WZKR to air Cats football
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Aug. 14, 2003
The competition will be in the press box, as well as on the football field at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium this season.
WZKR 103.3 FM announced in a Wednesday morning press conference that it would be broadcasting Wildcats' football games this season, putting it in a head-to-head battle with WJXM 105.7 FM, the only station to carry the games last season.
Meridian High athletic director Vince McLemore said he is happy that two stations want to carry the school's football games.
Long-time East Central Community College play-by-play announcer Mike Goodwin will handle calling the action for WZKR, while Dennis Warren returns behind the microphone for WJXM.
While the competition between the two stations is obvious, both sides downplay that notion.
Goodwin has handled the broadcasting duties for ECCC's football games since 1984, and will continue in that role.
Warren started broadcasting Wildcats' football games in 1985, and has called the Meridian High games on WMOX, WMMZ and WMLV over the years.
Along with coverage of the football games, WZKR (103.3 FM) plans to broadcast Meridian High basketball and baseball games this season, as well as keep listeners updated on other Wildcats' and Lady Wildcats' athletic events.
Both WZKR and WJXM broadcast some Meridian High School baseball games last season.
WZKR will also run the "Meridian High Minute" twice a week, with updates on sports, other events and scholarship opportunities. The station will also name a scholar athlete of the week.
The station will also carry East Central Community College's five Thursday night football games, Alabama football on Saturday and the New Orleans Saints' games on Sunday.
ECCC's Saturday football games will also be broadcast on 103.3 when the contests do not conflict with the Alabama games. The Warriors and the Tide are scheduled to play on the same day four times, but not necessarily at the same time.