October 5, 2006
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University interim Director of Athletics Troy Austin has announced an agreement with WVHL Radio, 92.9 FM Kickin’ Country to broadcast all 31 men’s basketball games locally in Farmville during the upcoming 2006-07 season. The broadcast partnership with Kickin’ Country will also insure that all games are available worldwide via the Internet at www.longwoodlancers.com. The season-opener is scheduled for November 11 as the Lancers host Virginia-Wise in Willett Hall beginning at 2 p.m..
“The evolution of this partnership with Kickin’ Country is significant as it falls in line with our goal of continuing to raise the profile and visibility of Longwood University,” explained Austin. “We’re also happy that the radio station has decided to broadcast all 31 men’s basketball games this season to southside and central Virginia. Longwood Athletics looks forward to another outstanding season of partnering with Kickin’ Country.”
92.9 FM Kickin’ Country is the Farmville area’s only 24-hour, seven days a week modern country format serving the Heart of Virginia. At 6,000 watts, WVHL covers a 10-county area, including Prince Edward, Buckingham, Cumberland, Powhatan, Amelia, Nottoway, Lunenburg, Charlotte, Appomattox, and Campbell counties. Kickin' Country is the CMT Affiliate for Southside Virginia with programming that features today's top-charting modem country artists, and is flavored with the best in country gold as well. WVHL also offers local news, weather, sports, and information plus ABC Network news and sports.
“Kickin' Country is delighted to announce that this year we will be carrying all 31 games for Longwood University men's basketball for the 2006-07 season,” said Sherry Massaro, Operations Manager and Program Director. “We believe that Kickin' Country and Longwood University built a great partnership last year and we will continue to build on it by carrying the entire season. Kickin' Country is honored to be the flagship station for Longwood University Men's Basketball. GO LANCERS!!!”
Handling the play-by-play for the 31-game broadcast schedule will be Jon Schaeffer, director of broadcasting and voice of the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. A 2002 graduate of Penn State, he was a finalist for the Hearst Award honoring top collegiate broadcasters. A native of Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, Schaeffer recently completed his fourth season with the Hillcats and will be entering his third season announcing Longwood Basketball.
This year’s schedule will include 12 home games, 17 road games, and two neutral-site contests. The home games include Virginia-Wise (Nov. 11, 2 p.m.), VCU (Nov. 13, 7 p.m.), Shenandoah (Nov. 25, 3 p.m.), Navy (Dec. 1, 7 p.m.), American (Dec. 30, 3 p.m.), Savannah State (Jan. 20, 2 p.m.), Hampton (Jan. 22, 7 p.m.), High Point (Jan. 28, 7 p.m.), Morgan State (Feb. 3, 3 p.m.), Florida Atlantic (Feb. 6, 8 p.m.), Liberty (Feb. 15, 7 p.m.), and NJIT (Feb. 19, 7 p.m.). Away games include Norfolk State (Nov. 15, 7 p.m.), George Washington (Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.), Richmond (Nov. 20, 7 p.m.), North Carolina A&T (Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.), American (Dec. 4, 7 p.m.), High Point (Dec. 6, 7 p.m.), Liberty (Dec. 9, 7 p.m.), New Mexico (Dec. 17, 9 p.m.), Southern California (Dec. 19, tbd), Providence (Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m.), Yale (Jan. 6, 2 p.m.), NJIT (Jan. 10, 7 p.m.), Utah Valley State (Jan. 15, 9:05 p.m.), Oklahoma (Jan. 30, 8 p.m.), Virginia (Feb. 13, 7 p.m.), Campbell (Feb. 22, 7 p.m.), and Savannah State (Feb. 24, 2 p.m.). The two neutral games will be broadcast from Las Vegas, Nevada and the Orleans Arena as part of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic: Charleston Southern (Dec. 22, 3 p.m.) and either Kennesaw State or Maryland-Eastern Shore (Dec. 23, tbd). The road games at New Mexico and USC are also part of this prestigious holiday tournament.
92.9 FM Kickin’ Country will also air a weekly, 30-minute ‘Coach’s Show’ featuring Longwood men’s basketball head coach Mike Gillian, and hosted by assistant athletics director for media relations Greg Prouty, every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. during the campaign, beginning November 7.
Sponsors for the broadcasts this year include Haley Auto of Farmville, Papa John’s Pizza, Ellington Energy Services, Southside Community Hospital, East End Motor Company, McDonald’s of Farmville, Steger Insurance Agency, Dahl Home Furnishings, Charley’s Waterfront Café, Ed’s Family Dry Cleaners, Progressive Therapy, Longwood Dining Services-ARAMARK, Macado’s, Putney Mechanical, Car-Go Motors, Mary Lou’s Monogramming, NAPA of Farmville, Mulligan’s Sports Grille, and Nationwide Insurance-Agent Kim Yeatts.
