SMSU football game will be on FSN North
By Andy RenneckeNCAA Division II and the CBS College Sports Network announced Friday that the Southwest Minnesota State football game at Minnesota-Duluth this season will be broadcast nationwide and on Fox Sports Net North out of Minneapolis.
The game was originally only scheduled to be played on the CBS College Sports Network, but FSN North picked up the game for its schedule Friday.
The game is scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Malosky Stadium in Duluth. The game was originally scheduled to be played on Sept. 13.
"This is a big deal for our football program and the university," SMSU head football coach Eric Eidsness said Friday. "It gives us some exposure and some recognition. I don't think you can put a price tag on that. Not many Division II kids get to ever play on TV. With the new facility going up, this is an exciting time to be part of our football team."
The game will be televised live on both networks. Division II is partnering with the CBS College Sports Network to televise at least five football games nationally this year.
The others include Fort Valley State at Valdosta State on Aug. 23, North Alabama at Carson-Newman on Sept. 4, Western State at Mesa State on Oct. 16 and Angelo State at Tarleton State on Oct. 23.
"The NCAA selects five games throughout the year to be played on national television and were lucky enough to be chosen," Eidsness said. "Certain games are submitted and teams have to agree to play on Thursday night. We did and threw our name in the ring. We were lucky enough to be selected.
"The guys are excited about this. We'll talk a lot about it when fall camp starts."
It will be the first time in SMSU school history that it will play on a national network in any sport. CBS College Sports Network is available in Marshall on Charter Communications on digital channel 412 and is also available on DISH Network Channel 152 and DIRECTV Channel 610.
FSN North is available on Channel 67 through Knology.
The broadcast will also be syndicated through regional sports networks and made available via broadband at ncaa.org.
Eidsness thinks Minnesota-Duluth will be a strong opponent, especially coming back to the NSIC from the now-folded North Central Conference. Southwest opens fall camp on Aug. 7 and opens its season Aug. 30 at home against Minnesota-Crookston.
"They're ranked as the 15th-best team in the country for the preseason rankings," he said. "They return a strong quarterback and a lot of players with experience. We're going to have our hands full with that game. It's going to be exciting."
With playing on national TV, will there be any pressure involved? Not according to Eidsness.
"It will just be another conference game," he said. "I don't think it's anything we need to talk about with the guys. I don't think the pressure falls on us. UMD is one of the top-ranked teams in the country and I think it falls on them. They're the ones playing at home. It's all in how you approach it. I think our kids will be excited and ready to go."
Eidsness think it's possible to eventually have a nationally-televised game or FSN North game at the Regional Events Center.
"We'll always try to put in a bid," he said. "It's just one of those deals where it's up to the NCAA. It's all about how the schedule goes. But any time we have the opportunity to play on TV, we'll take advantage of it."
