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ThisWeek — December 5, 2011

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Heisman Trophy Presentation on ESPN Saturday
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com
In addition to televising The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 9 p.m. ET, ESPN’s comprehensive college football awards coverage continues with the exclusive telecast of the 77th annual Heisman Trophy Presentation Presented by Nissan on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The live telecast from the Best Buy Theater in New York will be simulcast on ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile TV and accessible online at WatchESPN.com. ESPN Radio will also broadcast the announcement of the winner.

Finalists will be announced on ESPN’s 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter today by 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George.

2011 Heisman Trophy Presentation details:

  • 1991 Heisman winner Desmond Howard and his fellow College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, colleagues Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, will be joined by ESPN college football commentator Joe Tessitore and reporter Tom Rinaldi during the college football award show.
  • For the first time in ESPN’s 16 years of televising the Heisman presentation, brief “Through the Years” feature packages will showcase each finalist from childhood, highlighting their career milestones on the gridiron along the way.
  • Another first on ESPN, the Heisman presentation will include a live music presence for audience members. Electric violinist Ken Ford will provide soul-stirring arrangements from his newest CD, “State of Mind” during commercial breaks, as well as providing musical transitions during the telecast.
  • Tessitore will use a 65-inch touch screen monitor application – similar to ones used during presidential elections – to analyze the voting regions and results, and to offer statistical comparisons of this year’s finalist with former Heisman Trophy winners.
  • A celebration of the 25th anniversary of 1986 winner Vinny Testaverde and 50th anniversary of the first African-American to win the award in 1961, Ernie Davis.
  • A three-hour broadcast on ESPN Radio with Football Tonight host Freddie Coleman and ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr. beginning at 7 p.m. features live interviews with all four finalists, plus the live announcement of the winner and his acceptance speech.

Additional Heisman elements across ESPN:

  • On Thursday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. on ESPNU, ESPN’s college football analysts will host a discussion on Heisman finalists and the year in college football with The Home Depot College Football Awards Roundtable Special.
  • Winning a Heisman Trophy is hard, but apparently so is making one. ESPN The Magazine looks into the process in its December 12 “Interview Issue”. Online version here.
  • Following the Heisman presentation, ESPN Films will debut its latest documentary The Marinovich Project as the last installment of the Year of the Quarterback initiative. The Marinovich Project tells the unvarnished story of Todd Marinovich’s unique ascent to stardom, the dark descent that followed and the complicated father-son bond throughout, ultimately answering the question: “What went wrong with Todd Marinovich?” Additional details on the film here.

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College Football Icons among Presenters for The Home Depot College Football Awards December 8
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com 
Presenters for this year’s The Home Depot College Football Awards – live Thursday, Dec. 8, at 9 p.m. on ESPN – include five College Football Hall of Fame inductees and three former award winners.  The show features the live presentation of nine player awards; the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) Contribution to College Football Award to Roy Kramer; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award; The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; the Disney Spirit Award; and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team. Click HERE for details and a list of presenters.

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College Football: Coverage of 33 Bowl Games Begins December 17
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com 
ESPN’s extensive college football postseason action includes exclusive coverage of 33 bowl games, highlighted by all five of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) matchups, including the Allstate BCS National Championship on Monday, Jan. 9, at 8:30 p.m. It marks the second straight year the entire BCS will be available on ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN Radio.

Overall, ESPN platforms will televise 23 of the 25 teams in the BCS Standings, concluding with the national title match pitting No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 LSU on Monday, Jan. 9, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN 3D and ESPN Radio. The game will feature a rematch of the November 5 showdown between the SEC West rivals, won by LSU 9-6 in overtime.

An ESPN tripleheader kicks off the bowl season Saturday, Dec. 17, beginning at 2 p.m. with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Temple vs. Wyoming). Additional schedule highlights:

  • Eight games in two days Friday, Dec. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 31
  • Six games on Monday, Jan. 2, including an ESPN tripleheader: Capital One Bowl (No. 20 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Carolina) at 1 p.m., Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio (No. 10 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Oregon) at 5 p.m. and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State) at 8:30 p.m.

