be highlighted during the show, featuring the contending outstanding student-athletes.  This marks the first time such a series of announcements has taken place on ESPN.
The watch lists will be announced as follows:
Date Award
Monday, Aug. 3 Davey O’Brien Award (best QB)
Tuesday, Aug. 4 Doak Walker Award (best RB)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 Ray Guy Award (best punter)
Thursday, Aug. 6 Jim Thorpe Award (best DB)
Friday, Aug. 7 Walter Camp Award (top overall player)
Monday, Aug. 10 Fred Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Outland Trophy (best interior lineman)
Wednesday, Aug. 12 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker
Thursday, Aug. 13 Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player)
Friday, Aug. 14 Maxwell Award (best all-around player)

The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards will be televised Thursday, Dec. 10, from 7-9 p.m. on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, features the live presentation of nine awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award; and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team. The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Red Carpet Show will air on ESPNU before the awards show.
National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA)
The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official Web site, at www.ncfaa.org.
-30-

ESPN Regional Television and Southeastern Conference Introduce ‘SEC Network,’ Announce Syndication Package

By

ESPN Regional Television and Southeastern Conference Introduce ‘SEC Network,’ Announce Syndication Package

Exclusive Regional SEC Coverage Debuts in September with Neal, Ware and Capuano

Download the SEC Network logo.

ESPN Regional Television, the new over-the-air syndication home for Southeastern Conference programming, and the SEC announced today a regionally syndicated college sports package that will air in more than 73 television markets, along with the branding of the syndication package as the SEC Network – all part of the groundbreaking 15-year agreement between ESPN, Inc., and the SEC.

Within the nine-state SEC footprint, the SEC Network will be delivered in markets by the local over-the-air carrier of SEC events. In markets outside the SEC footprint, the syndicated programming will air on either local, over-the-air television stations or regional sports cable networks.

Coverage will feature extensive football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball telecasts, produced by ESPN Regional Television.

“As ESPN moves forward in this landmark agreement with the SEC, ESPN Regional Television is thrilled to provide our viewers with a consistent window for Southeastern Conference football and basketball,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president & general manager, ESPN Regional Television. “With ESPN’s multimedia platforms, we anticipate SEC sports will touch an unprecedented base of college fans nationwide.”

The SEC Network will feature an SEC football Game of the Week regionally for 13 consecutive Saturdays, beginning Sept. 5. Those telecasts will kick off at noon ET/11 a.m. CT with the live SEC Studio show, followed by the matchup, generally determined 12 to six days in advance. The new kickoff time for the Game of the Week will be 12:21 p.m. ET.

Longtime SEC announcer Dave Neal will call the weekly SEC Network game on Saturdays, along with analyst Andre Ware and reporter Cara Capuano.

The SEC Studio show is produced by ESPN Regional Television at their headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., also the home of ESPNU. The SEC show will kick off Saturday coverage with host Rob Stone and analyst Matt Stinchcomb in the studio.

The regular-season SEC men’s basketball package on the SEC Network beginning in January will consist of Wednesday and Saturday games, including doubleheaders. The SEC Network will also offer regional coverage of multiple rounds from the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament as well as SEC women’s basketball games on Sundays, also beginning in January.

“The SEC Network, through the efforts of ESPN, will be the largest college sports syndication television package in the country,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “The comprehensive market coverage in the nine-state SEC area combined with the out-of-market reach gives us significant additional exposure for our programs.”

The markets that will air the package represent more than 54 million television households, or 47 percent of the U.S. Before the first football game this season, as clearance work continues, the coverage area will be larger still. The 15-year agreement between ESPN and the SEC begins with the 2009-10 season and continues through 2023-24.

SEC Network Markets (confirmed as of release date)

