FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference Television Network has earned a pair of nominations for this year’s College Sports Media Awards, both in the live game category as part of the collegiate athletics division. Productions of the Sam Houston State vs. Stephen F. Austin football game and the volleyball tournament championship match between Oral Roberts and Central Arkansas are up for the honor.
This marks the first year the Southland TV Network has received multiple nominations. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges and announced at a ceremony on May 29 at the Sports Video Group’s College Sports Summit in Atlanta, Ga. The network will be seeking its second CSMA trophy, with the first coming in 2009-10.
“The College Sports Media Awards recognizes the best production across the industry, from national and regional networks to conferences, leagues and universities,” SVG chairman Tom Buffalano said. “Each year the level of competition rises and the bar is raised. To receive multiple nominations is a testament to the high quality of work that the Southland Conference Television Network has been producing for several years, serving their schools, student bodies, alumni and fans in a tremendous way.”
The two Southland broadcasts will be up against three other nominees: Florida State University (baseball vs. Georgia Tech), Lafayette College (men’s basketball vs. Bucknell) and the University of North Carolina (women’s basketball vs. Florida State).
“We’re very proud of the continued attention and respect that the Southland Television Network continues to receive from the broadcasting industry.” Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett said. “It’s quite an honor to be nominated among so many other accomplished broadcast entities, and I know our Conference membership is very proud of the product we collectively create and provide for television.”
Randy McIlvoy, Shea Walker and Brooke Bentley made up the on-air team for the Sam Houston State vs. Stephen F. Austin football broadcast at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. The “Battle of the Piney Woods” featured 962 yards of combined total offense in a 51-43 victory for the Bearkats.
Lincoln Rose and Bentley called the volleyball championship in Conway, Ark. Tournament host Central Arkansas defeated Oral Roberts in four games, clinching UCA’s first trip to the NCAA tournament.
The Southland TV Network became a reality in 2008 and has broadcast more than 150 events. The network earned a College Sports Media Award in 2009-10 for best live game in the collegiate division, following that up with an honorable mention in the professional division (2010-11) and a nomination in the collegiate division (2011-12). Plus, the network has captured six Telly awards, including one this year for the volleyball championship broadcast.
In addition to the awards ceremony, the College Sports Summit features two days of panel discussions, workshop tracks and a technology showcase hall. Chris Mycoskie, the Southland Conference’s assistant commissioner for television and electronic media, will be one of the featured speakers during the CSMA Storytellers Forum.
