Expanded football broadcasts are featured in the 2012 Season

Eastern Washington University and 700 ESPN and the KXLY Radio Group have reached a two-year extension on their radio agreement to have all home and away EWU football and men’s basketball games broadcast live on 700 ESPN. The original three-year agreement was inked in 2010, and the extension will have Eastern games on 700 ESPN through the 2014-15 school year.

Eagle games may be heard in the Spokane/Cheney area on 700-AM ESPN, www.700espn.com & via iphone app. (search for “700 ESPN the ticket” and download app). It’s also available at www.tunein.com and via a tunein app for mobile phones.

Larry Weir (pictured below) returns as the play-by-play announcer for both football and men’s basketball games, and Paul Sorensen will handle football analysis and color commentary. Weir and Sorensen will also host weekly coaches shows live from Northern Quest Casino and Resort on Mondays at 6 p.m. Pacific time throughout the season. The 700 ESPN staff will have a greater presence at football games through an additional one-hour tailgate show and as sideline reporters at home games, with Keith Osso filling both roles on a regular basis.

Weir will return for his 22nd season as the voice of the Eagles in football, having broadcast all but one of EWU’s 243 games in that span. The only game he missed was a 2005 playoff game at Northern Iowa when he was broadcasting Eastern’s basketball games in Alaska. Weir spent 19 seasons calling men’s basketball action for the Eagles from 1991-2009.

Basketball was handled the past two seasons by Dennis Patchin, an Idaho State University graduate. Patchin has been with KXLY for over 25 years and has covered everything from the Washington State Cougars to the Seattle Mariners. During his time at KXLY, Patchin was also the voice of the Gonzaga Bulldogs on radio for four seasons, during which the Zags made three-straight Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Patchin, Keith Osso and Rick Lukens are hosts of their popular sports talk show from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 700 ESPN. Patchin has elected to focus on the expansion and enhancement of that show instead of calling EWU basketball games.
That trio, as well as producers Steve “The Wingman” Pry and Jason Johnson, will help with Eastern broadcasts, as well as weekly coaches shows featuring EWU head football coach Beau Baldwin and men’s basketball head coach Jim Hayford.

Dennis Patchin (far left), Keith Osso (second from left) and Steve "The Wingman" Pry (far right) pose with former Eastern student and current ESPN broadcaster Colin Cowherd.

Larry Weir Entering his 22nd season as the football play-by-play voice of the Eagles!