State City Station(s) Affiliation
Alabama Birmingham-Tuscaloosa-Anniston WTTO; WABM CW; MNT
Dothan WTVY; WTVY-DT2, -DT3 CBS; MNT; CW
Huntsville-Decatur (Flor) WZDX; WAMY FOX; MNT
Mobile-Pensacola (Ft Walt) WJTC IND
Montgomery (Selma) WCOV; WCOV-DT2 FOX
Arizona Phoenix KTVK (Football only) IND
Arkansas Fort Smith-Fay-Sprngdl-Rgrs KHBS+; KHBS-DT2 ABC; CW
Jonesboro KAIT; KAIT-DT2, -DT3 ABC
Little Rock-Pine Bluff KATV; KATV-DT2 ABC
Florida Fort Myers-Naples WXCW CW
Gainesville WOGX FOX
Jacksonville, Brunswick WJXT IND
Miami-Fort Lauderdale WSFL CW
Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbrn WOFL; WRBW FOX; MNT
Panama City WJHG MNT
Tallahassee-Thomasville WCTV; WCTV-DT2 CBS; MNT
Tampa-St. Pete, Sarasota WTTA MNT
West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce TBA
Georgia Albany WALB NBC
Atlanta WPCH IND
Augusta WRDW; My 12 CBS; MNT
Columbus WXTX; WTVM, WLGA FOX; ABC; IND
Macon WGXA FOX
Savannah WTGS FOX
Illinois Chicago TBA (Football only)
Indiana Evansville WTVW FOX
Indianapolis TBA (Football only)
Kansas Wichita-Hutchinson KWCH; KSCW CBS; CW
Kentucky Bowling Green WBKO; WBKO-FOX;

WBKO-This-TV

 ABC; FOX
Lexington WKYT; CWkyt CBS; CW
Louisville WAVE NBC
Paducah-C.Girard.-Harrbg-Mt VN WPSD; WPSD-DT2 NBC
Louisiana Alexandria KLAX ABC
Baton Rouge WAFB; WBXH CBS; MNT
Lafayette KADN FOX
Lake Charles KVHP FOX
Monroe-El Dorado TBA
New Orleans WWL; WUPL CBS; MNT
Shreveport KMSS; KSHV FOX; MNT
Michigan Detroit TBA (Football only)
Missouri Springfield KCZ CW
Mississippi Biloxi-Gulfport WXXV; My XXV2 Fox; MNT
Columbus-Tupelo-West Point WCBI; My MS CBS; MNT
Greenwood-Greenville WABG; FOX 10 ABC; FOX
Hattiesburg-Laurel WHLT; WHLT-DT2 CBS
Jackson WJTV; WJTV-DT3 CBS; RTV
Meridian WDMN; WGBC; WGBC-DT1 CBS; NBC; FOX
N. Carolina Charlotte WAXN IND
Greensboro-H.Point-W.Salem WCWG CW
Raleigh-Durham WNCN; WNCN-DT2 NBC
New York New York TBA (Football only)
Ohio Cincinnati WSTR MNT
Columbus WTTE FOX
Dayton WRGT FOX
Oklahoma Oklahoma City KSBI IND
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh WPMY (Football only) MNT
S. Carolina Charleston WMMP MNT
Columbia WIS NBC
Greenvll-Spart-Ashevll-And WSPA; WYCW CBS; CW
Myrtle Beach-Florence WWMB; WPDE CW; ABC
Tennessee Chattanooga WDSI; WFLI FOX; CW
Jackson WJKT FOX
Knoxville WVLT;  My VLT2 CBS; MNT
Memphis WLMT CW
Nashville WUXP MNT
Tri-Cities, TN-VA WCYB; CW4 NBC; CW
Texas Beaumont-Port Arthur KUMY MNT
Dallas-Fort Worth KTXA (Football only) IND
Houston KTBU (Football only) IND
San Antonio KMYS (Football only) MNT
Tyler-Longview-Lufkin & Ncgd KLPN; KFXL MNT; FOX
Virginia Norfolk-Portsmouth-NN-Hampton WSKY IND
West Virginia Charleston-Huntington WSAZ; My ZTV NBC; MNT

ESPN and the SEC

ESPN, Inc., and the Southeastern Conference entered into a landmark 15-year agreement for extensive football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and conference championship content across multiple ESPN entities beginning with the 2009-10 academic year. As a result of the deal -– the longest national rights agreement in ESPN history – ESPN will showcase more than 5,500 SEC events on ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN International, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Classic. ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982.

ESPN Regional Television

The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, Sun Belt, WAC).

ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events, including collegiate football events: the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas); MAACO Bowl Las Vegas; New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Papajohns.com Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); St. Petersburg Bowl; the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); and The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards; collegiate basketball events: the 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Charleston Classic (S.C.); ESPNU Road to the Championship (Women; San Antonio); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); SEC/BIG EAST Invitational; All-College Classic (Oklahoma City) and ESPNU BracketBusters; as well as the ESPN National Golf Challenge presented by Callaway. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.

SEC

The Southeastern Conference was formed in 1933 and consists of 12 member institutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The league currently sanctions championship play in nine men’s sports and 11 women’s sports. Its headquarters has been located in Birmingham, Ala., since 1948. For more on the conference, visit www.secsports.com.

