OVC Announces Nine Game Football Game of the Week Package

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference today announced a nine game football “Game of the Week” package that will be carried exclusively on ESPN3 this fall.  Defending conference champion Eastern Illinois will be features in three of the games including its OVC opener Sept. 28 against Eastern Kentucky.

EIU’s two other games on the OVC television package include its home game on Nov. 16 against Jacksonville State and the regular season finale at UT Martin on Nov. 23.

The nine game schedule will feature each of the nine OVC football-playing institutions at least once during the season and includes eight Conference matchups and one non-conference game. The schedule begins with that non-conference game when Bethune-Cookman visits Tennessee State for the John Merritt Classic on Sunday, Sept. 1.

The Conference games in the package include Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech (Sept. 21), Eastern Kentucky at Eastern Illinois (Sept. 28), Jacksonville State at UT Martin (Oct. 5), Austin Peay at Murray State (Oct. 19), Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri (Oct. 26), Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 2), Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois (Nov. 16) and Eastern Illinois at UT Martin (Nov. 23).

The games will be produced by WebStream Sports, an Indianapolis-based company which is a proven leader in video production, streaming video and content creation. The company, founded in 2006, produces more than 1,000 events annually and has also served as a web streaming consultant for the OVC for the past year. The OVC and WebStream have agreed to a three-year production agreement that will feature at least eight football games over each of the next three years.

Kevin Ingram, host of “The Wake Up Zone” on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, will handle play-by-play duties while and Bob Belvin, Sports Director for 100.7 FM/AM 540 (ESPN Clarksville), will provide analysis. The duo worked together last year in the league’s TV package.

ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smart phones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV.  It is currently available in more than 85 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.  It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

2013 OVC Football TV Game of the Week on ESPN3
Sept. 1 -- Bethune-Cookman at Tennessee State, 7:00 p.m. CT
Sept. 21 -- Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech, 7:00 p.m. CT
Sept. 28 -- Eastern Kentucky at Eastern Illinois, 1:30 p.m. CT
Oct. 5 -- Jacksonville State at UT Martin, 2:00 p.m. CT
Oct. 19 -- Austin Peay at Murray State, 3:00 p.m. CT
Oct. 26 -- Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri, 1:00 p.m. CT
Nov. 2 -- Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky, 12:00 p.m. CT
Nov. 16 -- Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois, 12:00 p.m. CT
Nov. 23 -- Eastern Illinois at UT Martin, 1:00 p.m. CT

Season and single game tickets are now on sale for the 2013 EIU football season by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com   EIU opens the season on August 31 at San Diego State.  The home opener is Sept. 14 against Illinois State in the Mid-America Classic.  EIU’s complete television package for the 2013 football season will be announced early next week.