Dan Patrick. Mike Golic. Tony Kornheiser. Mike Greenburg. Rob Dibble.

You recognize them as ESPN anchors, analysts and reporters. Those who listen to sports talk radio also recognize them as ESPN Radio talk show hosts.

Starting this fall, you will be able to hear them on WRSW-AM 1480.

Earlier this week GBC Media LLC, which owns WRSW-AM 1480, WRSW-FM 107.3 and WLNB-FM 102.7, announced that WRSW-AM 1480 will change its format. An easy listening station since it first went on the air in September 1951, WRSW-AM 1480 will become a full-time ESPN Radio affiliate. WRSW-AM 1480 plans to become ESPN-1480 by mid-October.

The change does not affect WRSW-FM, which will continue to play music, provide CNN news updates and occasionally air sports broadcasts.

"When you talk about sports and news, we have the two big hitters," WRSW sports director Roger Grossman said. "ESPN and CNN are the most respected in their fields.

"Our FM's not part of this deal. It won't change. For people who like music, that programming will still be there on FM."

ESPN Radio will be aired on the AM side seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The exceptions will be when there are local sports broadcasts and late-breaking news (severe weather, a major car wreck on Ind. 15, etc). ESPN-1480 will continue to be the home of things like local high school football and basketball, Indiana University football and basketball and Purdue football and basketball. Once a game ends, the station will return to its ESPN programming.

Station manager Harvey Miller said talk of changing the AM format began last summer. Charlie Turner, secretary of GBC Media LLC, originally considered talk radio as a format. Two months ago, the station decided to go with sports talk radio.

"Charlie was driving back from Michigan in the lower peninsula, and he had ESPN (AM 1000 in Chicago) on his radio for more than an hour," Miller said. "He said by the time he shut it off, he felt like he knew everything about any sport - tennis, NASCAR, baseball...

"When they consulted with Roger, the first thing he thought of was ESPN. They accepted us as an affiliate. If that would not have been available, we would have contacted other sports networks."

Said Grossman: "When people tune in to ESPN Radio, they hear voices they recognize. These are sports reporters, sports anchors from ESPN."

ESPN Radio features the following weekday lineup: Mike and Mike in the Morning (Greenburg and Golic), The Tony Kornheiser show during middays and The Dan Patrick show with Patrick and Dibble in the afternoons.

WRSW will become one of 600 ESPN Radio affiliates in the United States. If a major sporting event takes place - Miller mentioned the recent Bob Knight saga - WRSW-FM will be allowed to simulcast that game or press conference. Miller did not know how WRSW compared in size with some of the other ESPN Radio affiliates.

The AM signal will not change, remaining at 1,000 watts during the day and 500 watts at night. "That's governed by the Federal Communications Commission," Miller said.

While most people can pick up ESPN-AM 1000 out of Chicago, the closest ESPN affiliate to Warsaw is ESPN-1380 in Fort Wayne. Miller said ESPN-1480 and ESPN-1380 will cross promote, meaning announcements will run encouraging listeners to change their dials to 1380 AM if they are heading east to Fort Wayne or to 1480 AM if they are traveling west from Fort Wayne. ESPN-1480 hopes to cross promote with other ESPN stations in the state as well.

By becoming an ESPN affiliate, another benefit will be the ability to air major sporting events like the World Series and NBA playoffs. WRSW has been an Indianapolis Colts affiliate, but once the playoffs began, the NFL prohibited local affiliates from carrying the postseason games. That meant no Colts playoff games on WRSW. Now ESPN-1480 will air the NFL postseason games.

To Grossman, the day ESPN-1480 goes on the air can't arrive soon enough.

"The key reason this will work so well is not only the format but that they will allow us local access," he said. "We can cover local action whenever we want to, and it's fine. For people used to hearing those things, we won't have to give them up.

"I listened to ESPN Radio out of Chicago. My radio stopped there a lot. Patrick and Dibble are a good combination.

"I'm like a kid in the candy store. I'm bursting at the seams for the first day."

Miller agreed and said everyone he's talked is all for the change.

"ESPN Radio is popular in garages and workshops all over the country. Women who want to become knowledgeable about sports listen to it.

"Frankly, everyone I have mentioned this to, the feedback has been very positive."