Bowl Championship Series

Mon, Jan 2 5 p.m. Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio
No. 10 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Oregon
ESPN: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Erin Andrews
ESPN Radio: Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman & Tom Rinaldi
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  8:30 p.m. Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State
ESPN: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Heather Cox
ESPN Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Tue, Jan 3 8:30 p.m. Allstate Sugar Bowl
No. 13 Michigan vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech
ESPN: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe
ESPN Radio: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Heather Cox
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Wed, Jan 4 8:30 p.m. Discover Orange Bowl
No. 23 West Virginia vs. No. 15 Clemson
ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski & Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore & Quint Kessenich
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Mon, Jan 9 8:30 p.m. Allstate BCS National Championship
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 LSU
ESPN: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi
ESPN Radio: Mike Tirico, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN 3D / ESPN Radio

Additional Postseason Bowl Games

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sat, Dec 17 2 p.m. Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Temple vs. Wyoming
ESPN: Clay Matvick, Brian Griese & Jessica Mendoza
ESPN Radio: TBA, David Diaz-Infante & TBA
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  5:30 p.m. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Ohio vs. Utah State
ESPN: Dave Flemming, Mike Bellotti & Heather CoxESPN Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  9 p.m. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
ESPN: Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Shelley Smith
ESPN Radio: Adam Amin, Jay Walker & Ian Fitzsimmons
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN 3D/ ESPN Radio
Tue, Dec 20 8 p.m. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
Florida International vs. Marshall
ESPN: Mike Patrick, Craig James & Jeannine Edwards
ESPN Radio: Rob Stone, Danny Kanell & TBA
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN 3D / ESPN Radio
Wed, Dec 21 8 p.m. San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
No. 18 TCU vs. Louisiana Tech
ESPN: Joe Tessitore, Lou Holtz, Mark May & TBA
ESPN Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Thu, Dec 22 8 p.m. MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
Arizona State vs. No. 7 Boise State
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit & Tom Rinaldi
ESPN / ESPN3
Sat, Dec 24 8 p.m. Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Nevada vs. No. 21 Southern Mississippi
ESPN: Mark Jones, Ed Cunningham & Jessica Mendoza
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher & Trevor Matich
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Mon, Dec 26 5 p.m. AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Missouri vs. North Carolina
Rob Stone, Danny Kanell & Allison Williams
ESPN2 / ESPN3
Tue, Dec 27 4:30 p.m. Little Caesars Bowl
Western Michigan vs. Purdue
Beth Mowins, Mike Bellotti & Eamon McAnaney
ESPN / ESPN3
  8 p.m. Belk Bowl
Louisville vs. NC State
Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese & Shannon Spake
ESPN / ESPN3
Wed, Dec 28 4:30 p.m. Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
Toledo vs. Air Force
Pam Ward, Dan Hawkins & Jeannine Edwards
ESPN / ESPN3
  8 p.m. Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
California vs. No. 24 Texas
ESPN: Rece Davis, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Jenn Brown
ESPN Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Thu, Dec 29 5:30 p.m. Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State vs. Notre Dame
ESPN: Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore & Holly Rowe
ESPN Radio: Mike Gleason, John Congemi & TBA
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN 3D / ESPN Radio
  9 p.m. Valero Alamo Bowl
Washington vs. No. 12 Baylor
ESPN: Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman & Quint Kessenich
ESPN Radio: Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Eamon McAnaney
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Fri, Dec 30 Noon Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
BYU vs. Tulsa
ESPN: Dave Neal, Andre Ware & Cara Capuano
ESPN Radio: Adam Amin, Tim Brown & Ian Fitzsimmons
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  3:20 p.m. New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers vs. Iowa State
ESPN: Chris Fowler, Jesse Palmer & Tom Rinaldi
ESPN Radio: TBA
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  6:40 p.m. Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
Mark Jones, Ed Cunningham & Jeannine Edwards
ESPN / ESPN3
  10 p.m. Insight Bowl
Iowa vs. No. 14 Oklahoma
ESPN: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Heather Cox
ESPN Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Sat, Dec 31 Noon Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Texas A&M vs. Northwestern  
ESPN: Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese & Eamon McAnaney
ESPN Radio: Beth Mowins, Mike Bellotti & TBA
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  3:30 p.m. AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt
ABC: Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley & Quint Kessenich
ESPN Radio: Pam Ward, Dan Hawkins & TBA
ABC / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
  3:30 p.m. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Illinois vs. UCLA
Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Shelley Smith
ESPN / ESPN3
  7:30 p.m. Chick-fil-A Bowl
Virginia vs. No. 25 Auburn
ESPN: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe
ESPN Radio: Dave Neal, David Diaz-Infante & Cara Capuano
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN 3D / ESPN Radio
Mon, Jan 2 Noon TicketCity Bowl
No. 19 Houston vs. No. 22 Penn State
Clay Matvick, Danny Kanell & Allison Williams
ESPNU / ESPN3
  1 p.m. Outback Bowl
No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Georgia
ABC: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden & Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Bob Wischusen, John Congemi & Joey Galloway
ABC / ESPN Radio
  1 p.m. Capital One Bowl
No. 20 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Carolina
ESPN: Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore & Quint Kessenich
ESPN Radio: Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley & TBA
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN 3D / ESPN Radio
  1 p.m. TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl
Ohio State vs. Florida
Mike Patrick, Craig James & Jeannine Edwards
ESPN2 / ESPN3
Sat, Jan 7 1 p.m. BBVA Compass Bowl
SMU vs. Pittsburgh
ESPN: Mike Gleason, John Congemi & Eamon McAananey
ESPN Radio: Clay Matvick, Charles Arbuckle & Jessica Mendoza
ESPN / ESPN3 / ESPN Radio
Sun, Jan 8 9 p.m. GoDaddy.com Bowl
Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
Rob Stone, Danny Kanell & Cara Capuano
ESPN / ESPN3

