Vols’ opener marks SEC network debut
From Staff ReportsOriginally published: July 23. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: July 22. 2009 11:44PM
Tennessee’s first game of the Lane Kiffin era also marks the debut of the SEC Network on ESPN Regional Television.
The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday that the Vols and Western Kentucky kick off their Sept. 5 season opener at 12:21 p.m. from Neyland Stadium. That marks the first of 13 SEC football Game of the Week telecasts airing in more than 73 television markets as part of the 15-year agreement between ESPN Inc., and the SEC.
Also finalized Wednesday was the start time for UT’s Sept. 12 home contest against UCLA, set for 4 p.m. on ESPN. The Vols’ Sept. 19 trip to Florida kicks off the CBS Sports package and already was ticketed for 3:30 p.m.
The SEC Network will be delivered across the conference’s nine-state footprint, including Tennessee, in markets by the local over-the-air carrier of SEC events. Stations on board in Knoxville are WVLT and My VLT2.
Telecasts open at noon each week with the live SEC Studio show, hosted by Rob Stone and analyst Matt Stinchcomb. Longtime SEC announcer Dave Neal calls the play-by-play along with analyst and former Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware and field reporter Cara Capuano.
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