ESPN RADIO LINEUP

Weekdays (times are CST)

5 a.m.-9 a.m. -ÊMike and Mike in the Morning (Mike Greenburg, Mike Golic)

9 a.m.-noon -ÊThe Tony Kornheiser show

Noon-3 p.m. - The Dan Patrick show (with Rob Dibble)

3 p.m.-6 p.m. -ÊGameDay (with Jason Jackson, Jack Arute, Doug Brown)

6 p.m.-1 a.m. - GameNight (with Chuck Wilson from 8-10 p.m. and Bob Valvano from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.)

1 a.m.-5 a.m. -ÊAll Night with Todd Wright

GameDay = discussion of day's sports headlines, interviews and previews of upcoming games

GameNight = sports updates, interviews and in-game reports

Weekends

Weekends feature a variety of hosts, including Mel Kiper Jr. This time of year, the concentration on Saturdays is college football and on Sundays, the NFL.

Wawasee Learns Lesson In Loss To Plymouth

By Rick Blue, Times-Union Sports Correspondent

PLYMOUTH - The Wawasee Warriors learned a valuable lesson on the importance of football's third element, the special teams Friday night. The Plymouth Rockies blocked one punt and partially blocked another en route to a 47-21 Northern Lakes Conference victory over visiting Wawasee.

Wawasee dug themselves a hole of crater-like proportions early on much like just one week ago against Northwood.

"We talked about that (trailing early) all week," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. "We didn't come ready to play. That is partly due to us and partly due to Plymouth being a good football team."

Plymouth capitalized on the blocked punt using only three plays to go the 21 yards for the game's first score, a Charley Craig nine yard run giving the Rockies a 7-0 lead.

Plymouth again was the beneficiary of some Wawasee misfortune as Logan Lees fumbled for the sixth time in the past three games. The turnover set up Plymouth at the Warrior 25 yard line. Again, the Rockies needed only three plays to score culminating in a Jon Slein to Jeff Stetler pass play from 13 yards out putting Plymouth ahead 14-0 at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter.

With already one blocked and a partially blocked punt against Wawasee's punt team, it was the punt return team's time to fall asleep. Plymouth showed their punt formation mid-way through the second quarter but hiked the snap directly to upman Slein who carried for 14 yards and a first down. No Warrior was close to stopping Slein on the fourth-and-four play.

Plymouth needed only five more plays to grab a 20-0 lead as fullback Art Lawrence plunged in from the one yard line.

Plymouth upped their lead to 26-0 as Slein again hit Stetler this time from 40 yards away. Stetler, playing in his first game this season due to a fractured ankle, caught five passes in all totaling 96 yards and three touchdowns.

"Every time they needed a big play, it was No. 89 (Stetler)," said Rietveld.

Just like one week ago, Wawasee regrouped but too late.

After a Brent Doty to Travis Klenke touchdown, Plymouth went for the jugular vein right before half in two different ways.

On a fourth-and-goal situation with the score 26-7 Rockies, Plymouth's Lawrence was stopped. With Wawasee backed up against their goal-line, Plymouth called two time outs with less than 30 seconds left in the first half. Thinking they were going to get the ball in great field position, Plymouth gambled and lost.

"We got greedy right before half," said Plymouth coach Tom Condon. "The same thing happened last year in the semi-state against Concord."

What Condon was referring to was Wawasee going 95 yards in the remaining 30 seconds for the score. Doty hit Nate Edgington for 52 of the yards, then hit Klenke for 34 more giving Wawasee the ball first and goal at the eight yard line. Rather than kick a field goal with five seconds in the half, Rietveld gambled by going for it. The gamble proved profitable as Klenke caught a swing pass and dashed the eight yards for the score. Wawasee trailed 26-14 at the half.

Condon talked about the momentum switch at halftime. "You hate to see that," said Condon. "But our kids reacted well in the second half."

Indeed they did as it was too much Slein to Stetler and too much the running of Craig. The junior tailback gained a game high 215 yards on 32 carries. Slein completed 11 passes for 187 yards and four touchdowns, three to Stetler and the other to Zach Scott.

Wawasee did close the score to 26-21 on a Jimmy Meyer two yard run, but Plymouth scored the final 21 points for the 47-21 victory.

