New initiatives for the upcoming year of ETSU athletics were announced at a recent press conference held by Director of Athletics Dave Mullins.
These new initiatives include the institution of a community service program and the launch of the Buccaneer Sports Network.
“In the past six or eight months, we have put my program into place, and we have started a number of new things in the department,” Mullins said.
Mullins has been with ETSU for 16 years and has seen a lot of changes in the history of ETSU athletics. He said that this history gives him an idea of what the department does well and improvements that can be made.
“One of the things we talk about in college athletics is the development of leadership skills and total person training,” said Mullins. “Athletes are often regarded as role models, and when you read the papers today, it is often negative role models.”
“We have made attempts over the years, but not in a consistent and broad based approach, to get our players and coaches more actively involved in the community,” said Mullins. “I think we have put together a very broad based, effective way of training our student athletes to give back something to their community.”
There are a number of organizations that will be helped by student athletes this fall. They include Coalition for Kids, Ronald McDonald House, Haven of Mercy Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Children’s Hospital of Johnson City, Communities in Schools, Inc., Girls Incorporated and Second Harvest Food Bank.
“We are extremely excited about this program and what it can mean for both our student athletes and the people they are going to serve,” said Barb Breedlove, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator. “The goal of this program is to streamline our community service efforts. Our teams have always been great at getting involved in the community, but this way, we have a singular vision, and that will only make those efforts better.”
The other major announcement was the launch of the Buccaneer Sports Network, a cooperative endeavor between the ETSU athletics department and the university’s communications department. The Buccaneer Sports Network will produce live radio broadcasts of ETSU athletic events, a weekly radio coaches show, live audio streaming of games through www.etsubucs. com, a weekly television show highlighting all of the departments 17 programs and daily reports on a local sports radio show.
“This is a project we have been working on for some time now, and we are extremely pleased with what this network will provide for both our program and our fans,” Mullins said. “Our fans will be able to learn more about our program through this network, and our games will be easier to find on the radio.”
ETSU has named local radio personality Jay Sandos as the “Voice of the Bucs.” Sandos was the play-by-play commentator during the recent basketball season, and now will do the same for football. He will also host the coaches’ show for both radio and television.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to do this,” said Sandos. “My job is to produce radio and television programming that raises the standard. What fans will hear and see this season will be something totally different from the past.”
The Sophisticated Otter Restaurant will host the new hour-long pre-game and post-game shows for football and basketball, and fans are encouraged to participate.
The television part of the network will be made ‘in house’ at the university, and Charter Communications will broadcast the show on channel 13 and Comcast Cable will broadcast on Channel 14. Both stations will tentatively broadcast the show on Thursday nights at 7 p.m.
“We do not want the show to be the typical ‘coaches show’ where the host and the coach draw X’s and O’s for 30 minutes and rehash yesterdays game,” said Mullins. “What we hope to do is feature some of our coaches, but also use it as a way of promoting and familiarizing people with all of our programs through out the department.”
Sandos said, “We want fans to ask questions and be a part of the broadcast. There are plans for a sideline reporter too, so we are going to be all over the place during our broadcast.”
ETSU Director of Athletic Media Relations Michael White said that everyone at the network wants the fans and students to feel like they are a part of ETSU.
“Everything that is involved with the pre and post-game shows at the Sophisticated Otter is for the students and for the fans to ask questions and to be a part of the broadcast. Our sideline reporter, especially during basketball games, will be in the stands some asking fans questions,” he said.
For more information, visit the athletic department’s web site at www.etsubucs.com.

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