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2009 TEXAS BOWL TO BE TELEVISED ON ESPN; GAME SCHEDULED FOR DEC. 31 AT 3:30 P.M. ET

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2009 TEXAS BOWL TO BE TELEVISED ON ESPN; GAME SCHEDULED FOR DEC. 31 AT 3:30 P.M. ET

HOUSTON – The Texas Bowl Committee announced today that the 2009 Texas Bowl will be televised nationally by ESPN. The game will be played on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, at Reliant Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT.

The Texas Bowl moves to ESPN after airing on NFL Network for its first three years. It will be a part of ESPN’s popular Capital One Bowl Week, which will feature 23 bowl games from December 19 to January 2.

“This is a significant step in the continuing growth of the Texas Bowl,” said Texas Bowl manager Heather Houston. “ESPN is the home of college football year-round, and partnering with them will give the Texas Bowl the chance to be viewed by millions of sports fans across the country.”

“ESPN is pleased to bring college football fans the Texas Bowl to Capital One Bowl Week,” said Kurt Dargis, senior manager, programming, ESPN. “We look forward to bringing the longstanding tradition of football in Texas and another exciting bowl game to college football fans on New Year’s Eve.”

The New Year’s Eve date marks the latest that the Texas Bowl has been played in its four-year history. The inaugural Texas Bowl was played on December 28, 2006; and the 2007 edition took place on the same date. Last year, the bowl was played on December 30. The 3:30 p.m. start time also marks the first time the Texas Bowl will be played outside of prime time.

This year, the Texas Bowl will feature a team from the Big 12 Conference versus the U.S. Naval Academy, should the Midshipmen become bowl eligible.

The Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first three years. The bowl has generated an average of $25 million per year for the Houston economy. The bowl boasts over 25,000 season ticket holders and sold over 50,000 tickets before its teams were announced last year.

Over its three-year history, the Texas Bowl has donated over $200,000 and over $5 million in promotional support and publicity to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

Last year, a partisan crowd of 58,880 fans saw Rice capture the school’s first win in a bowl game since 1954, defeating Western Michigan 38-14. Quarterback Chase Clement garnered MVP honors after passing for 307 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for 72 yards and a score, and catching a 13-yard touchdown pass.

TCU defeated the University of Houston, 20-13, in the 2007 Texas Bowl before a crowd of 62,097. The audience was the third-largest crowd ever to see a college bowl game in Houston. The 2007 Texas Bowl attracted the eighth-largest crowd among non-BCS bowls last year.

The inaugural Texas Bowl was played on Thursday, December 28, 2006 at Reliant Stadium. Rutgers defeated Kansas State, 37-10, before a crowd of 52,210, the largest crowd to witness a bowl game in Houston not involving a Texas team since 1972.

NFL and ESPN to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month On Monday Night Football

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NFL and ESPN to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month On Monday Night Football

Special Events Planned for N.Y. Jets-Miami Dolphins Game October 12; New Dolphins Limited Partner/Singer Marc Anthony to Perform National Anthem

The National Football League and ESPN will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) with a series of special events surrounding the New York Jets at Miami Dolphins Monday Night Football game on Monday, October 12 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes). The game is the signature event of the NFL’s “Fútbol Americano” initiative celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and a major component of ESPN’s campaign and programming efforts on ESPN Deportes recognizing the accomplishments of Hispanics in the world of sports.

Plans for Hispanic Heritage Month were announced today at a press conference by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, ESPN President George Bodenheimer, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and Grammy award-winning singer Marc Anthony.

Anthony, who has joined the Dolphins as a limited partner, will highlight game day activities by performing the national anthem televised by both ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The telecast will kick off with a customized version of the Hank Williams Jr. opening video, featuring Grammy award-winning singer Gloria Estefan. The duet (recorded in Nashville last month) will include lyrics in Spanish. ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown (7 p.m.) and ESPN Deportes’ NFL Esta Noche (8 p.m.) pre-game shows will highlight Hispanic Heritage Month with special features and coverage of in-stadium festivities.

The game telecast on ESPN – part of MNF’s 40th season — will feature special graphic integrations, features and audio from the ESPN Deportes telecast featuring Spanish-language Emmy-nominated play-by-play commentator Álvaro Martín and analyst and former NFL kicker Raúl Allegre. ESPN Deportes, the official Spanish-language television home for all MNF games, will feature its broadcast team – Martín, Allegre and sideline reporter John Sutcliffe – and NFL Esta Noche pre-game from Miami for the matchup between los Jets and los Delfines (the teams’ Spanish names, which will appear on the Land Shark Stadium scoreboards during periods of the game).