"You can't give Plymouth that (a short field) that often," said Rietveld. "It was very frustrating. I was pleased with our defensive effort and Craig is faster than I thought. His receivers blocked well (on the corners) and he would cut back."

Lost in the debacle was Warrior quarterback Doty as he completed 25 of 45 passes without an interception for 284 yards.

The loss runs Wawasee's streak to three with rival Warsaw coming to Syracuse next Friday. The loss also drops Wawasee's conference to 1-3 and their overall record to 2-4. Matters only get worse as scheduling goes for the Warriors. After Warsaw, Wawasee travels to Mishawaka to play Marian then come back home to close out the season against Goshen.

PLYMOUTH 47, WAWASEE 21

Wawasee 0 14 7 0 - 21

Plymouth 14 12 7 14 - 47

P W

First Downs 13 18

Rushing yards 237 29

Passing yards 193 339

Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-22-0 27-47-0

Total offense 430 368

Fumbles/lost 2-0 6-4

Punts/avg. 3-40.3 5-20.4

Penalties/yards 7-35 9-46

First Quarter

P -ÊCraig 9 run (Clinton kick), 7-0 P, 5:45

P -ÊStetler 13 pass from Slein (Clinton kick) 14-0 P, 3:55

Second Quarter

P -ÊLawrence 1 run (kick failed), 20-0 P, 6:57

P -ÊStetler 40 pass from Slein (conversion failed), 26-0 P, 5:51

W -ÊKlenke 24 pass from Doty (Wooten kick) 26-7 P, 2:41

W -ÊKlenke 8 pass from Doty (Wooten kick) 26-14 P, 0:00

Third Quarter

W - Meyer 2 run (Wooten kick), 26-21 P, 6:37

P -ÊStetler 26 pass from Slein (Clinton kick), 33-21 P, 2:35

Fourth Quarter

P -ÊScott 26 pass from Slein (Clinton kick), 40-21 P, 11:55

P -ÊCraig 12 run (Clinton kick), 47-21, 2:34

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Wawasee:ÊLees 7-24, Doty 5-1, Evans 1-1, Meyer 3-5; Plymouth -ÊCraig 32-215, Slein 3-18, Black 3-5, Lawrence 5-2, Bucher 1- (-3)

Passing - Wawasee: Doty 25-45-284 0 int., Siri 2-2-55, 0 int.; Plymouth: Slein 11-21-187 0 int, Craig 1-1-6 0 int.

Receiving - Wawasee: Roa 3-40, Likens 9-110, Lees 3-7, Packer 2-31, Klenke 6-87, Edgington 1-52, Sweazy 1-30, Speicher 1-3, Adkins 1-6, Minear 1-25; Plymouth: Stetler 5-96, Craig 1-4, Nemeth 1-17, Scott 3-62, Davis 2-14

Warsaw Outlasts Goshen

By Craig Helfrich, Times-Union Sports Correspondent

"This is just a great program win for our kids,' Warsaw head coach Phil Jensen said. "We have made so many strides in our program and it is just neat to see these kids do this.'

Coming into the game, the Tigers knew the Redskins had a solid ground game. The Redskins normally pound people with the running game, but after falling behind 20-0 at the half, the Redskins had to pass more than usual.

"We didn't run very well the first half and we had to make some changes,' Goshen coach Brad Park. "We made some costly mistakes at crucial parts of the game.'

On Warsaw's first possession, Warsaw quarterback Jared Scrafton hit Chris Clay for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 10:04 left. The throw was in coverage with the 6-foot-4 Clay outjumping the shorter defender for the score.

"Clay made a fantastic play,' Jensen said. "He had the height and he took advantage of it.'

Adam Sisson added the extra point to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

The Tigers would then hold the Redskins and again got great field position thanks to a nice 23-yard punt return by Adam Sisson that gave the Tigers the ball at the 28-yard line.

On third-and-five from the 17, Jared Scrafton took a keeper and ran 16 yards to the 1-yard line where he would then score on the next play that upped the lead to 13-0. Sisson's extra point failed.

"We really took advantage of our great field position,' Jensen said. "Jared found a couple of holes and did a nice job getting it in.'

