August 21, 2008
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network today named its on-air talent lineup for the 2008 football season. Many familiar names will return for the network's second year while several former Big Ten football stars will debut on the network this fall as game-day analysts and sideline reporters.
"We're tremendously pleased to bring back such a talented lineup for our studio and game coverage. We're also excited to mix in some former players as analysts and sideline reporters who are new to the network, but not to Big Ten fans," said Leon Schweir, Big Ten Network Executive Producer and Vice President for Production. "Collectively, these announcers, analysts and reporters bring a wealth of Big Ten experience."
Once again, the network's game-day studio show, Big Ten Football Saturday, will be anchored by lead studio host Dave Revsine, former Vanderbilt, Louisiana State and Indiana head coach Gerry DiNardo and former Illinois running back and two-time Super Bowl champion Howard Griffith.
Also returning is the Big Ten Network's top football game broadcast team, play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman, analyst Charles Davis and sideline reporter Charissa Thompson. Brennaman and Davis called the network's biggest games in 2007 and have led FOX Sports' coverage of the last two Bowl Championship Series' (BCS) National Championship games. In her second season with the network, Thompson will be a regular contributor to Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate presented by Nissan. She is also known for her work on FOX Sports Net's The Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Veteran play-by-play announcers Wayne Larrivee, Mark Neely and Matt Devlin also come back for a second season. Analysts will again include former Northwestern defensive back Chris Martin and former Minnesota head coach Glen Mason. Both Martin and Mason will also add studio analysis for Big Ten Football Saturday and Big Ten Tonight.
Several former Big Ten football stars join the network this fall as game-day analysts and sideline reporters. The list includes former Purdue offensive lineman Ian Allen, who played in the NFL and most recently broadcast games for the NFL Network and Sky Sports NFL; former Iowa defensive lineman Anthony Herron, who played professionally for the Detroit Lions; legendary Penn State wide receiver Kenny Jackson, who starred on the Nittany Lions' 1982 national championship team, played eight years in the NFL and coached receivers at Penn State and for the Pittsburgh Steelers; and former Michigan tight end Tony McGee, who played 11 seasons in the NFL, most notably with the Cincinnati Bengals.
About the Big Ten Network:
The Big Ten Network is the first national network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 400 live events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the destination for Big Ten fans across the country and allows fans to see their favorite team, regardless of where they live. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Big Ten Network showcases a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televises more Olympic sporting events and women's sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation's finest universities. Each year, the network offers approximately 40 football games, 140 regular season men's basketball games, 55 women's basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Championship events, a nightly studio show, coaches' shows and classic games. Available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide, the network currently has agreements with Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse and 230 cable operators.
For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.
Big Ten Network Introduces 2008 On-Air Football Talent Lineup
Revsine, DiNardo, Griffth return to 'Football Saturday' set
Brennaman, Davis, Thompson form top game crew
New faces with Big Ten ties to join network
Brennaman, Davis, Thompson form top game crew
New faces with Big Ten ties to join network
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network today named its on-air talent lineup for the 2008 football season. Many familiar names will return for the network's second year while several former Big Ten football stars will debut on the network this fall as game-day analysts and sideline reporters.
"We're tremendously pleased to bring back such a talented lineup for our studio and game coverage. We're also excited to mix in some former players as analysts and sideline reporters who are new to the network, but not to Big Ten fans," said Leon Schweir, Big Ten Network Executive Producer and Vice President for Production. "Collectively, these announcers, analysts and reporters bring a wealth of Big Ten experience."
Once again, the network's game-day studio show, Big Ten Football Saturday, will be anchored by lead studio host Dave Revsine, former Vanderbilt, Louisiana State and Indiana head coach Gerry DiNardo and former Illinois running back and two-time Super Bowl champion Howard Griffith.
Also returning is the Big Ten Network's top football game broadcast team, play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman, analyst Charles Davis and sideline reporter Charissa Thompson. Brennaman and Davis called the network's biggest games in 2007 and have led FOX Sports' coverage of the last two Bowl Championship Series' (BCS) National Championship games. In her second season with the network, Thompson will be a regular contributor to Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate presented by Nissan. She is also known for her work on FOX Sports Net's The Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Veteran play-by-play announcers Wayne Larrivee, Mark Neely and Matt Devlin also come back for a second season. Analysts will again include former Northwestern defensive back Chris Martin and former Minnesota head coach Glen Mason. Both Martin and Mason will also add studio analysis for Big Ten Football Saturday and Big Ten Tonight.
Several former Big Ten football stars join the network this fall as game-day analysts and sideline reporters. The list includes former Purdue offensive lineman Ian Allen, who played in the NFL and most recently broadcast games for the NFL Network and Sky Sports NFL; former Iowa defensive lineman Anthony Herron, who played professionally for the Detroit Lions; legendary Penn State wide receiver Kenny Jackson, who starred on the Nittany Lions' 1982 national championship team, played eight years in the NFL and coached receivers at Penn State and for the Pittsburgh Steelers; and former Michigan tight end Tony McGee, who played 11 seasons in the NFL, most notably with the Cincinnati Bengals.
About the Big Ten Network:
The Big Ten Network is the first national network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 400 live events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the destination for Big Ten fans across the country and allows fans to see their favorite team, regardless of where they live. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Big Ten Network showcases a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televises more Olympic sporting events and women's sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation's finest universities. Each year, the network offers approximately 40 football games, 140 regular season men's basketball games, 55 women's basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Championship events, a nightly studio show, coaches' shows and classic games. Available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide, the network currently has agreements with Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse and 230 cable operators.
For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.
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