The MNF commentator team of Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the game on ESPN. Reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya, and Countdown’s Stuart Scott, Matt Millen and Steve Young, will all be part of ESPN’s on-site coverage.

“We are excited to again partner with ESPN to shine a national spotlight on Hispanic Heritage Month,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The Monday Night telecast will conclude a month-long celebration by NFL teams across the country to honor our Hispanic players and fans. It’s a passionate fan base – last season, 28.5 million Hispanics tuned in to NFL games – that we are eager to recognize.”

“We are proud to collaborate with the NFL to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Monday Night Football, ESPN Deportes and other ESPN platforms,” added ESPN President George Bodenheimer. “Stephen Ross has brought a renewed energy to South Florida and we look forward to working with Grammy Award-winning performing artist Marc Anthony as part of our presentation of this great MNF rivalry game.”

The NFL, ESPN and the Dolphins will host a MNF Chalk Talk Luncheon the day of the game for 300 invited guests at Land Shark Stadium. Alumni players from both the Jets and Dolphins are expected to participate in the event, which will emphasize the Hispanic Heritage Celebration. ESPN’s Kolber and Tafoya will co-host the luncheon and will be joined by ESPN Deportes commentators. Local Hispanic non-profit organizations will also be recognized for their work in the South Florida community.

Miami Dolphins Owner and Managing General Partner Stephen M. Ross added: “We are honored to be chosen as participants of the league’s flagship game celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a national appearance on ESPN’s Monday Night Football at Land Shark Stadium against the New York Jets in October. We are also excited that Marc Anthony is taking such an active role in these wonderful festivities surrounding the game as a new limited partner for the Miami Dolphins. Marc Anthony is one of the most iconic and celebrated performers on the international music stage, which is why he has been chosen to perform at one of the most prestigious dates on the 2009 football calendar.”

In anticipation of the Jets-Dolphins game, “Fútbol Americano” messaging will be integrated into ESPN’s MNF promotion across television, radio, online and print. The NFL and Dolphins will host an NFL FLAG Regional Tournament on Saturday, October 10 in South Florida. NFL FLAG emphasizes safety, fun, teamwork, self-esteem, goal-setting and fitness, as part of NFL PLAY 60, the NFL’s campaign focused on increasing the health and wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. The tournament will host local NFL FLAG teams, many of which have a high participation level by Hispanic youth. Las Águilas, the national champions of NFL Tochito, the NFL Flag football program in Mexico, will take part in the day-long, round-robin tournament. Las Águilas will be honored at Land Shark Stadium during the Monday Night Football game.

The NFL is committed to serving football fans of all cultures and recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month as a special time and opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Hispanic players, coaches, front-office personnel and fans.

ESPN Deportes is ESPN’s multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan via television, radio, online, print, and wireless. Sports media assets include ESPN Deportes television which offers unparalleled Spanish-language sports programming, featuring more than 1,800 live and/or original hours of sports programming presented annually; ESPN Deportes Radio, the only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S.; ESPNDeportes.com, the #1 Spanish-language sports Web site among Spanish-preferred fans in the U.S.; ESPN Deportes La Revista, the first general sports Spanish-language magazine in the U.S.; and ESPN Deportes Mobile, the brand’s emerging business which offers Spanish-language sports content to fans via wireless devices.

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“Birthplace Of NFL Films” In Philadelphia Recognized With State Historic Marker

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“BIRTHPLACE OF NFL FILMS” IN PHILADELPHIA RECOGNIZED WITH STATE HISTORIC MARKER

Marker Dedication on July 23 at 2:00 PM ET

NFL Films, the most storied filmmaker in sports, is being honored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The commission, on Thursday, July 23 at 2:00 PM ET, will dedicate a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker at 230 North 13th Street in Philadelphia recognizing the location as the “Birthplace of NFL Films.”

“The filmmaking arm of the National Football League brought the NFL into the forefront of popularity of American sports,” the commission wrote.

““It’s only appropriate that the birthplace of America will also be recognized as the birthplace of this iconic part of America’s favorite game,” said Pennsylvania Governor EDWARD G. RENDELL. “This historical marker will reinforce the important role that NFL Films plays in the lives of football fans across the nation.”