The Redskins, who again have a high octane running game couldn't get much going in the first half. The Redskins had their longest drive of the half with time running out in the second quarter. With the ball on the seven and Goshen about to close the Tiger lead, Goshen quarterback Thom Bernheisel made a huge mistake that he definitely wished he had back. With the Redskins gaining momentum, Josh Buck made the Redskins pay in a big way. Buck intercepted Bernheisel's pass with 14 seconds left and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown to give the momentum back to the Tigers and it jumped the lead to 19-0. Sisson added the extra point to give the Tigers a 20-0 halftime advantage.

"Our defense really stepped it up and made some key stops,' Jensen said. "That was a big momentum boost for our kids. Goshen was getting ready to score and Buck made a great play.'

After Goshen struggled offensively in the first half, many who attended knew the Redskins wouldn't roll over and die. The second half totally belonged to the Redskins.

Goshen opened up the third quarter with a drive that took five plays and 1:44 which ended on a Brandon Schrock 32-yard touchdown run that cut the Warsaw lead to 20-6. David Yates added the extra point that left the Tigers with a 20-7 lead.

The Goshen defense came to life in the second half, shutting the Tigers out in the third period.

"We just didn't come out to play the first half,' Park said. "We made some adjustments and played a lot better in the second half.'

Warsaw coach Phil Jensen knew with the type of football program the Redskins had that they wouldn't give in easily.

"Goshen battled back and really took it to us in the second half,' Jensen said. "I knew it was a long way from being over.'

Warsaw fumbled on its first possession of the fourth quarter and again the Redskins took advantage. With 5:23 to play in the game, Thom Bernheisel found Schrock open in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass that cut the lead to 20-13. Yates added the extra point to make it 20-14 Warsaw.

"I really thought Bernheisel came in and was effective for us,' Park said. "We made the game interesting after all.'

The Tigers now were in the tight football game they knew they would be in. With a big play desperately needed for the Tigers, a big player stepped up. On second-and-eight from the 47, Tiger running back Brad Seiss took a handoff from Scrafton and scampered 52 yards for a touchdown with 2:43 to play that sealed the deal for the Tigers. The Tigers went for two, but failed. The lead was 26-14.

"Seiss found a hole and he was gone,' Jensen said with excitement. "People got their money's worth tonight that's for sure.'

The Redskins had one last punch, even though the clock wasn't on their side. Schrock finished off a fine game with another 32-yard touchdown run with :25 left in the game. Yates added the extra point that cut the lead to 26-21.

The Redskins tried an onside kick, but the Tigers' Jon Dock fell on it, preserving a huge win for Warsaw Tiger football.

"We just had a lot of people play hard tonight,' Jensen said. "We didn't give up too many big plays tonight and that is a sign of a good team."

Seiss led the Tigers on the ground, gaining 143 yards on 18 carries.

The Tigers (5-1, 3-0 NLC) travel to NLC rival Wawasee next week.

"We are playing for the "W" trophy and that game is always such a big rivalry game,' Jensen said.

WARSAW 26, GOSHEN 21

Warsaw 13 7 0 6 -Ê26

Goshen 0 0 7 14 -Ê21

W G

First downs 10 22

Rushes/yards 36-231 39-263

Passing yards 58 136

Comp.-Att.-Int. 3-6-0 14-30-1

Total offense 289 399

Fumbles/lost 1-1 2-2

Punts/avg. 3-35.3 3-33.5

Penalties/yards 3-30 6-45

First Quarter

W- Chris Clay 32 pass from Jared Scrafton (Adam Sisson kick), 7-0 W, 10:04.

W- Scrafton 1 run (kick failed), 13-0 W, 4:06.

Second Quarter

W- Josh Buck 93 yard interception (Sisson kick) 20-0 W, :14.

Third Quarter

G- Brandon Schrock, 32 run (David Yates kick), 20-7 W, 10:16.

Fourth Quarter

G- Schrock 25 pass from Thom Bernheisel (Yates kick), 20-14 W, 5:23.

W- Brad Seiss 52 run (run failed) 26-14 W, 2:42.

G- Schrock 32 run (Yates kick) 26-21 W, :25.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - W- Brad Seiss 18-143, Stanton Moore 1-1, Jared Scrafton 8-32, Grady Randall 5-15, David Muta 4-40. G- Geoff Zentz 2-12, Jay Parker 6-22, Tom Mikel 12-78, Thom Bernheisel 5-28, Brandon Schrock 14-123.

