Shorter football: Hawks play twice as part of GSC-TV package with ESPN
ROME, Ga. — In their first season as a full NCAA Division II and Gulf South Conference member, the Shorter Hawks football team will be in the broadcast spotlight two times this fall as part of the GSC’s 2014 television package, which has a new home after the league officially announced an exclusive agreement with ESPN to broadcast its GSC-TV content.
The agreement marks the fourth consecutive year that the GSC and ESPN have collaborated to bring GSC-TV to fans around the globe, but this year the parties signed their first-ever exclusive agreement. ESPN3 and live access on WatchESPN will host every contest with no blackout restrictions.
“GSC-TV has been a ground-breaking project since its inception,” stated GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson. “By reaching an exclusive distribution agreement with ESPN on its ESPN3 and WatchESPN platforms, the Gulf South Conference continues to be a leader in NCAA Division II. We appreciate the opportunity and look forward to working closely with the ESPN team as we bring you the first season of GSC-TV on ESPN.”
Leading the way will be the 10th edition of the GSC-TV Football Game of the Week package. The Conference is set to deliver 11 games for 2014 with all contests available live on ESPN3. The agreement also includes live coverage of the 2015 GSC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Title Games which are scheduled for Saturday, March 7 at the Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University.
This year’s GSC-TV football slate includes six Saturday games and five Thursday telecasts and also marks the first time that the package features all league contests since 2010.
Defending GSC Co-Champions North Alabama and West Alabama lead the way with four total appearances. Delta State and Valdosta State will be featured three times, while Florida Tech, Shorter, West Georgia and future member Mississippi College follow with two appearances.
The Hawks will be aired in back-to-back GSC outings this fall, first in their Thursday night road game at Delta State on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and the following Thursday night at Barron Stadium when Shorter hosts West Alabama at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16.
Play-by-play commentator Don Russell and color commentator Rick Rhodes will continue to lead the broadcasts from the booth, while Gulf Coast Mobile, L.L.C. will produce the package for the third year in a row.
