Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Athletics Enters Partnership with Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation
8/10/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell director of athletics and recreation John Hardt and Roger Haddon, president and CEO of Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation, have announced a partnership that will make Eagle 107 the flagship radio station for all Bison football and men's basketball games beginning this season.
Based in Sunbury, Pa., Eagle 107 (WEGH-FM 107.3) is one of the most popular FM stations in the Central Susquehanna Valley. For the past several years the station has carried Philadelphia Eagles NFL games, and now Bucknell football and men's basketball will be added to the programming lineup, in addition to the popular Bison Live! show, which airs every Monday from the Lewisburg Hotel.
In addition to Eagle 107, Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation also operates Newsradio 1070 WKOK-AM and WQKX-FM 94.1. WKOK features local news during the morning and afternoons, with local sports or ESPN Radio programming during the evenings. WQKX features the popular "Drew & The Crew" morning show, hosted by Drew Kelly. Bucknell coaches and student-athletes have appeared on the show in the past, with more regular appearances forthcoming under this new affiliation.
"I am extremely excited about Bucknell's association with Eagle 107 and the Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation," said Hardt. "All of our Bison student-athletes and their programs will benefit tremendously from the increased exposure provided by one of the most prominent families of radio stations in the area. Having a connection with our neighbors in surrounding communities is something that is very important to us at Bucknell, and I feel this affiliation with Sunbury Broadcasting helps immeasurably in that respect."
"It is an exciting time for this partnership with Bucknell sports," said Haddon. "Fan support and enthusiasm is at an all-time high and we look forward to serving thousands of Bison fans in the Central Susquehanna Valley. We consider it an honor and privilege to be the voice of Bucknell Athletics."
The first Bucknell event to air on Eagle 107 will be the 2005 football season opener on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Georgetown. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m., with the pregame show to begin at 5:30 p.m. Once again this season Doug Birdsong and George Burman will handle the broadcast duties home and away.
Monday, Aug. 29, will mark the year's first installment of Bison Live! Now in its fifth season, Bison Live! is a fast-paced, hourlong radio show that airs live from the Lewisburg Hotel on Market Street in downtown Lewisburg. Birdsong serves as host each Monday at 7 p.m. Bucknell head football coach Tim Landis appears every week throughout football season, while men's basketball coach Pat Flannery and women's coach Kathy Fedorjaka are weekly guests throughout the winter. The show also includes interviews with a variety of Bucknell coaches, student-athletes and other special guests from the world of Bison Athletics. The live audience is invited to ask questions, with trivia and other prizes given away throughout the show.
The Bucknell men's basketball team will debut on Eagle 107 on Friday, Nov. 18 with its season opener at Rider. Birdsong and Doug Byerly will make up the broadcast team again in 2005-06.
Once again this season all of Bucknell's athletics events that are aired on the radio will also be simulcast free of charge on the Web via SportsJuice.com. Visit Bucknell's official Web site at www.BucknellBison.com and click on the "Live Audio Webcasts" link to access the broadcasts.
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports, including 14 for women, at the Division I level (I-AA football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 11 of the 15 years it has been contested. Bucknell led the nation with a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2003 survey and ranks third in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans.
