830 WCCO-AM Radio will air live broadcasts of all St. Thomas football games during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the station and the university announced today, Wednesday, May 11.
WCCO had a taste of St. Thomas football last December, having broadcast the Tommies’ NCAA playoff game from O’Shaughnessy Stadium, and the two-season contract was negotiated.
Dave Lee
“We are excited to partner with the University of St. Thomas,” said Mick Anselmo, WCCO senior vice president and market manager. “WCCO’s tradition of Saturday afternoon football broadcasts will continue with St. Thomas’ rich history of athletic success and its traditional rivalries in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.”
St. Thomas received glowing feedback from alumni and fans who heard the playoff game on WCCO, and believes the partnership with the station will garner positive attention for the university and its football program, said Mark Dienhart, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Joe Senser
“WCCO has long been a broadcasting giant in college football,” he said. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for St. Thomas, for the MIAC and for Division III to bring our exciting brand of football to so many fans in the Upper Midwest.”
Dave Lee, voice of Gopher football from 2001 to 2010 and WCCO’s morning drive-time host, will be the play-by-play announcer of St. Thomas games, and announced the partnership on his morning radio show. Joe Senser, a former Minnesota Vikings tight end and Viking Radio Network analyst, will provide color commentary for the games.
Glenn Caruso
“For many Minnesotans, WCCO is the voice of college football in this state,” said Glenn Caruso, who has a 30-6 (.833) record in three years at St. Thomas. “We’re ecstatic about this partnership and to have the Tommies affiliated with a media institution like WCCO.”
The Tommies, who finished 12-1 last season in advancing to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the second straight year, will open the 2011 season Sept. 3 at home against St. Norbert. Look for an announcement soon in tommiesports.com about new premium season ticket opportunities in O'Shaughnessy Stadium
WCCO Radio began broadcasting in 1922 as WLAG and was renamed WCCO two years later when Washburn Crosby Co., the forerunner of General Mills, took over the station. It is one of a handful of “clear-channel” stations in the United States, reaching into Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota during the day and most states and Canadian provinces in the evening. WCCO has broadcast college football games since 1924.
