The CBS College Sports Network has selected this week’s West Liberty-Fairmont State game as part of its six-game NCAA Division II package of live national Thursday night telecasts.
Veteran broadcaster Jason Knapp will handle the play-by-play duties with former NFL standout Akbar Gbaja-Biamila providing the color commentary.
Football fans may remember Gbaja-Biamila as an outstanding defensive lineman during his collegiate career at San Diego State. The Los Angeles native went on to enjoy a 5-year NFL career (2003-07) with the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins.
West Liberty was the first WVIAC school to host a CBS College Sports telecast as the nationally-ranked Hilltoppers’ men’s basketball team defeated visiting Wheeling Jesuit, 93-80, at the ASRC in a CBS College Sports Network telecast on Feb. 28, 2009.
The first nationwide WVIAC football telecast came last season when CBS College Sports closed out its 2008 NCAA Division II Thursday night package with Shepherd’s regular-season finale at Glenville State.
The CBS College Sports Network is available to approximately 32 million subscribers nationwide.
Thursday’s West Liberty game is being carried on such major providers as: Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, DIRECTV (613), Dish Network (152), Insight Communications, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FIOS.
CBS College Sports is located on Channel 274 for Comcast Cable subscribers in the local area. The West Liberty University television station – WLTV-14 – will also pick up the live broadcast.
Live internet links to the game broadcast will be available at www.hilltoppersports.com and www.NCAA.com.