College football

USF expanding radio presence

By GREG AUMAN
Published August 24, 2005

TAMPA - USF's move to the Big East will coincide with an unprecedented radio presence, as the Bulls announced Tuesday that Clear Channel's WFLA-AM 970 would be the flagship station for football broadcasts.

"We've made a commitment to building a stronger partnership with our community as we head into the Big East," USF athletic director Doug Woolard said. "This new radio partnership is extremely exciting. ... We're thrilled that this alliance will allow for more fans to hear USF action than ever before."

Clear Channel's WDAE-AM 620 will broadcast the Jim Leavitt Show on Sundays following Bucs postgame coverage, and men's basketball coach Robert McCullum's weekly show moves to WHNZ-AM 1250.

"We're pleased to be bringing USF athletic events back home to WFLA, where the very first men's basketball games were broadcast in the early 1970s," Clear Channel regional vice president Dan DiLoreto said. "USF is a very important asset in our Tampa Bay community."

The Bulls have extended their signal into the Orlando area, adding football broadcast affiliates in Orlando's WORL-AM 660 and Winter Haven's WHNR-AM 1360.

Clear Channel takes over the football broadcasts from WTBN-AM 570 and 910, whose two-year contract with USF ended this spring. Every men's basketball game will be carried in Tampa on either a Clear Channel affiliate or WTBN, and for the first time, all USF women's basketball games will be broadcast on WTBN.

The Bulls are also expected to soon finalize a wide-ranging agreement with Bright House Catch 47, which will include replays of football games. Catch 47 aired USF's spring football game in April, as well as select Bulls baseball games.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:16:13]