SEATTLE, WA – DIRECTV Sports Networks and the Big Sky Conference have announced the telecast schedule for the upcoming 2012 football season with a total of 12 games to be televised on the ROOT SPORTS branded regional sports networks. The three ROOT SPORTS networks reach more than 8.7 million viewers across 18 states, including Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado that are home to most Big Sky institutions.

Portland State will be featured in one of the games on Root Sports, a Nov. 3 contest at 2011 NCAA playoff participant Montana State. The game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. Mountain/12:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Other televised PSU games will be announced at a later date.

DIRECTV Sports Networks will produce and televise all 12 Big Sky Conference football games in high-definition, starting on September 22 when Northern Arizona visits the University of Montana. DIRECTV Sports Networks will also introduce new on-air graphics customized for the Big Sky Conference and each of its individual teams. ROOT SPORTS will televise 12 of the 13 Big Sky Conference football teams at least once, and air contests from nine Big Sky stadiums.
 
“We are very excited to showcase high-definition telecasts of the Big Sky Conference football games to fans and alumni across the Big Sky communities, and also nationally,” said Patrick Crumb, President of DIRECTV Sports Networks.  “Big Sky football continues to grow in strength and popularity, and this schedule will enable Big Sky fans to enjoy great competition among these universities.”

Starting on September 22, ROOT SPORTS will feature a Big Sky “Game of the Week” showcasing a key conference matchup. During three Saturdays this season, fans will be treated to back-to-back Big Sky football games.

Major rivalry games carried on ROOT SPORTS will include the Montana Grizzlies traveling to take on the Eastern Washington Eagles on the red turf of Roos Field and the 112th “Brawl of the Wild” between the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats.

“We're looking forward to another highly-successful season of football in the Big Sky Conference, the first with 13 members,'' said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “We are very excited to showcase our product on ROOT SPORTS. We believe fans and alumni of our institutions will be very pleased with the production quality and overall commitment to covering Big Sky Conference football games by ROOT SPORTS.”
 
Here is the inaugural 2012 Big Sky football schedule on ROOT SPORTS:
·         Sept. 22 – Northern Arizona @ Montana 1:30pm MT
·         Sept. 29 – Montana State @ Southern Utah 1:30pm MT
·         Sept. 29 – Montana @ Eastern Washington 5:00pm MT
·         Oct. 6 – Montana @ Northern Colorado 1:30pm MT
·         Oct. 6 – Montana State @ Cal Davis 5:00pm MT
·         Oct. 13 – Eastern Washington @ Montana State 1:30pm MT
·         Oct. 20 – Montana @ North Dakota 1:30pm MT
·         Oct. 27 – Idaho State @ Montana 1:30pm MT
·         Nov. 3 – Montana @ Weber State 1:30pm MT
·         Nov. 3 – Montana State @ Sacramento State 5:00pm MT
·         Nov. 10 – Portland State @ Montana State 1:30pm MT
·         Nov. 17 – Montana State @ Montana 1:30pm MT



PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL NEWS

Ian Ruder's Oregonian article on Monday - 4-9-12

Ian Ruder's Blog with additional notes on the Vikings

Ian Ruder's Oregonian article on Tuesday - 4-10-12