I'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.