ATLANTA (Aug. 19, 2010) - The radio broadcast team for the inaugural season of Georgia State football will belongtime GSU voice Dave Cohen calling the play-by-play, local TV anchor Sam Crenshaw providing analysis and former Atlanta Falcon player Harper LeBel handling sideline duties.

Georgia State athletics and its official flagship station, NewsTalk 1160, WCFO-AM, announced this veteran radio broadcast team, along with its growing network of radio affiliates.

Dave Cohen will provide play-by-play for GSU football, just as he has done the past 28 years for Georgia State basketball and baseball. The GSU graduate also brings plenty of football broadcasting experience from his 12 years with the Furman radio network, along with Atlanta Falcons pre-game and post-game shows with WGST radio among his many assignments in Atlanta sports.

Sam Crenshaw, the color analyst, is a 25-year veteran broadcaster and has been a WXIA-TV sports anchor for the past 13 years. While currently working with Atlanta Falcon preseason broadcasts, Crenshaw has previously worked college football as a play-by-play voice on ESPN2, while providing local high school football coverage for WXIA all season. He rotates as the Sunday night host on the Atlanta Falcons TV show.

Harper LeBel, the sideline reporter,played 10 seasons in the NFL with Seattle, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and Baltimore. He was a member of the Atlanta Falcons from 1991-96 and still makes his home in Suwanee. LeBel played tight end and was a long snapper for Colorado State from 1981-84. As a broadcaster, he worked the high school football games for Georgia Public TV. He has done high school games on radio in Gainesville for five years in various capacities. LeBel worked a year with the WGST radio network on Falcons pre-game shows.

With WCFO-AM (NewsTalk 1160) as the flagship, the football games will also be heard in Gainesville on WGTJ-AM (1330), in Winder on WIMO-AM (1300), in Helen on WNGA-FM (105.1) and in Macon on WAYS-AM (1500). In addition, the 100,000-watt university station, WRAS-FM (88.5-FM), will air all the games. Games will be streamed online at NewsTalk 1160 (www.NewsTalk1160.com).

All three will provide input into the one-hour pre-game show before every game. LeBel's role will also include live interviews from the field at halftime and post-game with head coach Bill Curry. All three will also be involved in the Coach Curry radio show that airsevery Monday from 4-5 p.m., beginning Monday, August 30.

NewsTalk 1160 Vice-President and General Manager Jeff Davis said: "We are thrilled to be associated with Dave Cohen, Sam Crenshaw and Harper LeBel as the broadcast team during Georgia State's inaugural football season. GSU is a first-rate institution and we are honored to have been selected as their flagship radio station."

"We are excited about the increased coverage and exposure this new network will bring to Georgia State," said Kosha Irby, senior associate A.D. of external affairs. "This is an outstanding team of veteran announcers to bring the inaugural season to our fans. We are ecstatic that NewsTalk 1160 has joined our Panther huddle."

Crenshaw has seen the impact Georgia State football is making in Atlanta. "The fact that a giant like Bill Curry has lent his signature to the program made a statement," Crenshaw said. "This brings a new spirit for the Georgia State students and alumni and a new adventure for the city of Atlanta. Being a part of the new team is something I am really excited about."

LeBel is aware of what has been involved in starting a new program. "When I look backat where this program was two years ago, where it is now and where it could be in two years, I consider it nothing short of phenomenal," LeBel said. "I think everyone in college football should be interested in this program and what is taking place. This is going to be a lot of fun and there will be lots of interesting stories to tell of this inaugural season."

Cohen has seen it take shape from day one. "I don't know if there are many people in Atlanta more excited than I am to have football at Georgia State," the veteran announcer said. "To be a part of history like this and be able to document the significance and fun of this season is going to be thrilling for all of us involved with GSU."

The inaugural game of the 11-game season is Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Georgia Dome against Shorter University from Rome and the final game is Thursday, Nov. 18 at national champion Alabama on ESPNU.

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