From Shorter reports
— The stage is set for what will be a new and exciting chapter for Shorter University Athletics.
As it prepares for its first-ever year as a full NCAA Division II and Gulf South Conference member, Shorter announced today that it will team up with Rome Radio Partners, LLC to broadcast the Hawks’ football, basketball, baseball and softball games in 201415 with all the contests being carried on 99.5 The Jock FM and WGJK-AM 1360.
“I’m excited about it,” Shorter Director of Athletics Bill Peterson said of the broadcast rights agreement the Hawks have made with RRP. “We feel they’ll become the premier sports channel in Northwest Georgia and we want to be a part of that. From my perspective, Rome Radio Partners will do a great job promoting not only Shorter’s athletic program but the university as a whole.”
“All of us here are excited about this,” Howard Toole, Managing Partner for RRP, said. “I am in awe of what Shorter’s athletic depart- ment has done and the level they’ve reached and we have the opportunity to cross-promote Shorter.”
The Jock, which provides an entirely sportsrelated format and is an ESPN Radio affiliate, is one of five stations operated by RRP along with WSRM-FM South 93.5, WRGA-AM 1470 and FM 98.7, WQTU-FM 102.3 and WRBF-FM The Rebel 104.9.
“I’ve been impressed with what Howard and RRP is doing,” Peterson said, “and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
In addition to being carried live to Romearea listeners, Shorter’s games will be streamed live on The Jock’s website www.995thejock.com. That, however, is just the tip of the iceberg to the agreement.
Throughout the year, Shorter will have a commercial schedule each week on The Jock, a weekly 30-minute show will air every Saturday morning and a “link through” Shorter ad will appear on all of RRP’s station websites.
Making the first appearance on The Jock will be the Hawks’ football team, which starts their historic 10th season on Thursday, Sept. 4 when Shorter hosts Paine College at Barron Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
The broadcast will include the 30-minute Phil Jones Show that airs an hour before every game and is followed by a pre-game show that will feature a “Meet the Hawks” segment and a preview of the game itself.
The halftime show will feature an interview with a member of the Shorter family and following each game a postgame wrap up show will take place.
Shorter will also receive promotional announcements on all of RRP’s stations during the week.
During the basketball, baseball and softball seasons, the Lady Hawks and Hawks will follow similar pre-game, game and postgame coverage, and now that Shorter is eligible for NCAA and GSC competition, The Jock will follow the teams during the postseason.
The move to RRP and The Jock ends a long association Shorter has had with Cripple Creek Broadcasting of Rome.
“We want to tip our hats to and thank Randy Davis and his staff for what they’ve done for Shorter,” Peterson said.