Michigan State University Athletics
BTN Appreciation Day: Thursday, Feb. 26
2/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State Athletics Director Mark Hollis has designated Thursday, Feb. 26 as "BTN Appreciation Day." BTN will televise Thursday's Michigan State-Minnesota basketball game, with tipoff set for 7:06 p.m. ET and Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson on the call. In addition, the network will produce a special edition of "BTN Live" from 5-7 p.m. from the floor of the Breslin Center.
Ten years ago, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany conceived the idea of the conference launching its own television network. Now in its eighth year, BTN has aired approximately 500 Michigan State events as well as numerous interviews with student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Since BTN's launch in 2007, Michigan State has won 24 Big Ten Championships, including 18 regular-season and six tournament titles.
"It's important to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Commissioner Delany's vision to launch a conference television network," Hollis said. "BTN has provided valuable exposure for all 25 of our sports programs to our alumni and fans from coast to coast. There's no question that the enhanced exposure has translated into wins and championships for a number of our programs, as BTN has become an important recruiting vehicle. In addition, through the network's specialty programs, like `The Journey' and the `Live Big' series, our alumni and fans have learned about our student-athletes' successes, not only in competition, but in the classroom and community. We appreciate and value the partnership MSU has forged with BTN."
Dave Revsine will host "BTN Live" and will be joined on the remote set by Jackson, Johnson, Shon Morris, Stephen Bardo and Howard Griffith. Scheduled guests during the 2-hour program include: MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo, Spartan Radio Network color analyst Matt Steigenga, MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio, quarterback Connor Cook, defensive end Shilique Calhoun and former Spartan and current Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins. To accommodate basketball ticket holders wishing to watch "BTN Live" in person, all Breslin Center gates will open at 5 p.m.
Michigan State's Big Ten Championships (26: 20 regular-season and six tournament titles) since the launch of the Big Ten Network in 2007:
2007-08 - men's golf, rowing
2008-09 (4) - men's soccer (Big Ten regular-season and tournament champions), men's basketball, rowing
2009-10 (3) - field hockey (Big Ten regular-season and tournament champions), men's basketball
2010-11 (5) - football, women's cross country, women's basketball, women's golf, baseball
2011-12 (4) - women's cross country, men's basketball (Big Ten regular-season and tournament champions), women's golf
2012-13 (1) - men's soccer (tournament)
2013-14 (6) - football, women's cross country, field hockey (tournament), women's basketball, men's basketball (tournament), women's golf
2014-15 (1) - women's cross country
National Championships: 1 (women's cross country, 2014)
Football postseason bowl appearances: 7 (2007 Champs Sports, 2009 Capital One, 2010 Alamo, 2011 Capital One, 2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton)
