Blue Hose to kick off ETV's 2006 football schedule

Take two defending conference champions, add one shot at revenge, and toss in one of South Carolina's legendary college coaches and you have a made-for-television football event.

In short, you'll have Presbyterian College hosting Charleston Southern University on Sept. 2 in a game to be televised live statewide on South Carolina ETV.

First of 2 televised games this season
PC's home opener will kick off ETV's 2006 football coverage that will include five high-profile games. The Blue Hose are the only state football team that will be featured twice on the network this season, as its Nov. 11 game against Newberry at Bailey Memorial Stadium also will be televised live.

"We are so glad to begin the football season on the SCETV network," PC director of athletics Bee Carlton said. "We are happy to welcome viewers in the state to our campus and to show them a great college football game featuring two of the most exciting teams in the state. I can't think of a better way to open the football season in South Carolina."

Blue Hose unbeaten in 2005 SAC play
The Blue Hose went unbeaten in South Atlantic Conference play on the way to earning a top regional seed in the 2005 NCAA Division II playoffs. PC's season included a 42-0 victory over Charleston Southern. The Buccaneers rebounded strongly from that non-conference loss and won their final five games to claim a share of the Big South Conference title.

The Blue Hose and Buccaneers kick off the ETV football broadcast season at 1:35 p.m.

Willie Jeffries in the booth
Adding to the excitement is the addition of former South Carolina State University head coach Willie Jeffries as color analyst to the ETV booth. Jeffries will partner with play-by-play announcer Emerson Phillips and sideline reporter Cara Campbell for the broadcasts.

Encore broadcasts scheduled
In addition to live coverage, all ETV stations will air an encore broadcast of the game at midnight on Sept. 2. ETV's digital broadcast service, the South Carolina Channel, will replay the game at noon on Sept. 3.

The statewide network's additional offerings in 2006 include South Carolina State at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, The Citadel visiting Wofford, and Newberry at PC. It also will air the North-South High School All-Star Game.