Receiving- W-Chris Clay 1-32, Josh Buck 2-26. G- Andrew Bushong 7-73, Tom Mikel 1-4, Jay Parker 1-1, Nick Vandermolen 2-14, Dan Sword 1-14, Brandon Schrock 2-32.

Passing- W- Jared Scrafton 3-6-58 1 TD. G- Geoff Zentz 2-8- 7, Thom Bernheisel 12-22-129.

New Prairie Blanks Triton

Times-Union Staff Report

BOURBON -ÊNew Prairie defeated Triton 34-0 Friday night in Bourbon.

The Trojans defense held New Prairie scoreless for one full quarter before the Cougars expolded for 20 points in the second quarter.

New Prairie held Triton scoreless through the game and finished with a 34-0 win.

Triton is 2-4 and 0-4 in Northern State Conference play. The Trojans will travel to Lakeville to play the LaVille Lancers Friday night.

NEW PRAIRIE 34, TRITON 0

New Prairie 0 20 7 7 - 34

Triton 0 0 0 0 - 0

T N

First downs 7 11

Rushing yards 130 353

Passing yards 48 0

Comp.-Att.-Int. 4-13-1 0-4-1

Total offense 178 353

Fumbles/lost 3-3 4-4

Punts/avg. 5-28.4 2-24.0

Penalties/yards 4-35 12-75

Second Quarter

N -ÊJesse Swing 7 run (Brad Ragland kick), 7-0 N, 10:56

N -ÊSwing 5 run (Ragland kick), 14-0 N, 8:12

N -ÊAlan Hensell 55 run (kick failed), 20-0 N, 0:28

Third Quarter

N -ÊPete Tobaka 1 run (Ragland), 27-0 N, 7:38

Fourth Quarter

N -ÊHensel 33 run (Ragland kick), 34-0 N, 7:47

*Individual statistics were not available

NorthWood Thrashes Northridge

Times-Union Staff Report

NAPPANEE -ÊThe NorthWood Panthers held on to their 1/2-game lead over Warsaw in the Northern Lakes Conference standings after defeating Northridge 42-7 Friday night in Nappanee.

NorthWood jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after the first quarter. However, the Panther offense exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 35-0 lead. All four second-quarter touchdowns came from running back Jesse Fink.

NorthWood scored once more in the third before allowing Northridge to score a touchdown in the final quarter of play.

Mike Blosser completed 11 of 15 passes for 168 yards, while Ben Lehman led the Panther ground attack with 11 carries for 115 yards.

NorthWood is 5-1 and 4-0 in NLC play. The Panthers will host Dowagiac, Michigan Friday evening.

NORTHWOOD 42, NORTHRIDGE 7

Northridge 0 0 0 7 - 7

NorthWood 7 28 7 0 - 42

NW NR

First downs 8 9

Rushing yards 38-223 44-171

Passing yards 168 0

Comp.-Att.-Int. 11-15-0 0-5-0

Total offense 391 171

Fumbles/lost 1-0 2-1

Punts/avg. 2-35.5 5-31.4

Penalties/yards 2-15 3-35

First Quarter

NW -ÊBen Lehman 41 run (Casey Lehman kick), 7-0 NW, 5:18

Second Quarter

NW -ÊJesse Fink 5 run (C. Lehman kick), 14-0 NW, 10:33

NW -ÊFink 5 run (C. Lehman kick) 21-0 NW, 9:04

NW -ÊFink 9 pass from Mike Blosser (C. Lehman kick) 28-0 NW, 6:14

NW -ÊFink 1 run (C. Lehman kick) 35-0 NW

Third Quarter

NW -ÊFink 1 run (C. Lehman kick), 42-0 NW

Fourth Quarter

NR - Adam Smith 2 run (Brian Rhodes kick) 42-7 NW

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - NorthWood:Blosser 4-22, Fink 10-31, B. Lehman 11-115; Northridge: Smith 10 (-7), Boomershine 11-31, Harrell 17-84

Passing - NorthWood: Blosser 11-15-168, 0 int. 1 TD; Northridge: Smith 0-5-0 0 int. 0 TD

Receiving - NorthWood: Will 3-86, Flickinger 2-25, Hill 2-18, Fink 2-11 [[In-content Ad]]