July 31, 2006

St. Louis, Mo. - For the first time ever, Southeast Missouri State University football and basketball games will be broadcast live in St. Louis.

Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast, made the announcement at a Wednesday noon luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club. The games will be on 1380 ESPN Radio which will also broadcast a 3-minute show on Southeast athletics that will air three times on Friday's beginning Aug. 18.

"It is exciting to know that our athletic teams and our University will get added exposure in the St. Louis area," Dobbins said. "St. Louis is very important to Southeast. Over 40% of last year's beginning freshmen were from St. Louis and we have 16,000 alumni living in St. Louis. There are over 800 former Southeast athletes living in the greater St. Louis area. Currently 20% of both the football team members and the basketball squad are from St. Louis."

Dave Greene, manager of 1380 ESPN, said his station is excited about the new relationship with Southeast Missouri State. "I know our staff is looking forward to telling the story of Southeast athletics," he said. "It will be great to have the games on our station and the shows each Friday will keep area Southeast fans up to date on Redhawks athletics."

Scott Edgar, Southeast basketball coach, said the St. Louis area is vital to his recruiting and having the games broadcast in St. Louis will be a big plus for his program.

"I'm happy to be in on the ground floor of the expansion of our radio network into St. Louis," said Southeast football coach Tony Samuel. "It will provide a valuable communications link to the region."

1380 ESPN joins the Southeast Radio Network operated by River Radio of Cape Girardeau. Network stations include anchor station K-103, a 100,000 watt station from Cape Girardeau that goes into five states, KSIM in Sikeston, KMAL in Malden and KWOC in Poplar Bluff. Erik Sean will be in his seventh season as t he play-by-play voice of Redhawks football and men's basketball. He will be joined on the football broadcasts by color commentator Rick Wieser, a former Southeast quarterback and Ron Hines, Southeast sports information director.

Jeff Vernetti, a Southeast graduate, who works for 1380 ESPN, will produce the Friday shows on Southeast athletics.