Blue Raiders announce new radio home for football, men's basketball

MURFREESBORO - Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro announced today that Sports Radio 560 WNSR-AM will be the new home for Blue Raider football and men's basketball in the Nashville area, beginning with the 2009 football season.

The move comes following a format change to station WNFN 106.7-FM by Cumulus Media and its desire to no longer carry sports programming.

"We had a good run with WNFN and we appreciate the partnership," Massaro said. "We are very fortunate to have WNSR come forward and put together a proposal that will keep giving Blue Raider fans a consistent home in Nashville for our football and men's basketball games along with the weekly radio shows for Coach (Rick) Stockstill and Coach (Kermit) Davis. We look forward to working with General Manager Jeff Kolb and his staff."

In addition to the WNSR 560-AM frequency, all of its programming is simulcast on WNTC-FM (103.9) in Bowling Green, Ky. Blue Raider Athletics also has broadcast arrangements with 100,000-watt station WMOT-FM (89.5) and WGNS-AM (1450), as well as 100.5-FM and 101.9-FM in Murfreesboro. Both of those stations also will carry all women's basketball games and the Coach Rick Insell Show, along with the football and men's basketball programming.

"WNSR has strong local talk shows that will give us an opportunity to promote our programs even more," said Director of Broadcasting Chip Walters. "Having a station with strong local ties that is willing to cross promote is important to the growth of our overall athletic program.

"WNSR provides nine hours of local programming daily and it is a benefit to have local sports talk hosts commenting on your product," Walters added. "WNSR has The Morning Sports Page (with Daily News Journal Executive Sports Editor Greg Pogue and David Coleman), The Thom Abraham Show and The Afternoon Pressbox (with Bill King and Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle)."

Middle Tennessee fans throughout the Mid-state and beyond will be able to follow the Blue Raiders as these stations cover areas throughout the region. Blue Raider football pregame and postgame shows also will be carried on 560-AM, in addition to WMOT-FM, WNTC-FM and WGNS.