USU-Nevada Football Game Will Be Televised On WAC Sports Network
Utah State football’s home game against Nevada on Saturday, Nov. 26 will be televised on the Western Athletic Conference Sports Network (WSN), as the network announced its 2011 football broadcast schedule on Friday, kicking off Sept. 17 with Nevada at San Jose State.
The WSN debuted last football season and is a product of the WAC and its multimedia rights partner, Learfield Sports. This year, WSN will broadcast nine football games to more than nine million households from September to December 2011.
“We’re happy to unveil a robust schedule for our second year of football broadcasts,” said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. “Last year’s football and basketball seasons were a terrific testament to what we know we’re capable of doing, and we’re equally as pleased to roll out a second year of quality programming for our fans.”
In addition to the WAC Sports Network game, other Aggie football games televised include the 2011 season-opener at Auburn on Sept. 3 on either ESPN or ESPN2, and USU’s game at BYU on Friday, Sept. 30 will also be televised by ESPN.
The USU-BYU game is one of two games involving a WAC team already scheduled with ESPN on ESPN2. The other telecast that has been announced is Fresno State hosting Boise State in a non-conference game on Friday, October 7. The game will be shown on one of the ESPN networks. Other games to be televised on ESPN networks, along with starting times, will be determined later this spring. The WAC Sports Network will again broadcast several games during the 2011 season. Those selections will also be made at a later date.
In addition to the Nevada vs. San Jose State contest on September 17, WSN will broadcast the following games, subject to ESPN national telecast selections.
Sept. 24-Fresno State at Idaho
Oct. 22-Fresno State at Nevada
Oct. 29-Nevada at New Mexico State
Nov. 5-Idaho at San Jose State
Nov. 12-Fresno State at New Mexico State
Nov. 19-Fresno State at Hawai’i
Nov. 26-Nevada at Utah State
Dec. 3-Idaho at Nevada
The WSN football schedule features three WAC teams that played in bowl games last season (Fresno State, Nevada and Hawai’i). In addition to this year’s football broadcasts, the WSN will be broadcasting a full package of basketball games. Also, throughout the year, the WAC Sports Network Facebook page will provide details about the affiliates, game times and additional information.
Learfield Sports’ WAC Sports Properties team has oversight of WSN through Learfield Sports’ extensive conference partnership. The company represents the WAC, as well as six member schools: Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, San Jose State and Utah State. It also titles the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup in conjunction with NADCA and USA Today. For more about its history and collegiate portfolio, visit learfieldsports.com.
Utah State will return 46 letterwinners (28 offense, 17 defense, one special teams), including 16 starters (nine offense, six defense, one special teams), from last season’s 4-8 overall mark, and 2-6 in WAC play, in head coach Gary Andersen’s second season at the helm of the Aggie program.
After its season-opener at Auburn, Utah State’s home opener is on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. (MT), taking on in-state foe Weber State, marking the first time that USU and WSU have squared off since 2001, and Utah State leads the all-time series, 11-1. The Aggie-Wildcat match-up will have special meaning for Andersen, who will be facing his mentor, Weber State head coach Ron McBride. Andersen played for McBride at Utah in 1985-86.
For USU football ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.