Redhawks sports will hit St. Louis airwaves

~ Football and men's basketball games will air live on 1380 ESPN Radio.

For the first time ever, Southeast Missouri State football and men's basketball games will be broadcast live in St. Louis.

Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins made the announcement during a Wednesday luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

The games will air on 1380 ESPN Radio, which will also broadcast a three-minute show on Southeast athletics that will air three times each Friday 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."

Dobbins said over 40 percent of last year's beginning freshmen were from St. Louis and that 16,000 alumni live in St. Louis. He added that more than 800 former Southeast athletes live in the St. Louis area, while 20 percent of the current football and the basketball players are from St. Louis.

Dave Greene, general manager of 1380 ESPN, said his station is excited about the new relationship with Southeast.

"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."

Southeast men's basketball coach Scott Edgar said the St. Louis area is vital to his recruiting and having live broadcasts in St. Louis will be a big plus for his program. Southeast football coach Tony Samuel agreed.

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

With Wednesday's announcement, 1380 ESPN joins the Southeast Radio Network operated by River Radio of Cape Girardeau. Network stations include anchor station K-103 in Cape Girardeau, KSIM in Sikeston, KMAL in Malden and KWOC in Poplar Bluff.

Erik Sean will be in his seventh season as the 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.

"This is just really outstanding for us," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said. "This will really be a neat partnership. We've got a real strong alumni base in St. Louis and we can promote our university in a number of ways."

Jeff Vernetti, a Southeast graduate who is a promotions director and producer at 1380 ESPN, will produce the Friday shows on Southeast athletics.