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2011 NCAA FCS Championship Quarterfinal Games on ESPN Platforms this Weekend
contact: kristie.chong@espn.com 
ESPN will carry live all four games of the 2011 NCAA FCS Championship quarterfinals Friday and Saturday.  The first match-up kicks off at 8 p.m. with #5 Northern Iowa at #4 Montana from Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Mont.

Date Time (ET) Match-Up Network(s)
Fri, Dec 9 8 p.m. #5 Northern Iowa at #4 Montana
Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont.
ESPN / ESPN3
Sat, Dec 10 12 p.m. Montana State vs. #1 Sam Houston State
Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
ESPN / ESPN3
  2 p.m. Maine vs. #3 Georgia Southern
Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Ga.
ESPN3
  4 p.m. Lehigh vs. #2 North Dakota State
Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
ESPN3

Coverage on ESPN3 marks the most FCS Championship games ever distributed live nationally.  The live multi-screen sports network is available in approximately 70 million households nationwide to fans who are customers of an affiliated provider.  It can be accessed online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE.

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Palmer & Pollack Season Finale and First Road Show
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com 
In the final week of Palmer & Pollack’s debut season, viewers will get an encore performance in addition to Monday’s regularly scheduled studio show. On Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. on ESPNU, Palmer & Pollack is live from the Red Carpet of The Home Depot College Football Awards at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. for the series’ first road show.  Hosts Jesse Palmer and David Pollack will speak with award finalists and coaches while handing out a few of their own season-best accolades, including “MANimal of the Year,” and #TeamPalmer offensive and #TeamPollack defensive player awards.

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NBA Finals Rematch, All-Star Lineup to Highlight Christmas Day Showcase on ABC & ESPN
contacts: ben.cafardo@espn.com; nate.smeltz@espn.com 
ABC and ESPN’s coverage of the 2011-2012 NBA season begins with a special Christmas Day showcase on ABC, highlighted by a Finals rematch between the defending NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks and the reigning Easter Conference Champion Miami Heat on Sunday, Dec. 25, at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 5 p.m. In addition, ESPN will televise a primetime doubleheader tipping off with the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Orlando Magic at 8 p.m. In the nightcap, former ESPN analyst Mark Jackson will make his coaching debut with the Golden State Warriors, which host the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ESPN’s doubleheader will also be available via ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV and online the WatchESPN.com App. The complete ABC & ESPN Christmas Day schedule.

