Aug. 18, 2004

Fort Collins - Colorado State University sports fans throughout the state can follow the Rams on radio again in 2004-05. The Colorado State Sports Network produced by Nelligan Sports Marketing today announced a statewide list of affiliates that will provide coverage throughout the state. "We are excited that fans, alumni, and donors to our program across the state will be able to follow the Rams on radio again this year," said Director of Athletics Mark Driscoll. "Nelligan Sports has worked diligently to assemble a list of affiliates that helps us reach out to our fans across Colorado and in the region." KCOL Radio in Fort Collins, 600 AM, will be the flagship of the network. KNUS Radio in Denver, 710, is among the affiliates. NSM this year added a network affiliate in Pueblo, KGHV Radio (1350 AM), for the first time in several years. Other affiliates are located in Fort Morgan (KFTM, 1400 AM), Sterling (KNNG, 104.7 FM), Yuma (KRDZ, 1440 AM) and Grand Junction (KTMM (1340 AM). Mike Palisi of NSM said the network provides coverage along the Front Range as well as on Colorado's Western Slope. "With the largest number of CSU alums of any state institution living within the state, we knew it was important to provide network radio coverage throughout the state." Palisi said NSM is working diligently to add more affiliates to the network in coming weeks. The network will provide live radio coverage of all football and men's basketball games in 2004-05. Women's basketball will be aired locally by KCOL Radio - with games moving to KIIX (1410 AM) if game conflicts arise with men's game coverage. Selected women's game will also be carried by KNUS. Football pregame coverage begins two hours before kickoff and includes interviews, features, as well as other game day information. Part of the pregame show will originate from the Ram Zone presented by Comcast, the school's new pregame fan function in the southeast parking lot near the team tunnel entrance. For selected games, part of the pregame show will also originate from the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins. Following game coverage, the network provides a locker room show with interviews with coaches and players, including a review by Coach Sonny Lubick. Fans outside the listening area can join the broadcasts through Yahoo.com. Fans can click on the Yahoo icon on the front page of the school's athletics website, CSURAMS.com, then follow the directions. Ram fans can also follow the team in the days preceding the game during the Coors Light Sonny Lubick radio show every Wednesday during the season on the network. The one-hour show, which can be heard statewide on the Colorado State Sports Network presented by NSM, will take place every Wednesday night during the season, beginning Sept. 1. This year's show originates at Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar, 1526 Oakridge Drive, in Fort Collins, from 7-8 p.m. Lubick, in his 12th season as head coach of the Rams, joins veteran sportscaster Rich Bircumshaw for the show each week. Bircumshaw is in his sixth year with the network including his third as the play-by-play announcer for Rams' football. He has been calling the action of men's basketball for the past four seasons. NSM officials also said the rest this year's announcing team for football network broadcasts remains unchanged from a year ago. Bircumshaw will again call the play-by-play with former Rams' all-star player Erik Olson adding color commentary. Brian Roth, who is the play-by-play voice of CSU's women's basketball action produced by NSM, is the sideline reporter. Kevin McGlue is the network producer.