“If the ghosts of the gridiron do walk the night, it must be here,” said NFL Films President STEVE SABOL.

NFL Films began at the 230 North 13th Street address in 1965 and spent 14 years in the building before moving to Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s national headquarters is now located at the Philadelphia address. The NFL Youth Football Fund has made a $2,500 donation to the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The historical marker honoring NFL Films is one of 21 to be unveiled in Pennsylvania this year. Others include a marker recognizing legendary college football coach John Heisman in his hometown of Titusville. There have been approximately 2,200 historic markers placed statewide since 1914.

NFL Films was founded as Blair Motion Pictures by Ed Sabol. In April 1965, Commissioner Pete Rozelle negotiated on behalf of the NFL clubs to purchase the filmmaker and rename it NFL Films. NFL Films has received numerous accolades since, including 97 Sports Emmy Awards. Its “Road to the Super Bowl” production is the longest running (40th anniversary this year) and most honored (28 Emmys) annual sports special on television.

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World Series of Poker Returns to ESPN July 28

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World Series of Poker, presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Returns to ESPN on July 28

Tuesday Night is Poker Night

The 2009 competition marks the 40th Annual World Series of Poker – the longest running and richest poker tournament in the world.

ESPN’s season long coverage begins Tuesday, July 28, at 8 p.m. ET with special $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament.

The star-studded field of 201 entrants combined to create the biggest non-Main Event prize pool in World Series history, a staggering $7.7 million with nearly a $1.9 million winner’s share.

Coverage begins with the final table featuring 2004 Main Event Champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, 5-time bracelet winner Ted Forrest, and a cast of young up and coming players.

“This one hour show is the proper beginning to what promises to be an exciting season of poker,” said Jamie Horowitz, ESPN coordinating producer.  “There will be history-making moments, record-setting prize pools, and poker drama that only the WSOP can offer.”

ESPN’s coverage of the 2009 World Series of Poker from the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas will air every Tuesday from July 28 through Nov. 10. Norman Chad and Lon McEachern return to call all the action.

Click here for the schedules, images and other news material in support of ESPN’s coverage of the 40th World Series of Poker, presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.

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NFL Network’s Rich Eisen to Host 2009 Enshrinement Ceremony

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NFL Network’s Rich Eisen to Host
2009 Enshrinement Ceremony

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced that NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen will emcee the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.  The Enshrinement Ceremony for the Class of 2009 – Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson, Jr., and Rod Woodson – is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Eisen is replacing longtime emcee Chris Berman, who is taking a one-year hiatus in order to serve as the presenter for 2009 Enshrinee Ralph Wilson, Jr.

Eisen was the first on-air talent added to the NFL Network roster in June 2003. NFL Network launched in November of that same year and is the 24-hour cable and satellite channel dedicated to football.

“I could not be more honored and humbled to be entrusted with such a daunting assignment,” Eisen stated.  “I’m honored and humbled because there’s nothing quite like an enshrinement ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and daunting, because I’ve been told that if I don’t ‘briskly matriculate the proceedings down the field’ Deacon Jones might ‘slap me in the head.’”

Eisen hosts NFL Total Access, the NFL’s show of record, providing daily news, interviews and analysis from around the league. Each Sunday, he hosts NFL GameDay Final, a show dedicated to giving fans a comprehensive recap of the day’s action with Deion Sanders and Steve Mariucci. Eisen also anchors the three-hour pregame show, NFL Total Access On Location, which airs prior to the NFL Network’s primetime regular-season games, in addition to the network’s Super Bowl, NFL Draft and Combine coverage.

One of television’s most visible anchors and personalities from the past decade, Eisen was a mainstay on ESPN’s SportsCenter from 1996 to 2003.

Tickets for the Enshrinement Ceremony are $28 for sideline seats and $60 for floor seats and $150 for special VIP seats.  The floor and VIP seats are for 2009 only and non-renewable in future years. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting the Hall’s website at Profootballhof.com or by calling (800)-913-9788.

Tickets for the NFL Hall of Fame Game, scheduled for Sunday, August 9, at 8 p.m. ET, featuring the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans are $45 for end zone seats and $55 and $60 for sideline seats.

In addition to individual Enshrinement and NFL Hall of Fame Game tickets, special fan travel packages are also available through Sports Travel and Tours. For fan package information visit Profootballhof.com or call (888) 310-4255.

All tickets sales are final and are non-refundable and non-renewable.