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Six of Top College Basketball Nine Teams on ESPN and Two Games between Ranked Teams
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com 
Six of the top nine teams in the ESPN/USA Today poll will be in action this week on ESPN’s  men’s college basketball schedule, including two matchups between ranked teams. On Saturday, Dec. 10, ESPN will televise No. 2 Ohio State at No. 13 Kansas at 3:15 p.m. followed by No. 1 Kentucky at Indiana at 5:15 p.m. Also on Saturday, ESPN3 will offer exclusive coverage of No. 6 North Carolina against Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

 ESPN2’s lineup will include No. 5 Duke against Colorado State on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. and No. 24 Harvard at No. 9 Connecticut on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. In addition, ESPN and ESPN2 will each televise No. 8 Xavier: at Butler on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 9 p.m. on ESPN and against in-state rival Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Wed, Dec 7 7 p.m. Arizona at No. 12 Florida
Mark Jones & Jimmy Dykes
ESPN / ESPN3
  7 p.m. Colorado State at No. 5 Duke
Mike Patrick & Len Elmore
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  7 p.m. Central Connecticut State at Michigan State
Dan Gutowsky & Mark Adams
ESPNU
  7 p.m. No. 19 Vanderbilt at Davidson ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. Green Bay at No. 16 Wisconsin
Cory Provus & Dickey Simpkins
ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. Mount St. Mary’s at Maryland
Quint Kessenich & Pat Kennedy
ESPN3 *
  9 p.m. No. 8 Xavier at Butler
Bob Wischusen & Dan Dakich
ESPN / ESPN3
  9 p.m. St. Bonaventure at No. 22 Illinois
Jim Barbar & Doug Gottlieb
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  9 p.m. Oklahoma State at Missouri State
Mitch Holthus & Reid Gettys
ESPNU
Thu, Dec 8 7 p.m. No. 24 Harvard at No. 9 Connecticut
Bob Wischusen & TBD
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  7 p.m. Boston College at Providence
Eric Frede & Ron Perry
ESPN3 *
  7:30 p.m. Maine at Notre Dame
Anthony Calhoun & Austin Croshere
ESPN3 *
  9 p.m. West Virginia at Kansas State
Jon Sciambi & Fran Fraschilla
ESPN2 / ESPN3
Fri, Dec 9 8 p.m. Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth
Mark Neely & Jimmy Dykes
ESPN2 / ESPN3
Sat, Dec 10 12:30 p.m. Cincinnati at No. 8 Xavier
Bob Wischusen & Stephen Bardo
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  2:30 p.m. Oklahoma State at No. 14 Pittsburgh
Dave Pasch, Bill Raftery & Jeff Van Gundy
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  3:15 p.m. No. 2 Ohio State at No. 13 Kansas
Dave O’Brien, Jay Bilas & Bob Knight
ESPN / ESPN3
  5 p.m. Villanova at Temple
Mike Breen & LaPhonso Ellis
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  5:15 p.m. No. 1 Kentucky at Indiana
Dan Shulman & Dick Vitale
ESPN / ESPN3
  7 p.m. Miami at West Virginia
Sean McDonough & Len Elmore
ESPN2 / ESPN3
  7 p.m. Long Beach State at No. 6 North Carolina
Tom Werme & Nate Ross
ESPN3 *
  7:30 p.m. Dartmouth at Notre Dame
Anthony Calhoun & Dickey Simpkins
ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. Wake Forest at Seton Hall
Noah Coslov & Rob Kennedy
ESPN3 *
  9 p.m. Michigan State at No. 22 Gonzaga
Dave Flemming & Dan Dakich
ESPN2 / ESPN3

* Exclusive

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MLB Winter Meetings Coverage on ESPN
contacts: ben.cafardo@espn.com; nate.smeltz@espn.com 
ESPN presents comprehensive, daily coverage of the 2011 MLB Winter Meetings Monday, Dec. 5, through Thursday, Dec. 8, beginning with hourly SportsCenter updates from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. from Hotel Anatole in Dallas. Additionally, ESPN will present two nightly telecasts (SportsCenter Special at the Winter Meetings) on ESPNEWS at 6 p.m. and Baseball Tonight, generally at midnight ET on ESPN2. Hosts Karl Ravech and Steve Berthiaume will anchor the coverage with analysts John Kruk and Chris Singleton and reporters Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian. Complete coverage information.

