LSU Gold

CST Announces Live LSU Football Pregame Show

by Michael Bonnette (@LSUBonnette)
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CST Announces Live LSU Football Pregame Show

Kevin Mawae, Jacob Hester, Gordy Rush, Victor Howell and Emily Villere team up for live show ahead of each LSU Football Game

NEW ORLEANS – A new tradition in LSU Athletics is set to begin August 30th. Cox Sports Television, the regional sport network home of the LSU Tigers, announced today the creation of a new one-hour gameday show preceding all 12 of LSU’s 2014 Season football games.

LSU GAMEDAY LIVE will air each Saturday morning at 11am central beginning with LSU’s season-opener against Wisconsin from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The show will originate from LSU’s one-of-a-kind mobile audio studio, Tiger One and from CST’s Louisiana CAT Studio in New Orleans.

“As we enter our 12th season as the exclusive regional sports network home of the LSU Tigers, we have never been more excited about the launch of any new original LSU sports television program” stated CST Network Head Rod Mickler, “We know LSU GAMEDAY LIVE! will be a highly-anticipated gameday tradition for Tiger fans everywhere”.

Designed to give LSU football fans extensive behind-the-scenes access, LSU GAMEDAY LIVE will capture all of the pregame festivities surrounding game day including tailgating, the Tiger Band, the team’s walk into the stadium and much more.

LSU GAMEDAY LIVE’s broadcast team has been named and features three former LSU football players, a reporter that is extremely close to the Tiger football program and an 11-year veteran of CST studio shows.

Kevin Mawae, a sure-fire NFL Hall of Famer, eight-time NFL Pro Bowler and 2013 Louisiana Sports Hall Of Fame inductee, leads the way for the network’s five-person team. The former LSU standout finished his playing career four years ago with the Tennessee Titans and is regarded to be one of the best centers to play in the NFL.

“I am looking forward to this new adventure and learning this business from a different perspective,” stated Mawae. “Working with a former teammate in Gordy and another fellow Tiger in Jacob, I have no doubt this will be a great success and the first of many years.”

Former LSU running back Jacob Hester will also join the crew as an analyst and insider to the LSU program. Hester, who played on LSU’s 2008 BCS National Championship team, played five years in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Hester feels like this is a great opportunity for him to show his pride and support for his alma mater. “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to be back around LSU football and the greatest fans in sports. I’m lucky to be able to work with the great people at CST as well as a true professional in Gordy Rush and a future hall of famer in Kevin Mawae. Saturdays can’t get here soon enough!”

On-site anchor Gordy Rush is a radio veteran with over 23 years in the business that donned the purple and gold from 1988-90. Rush currently serves as the Vice-President/Market Manager for Guaranty Broadcasting in Baton Rouge and was named the Louisiana Broadcaster of the year in March of 2013.  Gordy serves as the sideline reporter for the LSU Radio network coverage of LSU Football and is the Host of the weekly Les Miles Television show which is also seen on CST weekly during the football season.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the team CST has assembled for LSU Gameday Live,” said Rush.  “I look forward to putting 100% into a unique, inside look at LSU Football on CST’s regional platform that will be a must see for Tiger Fans!”

Current CST anchor and announcer Victor Howell will serve as the studio anchor, originating from the Louisiana CAT Studios in New Orleans. The former Edward R. Murrow Award winner has been a part of the CST team since 2003 working as the lead host for shows such as CST TONIGHT!, SAINTS TONIGHT! and FANTASY FOOTBALL EXTRA.

“Being a part of something that is this exciting makes my job very special,” noted Howell. “I have been blessed to see this network grow from the inside from the very beginning and being able to help make LSU GAMEDAY LIVE! a success is a top priority. We are looking forward to kicking off the show when the 2014 season kicks off in August.”

Serving as the program’s roving reporter, Emily Villere will provide her perspective from some of the most entertaining venues throughout the pregame festivities. Villere, a former reporter for KNOE-TV in Monroe, La., works for the LSU athletic department and LSUSports.net and will deliver a weekly 1-on-1 interview with head coach Les Miles.

“I am delighted to be part of such a remarkable team covering one of college football’s most elite programs,” Villere. “My job each Saturday will be to showcase the LSU game day experience for viewers through interviews and stories as a roving reporter on campus. I look forward to sharing all of the unique details that make up LSU football.”

This August, the LSU GAMEDAY LIVE crew will be featured on the CST LSU pre-season special. The thirty-minute special will air on CST throughout the month of August. More details on that show can be found soon on at coxsportstv.com.