Gopher Sports has a New Radio Partner(s)
by GopherNation on Mar 9, 2011 9:52 AM CST
Email
PrintI'm willing to bet that over the course of the lifetime of everyone reading this Gopher football and basketball has been broadcast on WCCO. Beginning this fall that is all changing.
The agreements, which both commence with the 2011-12 athletic season, will see Gopher football broadcast on Clear Channel’s KFAN Sports Radio 1130 AM and KTLK 100.3 FM, while Gopher men’s and women’s basketball and men’s hockey will air on Hubbard Broadcasting’s 1500 AM ESPN Radio.
"Moving our sports coverage to these stations positions Gopher Athletics to harness the combined power of the Twin Cities’ two all-sports formatted radio stations and is a strategic step in our effort to combine great radio coverage for Gopher fans with the very best promotional opportunities for our football, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s hockey teams," said Director of Athletics Joel Maturi. "We evaluated all of our broadcast options based upon many factors, including financial commitment, marketing support, listener demographics, and ancillary programming, and we believe these partnerships represent the best overall platforms for Gophers sports on radio."
That is pretty big news and a big change. For those who have complained about KFAN largely ignoring or providing lazy coverage of Gopher sports that may also be changing.
In addition to play-by-play coverage of all Gopher football games, related football programming, including the weekly coach’s show with Jerry Kill, as well as a one-hour weekly show dedicated to Gopher Athletics, will be broadcast on KFAN Sports Radio 1130 AM. Clear Channel will also leverage its new Gopher partnership through its outdoor billboards, social media, and related communications and marketing outlets across its multiple radio station platforms.
"To have an affiliation with the University of Minnesota sports and the football program is something we at Clear Channel and KFAN have always wanted," said Michael Crusham, President/Market Manager Clear Channel Radio. "I am extremely pleased that we are going to be partners."
Should be an interesting change. More info can be found here at GopherSports.com.
Editors of The Daily Gopher retain the right to remove posts deemed excessively offensive or grossly inappropriate. Keep it clean and don't be mean.
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Gotta give Maturi a hand on this one
I never thought they’d pull the trigger on a move like this. Going to be mixed reaction from Gopher football fans specifically about this move because most weren’t fans of Dave Lee in the play-by-play chair, but most also get peeved at KFAN because they typically bash Gopher football… although they’ve shown a shining to Coach Kill so far.
"We're talking about unchecked aggression here, Dude."
Off Tackle Empire
The Daily Gopher
I simply can't believe that KFAN is going to be broadcasting Gopher football games...
The only time they brought up Gopher football in the past was to trash the program… will be interesting to see how that changes.
I know this would never happen, but it would sure be fun to have Paul Allen calling the Gophers, too.
by eazydp on Mar 9, 2011 10:21 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Or...
it might be nice to have someone who actually knows about college football.
"We're talking about unchecked aggression here, Dude."
Off Tackle Empire
The Daily Gopher
As some posters over at The Hole have noted...
…he would probably do a lot better with CFB when obligated to cover it. There would be a rough learning curve but it seems to me that the logic behind that sentiment makes sense.
Yep I agree with that
He won’t be the PBP guy, but he will be more informed on his talk show now that he has to cover it for the station.
Also, Justin Conzemius “The Fargo Flash” as the new color analyst?
The Daily Gopher
As long as we get a good analyst...
…to do PBP I don’t care who the color guy is. :o) No more confusing calls from Dave Lee is what I care about.
I hadn't listened to Lee much at all
If I wasn’t at the game, I DVR’d it and watched it later, so I rarely if ever listened to Dave Lee do PBP. But seems like a LOT of Gopher fans weren’t happy with the job Lee did. I’d be shocked if KFAN doesn’t replace him, and I’m sure the new guy will be good.
The Daily Gopher
I also haven't heard him much recently...
…but in the pre BTN days I would listen to the free online radio feed for games that I couldn’t get on TV in Madison and Lee made me want to jump off a bridge. Especially compared to the quality PBP I would hear from Matt Lepay for the Badgers. I hate the Badgers with all my being, but we’d be lucky to get a PBP guy like Lepay.
FWIW, some Holers have posted that they e-mailed KFAN directly and were told that Lee won’t be doing PBP anymore.
Not surprising
New stations usually go with their own guys- KFAN did with the Vikes. The Twins were an exception keeping Gordo and Gladden.
The Daily Gopher
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
