Syracuse Athletics and Galaxy Communications Announce Partnership; Gedney Joins Broadcast Team

Read Dr. Daryl Gross' Press Conference Transcript
Read transcript of Galaxy President Ed Levine's Press Conference

Syracuse University athletics will have a new radio home beginning with the 2007 football season, announced Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. Galaxy Communications’ TK99 (99.5FM, WTKW) will serve as the flagship station for the Syracuse ISP Sports Network. Gross and Galaxy President and CEO Ed Levine developed the partnership that includes the broadcast of Syracuse football, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s lacrosse, in addition to promotional opportunities surrounding the games.

“We are thrilled about the new partnership with Galaxy,” Gross said. “They proved to us throughout the process that they were going to make SU Athletics a huge and special priority. The enthusiasm and creativity Ed and his staff have is infectious. This relationship will enhance our marketing efforts and go beyond listenership as we look to create environments surrounding the games that no one will want to miss. We have big plans and ideas for the future and are excited about kicking this relationship off as we lead up to our home football opener versus Washington on Friday, August 31. I look forward to our relationship with Galaxy to be extraordinary for the entire Syracuse community.”

The Syracuse ISP Sports Network will reach the Utica-Rome area on an FM station for the first time (94.9FM, WKLL, a 50,000 watt station that can be heard from Utica to Boonville north, Oneonta south and Amsterdam east). Orange men’s lacrosse will be carried on an FM station (99.5FM, WTKW) for the first time in the history of the program and Syracuse women’s basketball will return to the commercial airwaves on WTLA (1200/1400 AM). The Greg Robinson and Jim Boeheim radio shows will air on TK99.

“As the president of a locally owned company and a Syracuse alum, this is much more than just a radio affiliation agreement,” Levine said. “Galaxy and Syracuse intend to enhance and create new events on the campus and intend to bring Orange Athletics into the community via our ownership and involvement in such events as ‘A Taste Of Syracuse’, ‘Lights On The Lake’ and ‘The K-Rockathon’.”

“The partnership will bring Syracuse Athletics to the community in many unique and different ways,” said Syracuse ISP Sports General Manager Joe Baldini. “Fans will hear extended pre- and post-game coverage, as well as new weekly programming from the experts who cover the team from the inside. Women’s basketball will have a full-time, over-the-air home, and men’s lacrosse will be heard in FM stereo. In addition, there will be new events surrounding the athletic programs which will bring added excitement for the fans.”

The broadcast team includes five Syracuse University alums and a former head coach. Orange play-by-play voice Matt Park (Syracuse ’97) will call the action for football and men’s basketball and Brian Higgins ’04 will continue as the play-by-play voice for men’s lacrosse and women’s basketball.

The football broadcast team includes Park, former Orange All-American and NFL player Chris Gedney ’93, and former Orange head coach Dick MacPherson (1981-90). Gedney, who began his broadcasting career as part of the Arizona Cardinals pre and post-game shows when he retired from playing, will make his debut as the football analyst on the Syracuse ISP Sports Network for the 2007 season. Gedney was the analyst for the Arizona radio station that broadcast Syracuse’s 2001 Insight.com Bowl victory against Kansas State. MacPherson will participate in the pre-game, halftime and post-game shows.

“I am excited to re-connect with the University, the football program and the community,” Gedney said. “Having been a part of the high school program at Liverpool and at Syracuse, I am really thrilled about re-joining the area. To be a part of the football program again in some capacity is very appealing. I have always enjoyed the idea of broadcasting. When I was recruited to Syracuse, I had an eye on studying in the Newhouse School.”

“We are excited to have Chris join our broadcast team,” Baldini said. “His passion for Syracuse University and football are evident from the first time you meet him. His successes on the field as a college and NFL player will enhance the experience for the listeners. Anytime you can add a person of his personal and professional character it only makes for a stronger team. It is great to have Chris back in the Syracuse family.”

For men’s basketball, Park and former Orange standouts Sean Kerins ’84 and Gene Waldron ’84 will call the action. A three-year play-by-play veteran for women’s basketball and men’s lacrosse, Higgins will call the men’s lacrosse action with Kyle Fetterly, who has been the analyst for seven years. In addition, Higgins is the studio host for the football pre-game and post-game shows and serves as the sideline reporter.

The Syracuse games and coaches’ shows are produced and distributed by International Sports Properties, Inc. (ISP) of Winston-Salem, NC. The Syracuse ISP Sports Network includes the entire state of New York and extends into neighboring states, including Vermont.

“We continue to explore options throughout the state to continue the growth of the Syracuse ISP Sports Network,” Baldini said. “With partnerships in Rochester, Albany and New York City, and exploration with the Buffalo market we continue to build one of the most complete networks in college athletics. The partnership with Galaxy Communications will not only enhance our Syracuse presence, but will upgrade our Utica affiliate. The continued partnerships with radio groups across New York State will further Syracuse University Athletics as ‘New York’s College Team’.”

Syracuse University Athletics

Syracuse Athletics and Galaxy Communications Announce Partnership; Gedney Joins Broadcast Team

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