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NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships: 15 Games Across ESPN Networks
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com 
ESPN’s coverage of NCAA women’s volleyball continues in the postseason with 12 regional championship games airing this week on ESPN3 and ESPNU. In addition, the National Semifinals and National Championships will air on ESPN2, beginning Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

Date Time (ET) Network Matchup Site/ ESPN Play by Play and Analyst
Fri, Dec. 9 5 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
Ohio State vs. #3 Illinois
Memorial Coliseum - Lexington, Ky.
Holly Rowe and Jennifer Hoffman
  5 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semfinal
UCLA vs. #8 Penn State
O'Connell Center - Gainesville, Fla.
Sam Gore and Maria Taylor
  6 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
#12 Florida State vs. #5 Purdue
Sports Pavilion - MinneapolisBeth Mowins and Karch Kiraly
  7 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
Michigan vs. Florida
Memorial Coliseum - Lexington, Ky.
Holly Rowe and Jennifer Hoffman
  7 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
#1 Texas vs. Kentucky
O'Connell Center - Gainesville, Fla.
Sam Gore and Maria Taylor
  8 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
#4 Iowa State vs. #13 Minnesota
Sports Pavilion - MinneapolisBeth Mowins and Karch Kiraly
  10 p.m. ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
Kansas State vs. #13 Pepperdine
Stan Sheriff Center - HonoluluAnne Marie Anderson and Kelli Tennant
Sat, Dec. 10 noon ESPN3 Regional Semifinal
#7 USC vs. #10 Hawaii
Stan Sheriff Center - HonoluluAnne Marie Anderson and Kelli Tennant
  4:30 p.m. ESPNU /ESPN3 Regional Final
TBD
Memorial Coliseum - Lexington, Ky.Holly Rowe and Jennifer Hoffman
  7 p.m. ESPNU /ESPN3 Regional Final
TBD
O'Connell Center - Gainesville, FlaSam Gore and Maria Taylor
  9:30 p.m. ESPNU/ ESPN3 Regional Final
TBD
Sports Pavilion - MinneapolisBeth Mowins and Karch Kiraly
  midnight ESPNU/ ESPN3 Regional Final
TBD
Stan Sheriff Center - HonoluluAnne Marie Anderson and Kelli Tennant
Thu, Dec. 15 7 p.m. ESPN2 / ESPN3 National Semifinal
TBD
Alamodome – San AntonioBeth Mowins and Karch Kiraly 
  9:30 p.m. ESPN2 / ESPN3 National Semifinal
TBD
Alamodome – San AntonioBeth Mowins and Karch Kiraly 
Sat, Dec. 17 8:30 p.m. ESPN2 / ESPN3 National Championship
TBD
Alamodome – San AntonioBeth Mowins and Karch Kiraly

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ESPN2 to Air NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series Season Reviews
contact: andy.hall@espn.com 
With the 2011 NASCAR season now in the record books, ESPN2 takes a look back at the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series seasons in half-hour programs airing later this week. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, which ended with Tony Stewart winning his third championship, will be reviewed Friday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. The NASCAR Nationwide Series season review airs Thursday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m.

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Rebecca Lobo’s Personal Story of Loss, Hoops Across America and espnW Roundtable Highlight on espnW.com
contact: colleen.s.lynch@espn.com 
As her second-grade daughter prepares for her first basketball game, espnW contributor Rebecca Lobo writes about missing her own mother, RuthAnn, who passed away this summer from breast cancer after a 17-year battle. Also this week, the site will highlight the Gonzaga’s women’s basketball team as part of the ongoing Hoops Across America feature. In addition, the popularity of fantasy football is undeniable, but what about playing fantasy sports with or even against your significant other? espnW.com’s roundtable examines this topic.

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Week 15: Don Bosco Prep Still on Top of ESPNHS POWERADE FAB 50
contact: colleen.s.lynch@espn.com 
In just two weeks, a champion will be crowned in the ESPNHS Football POWERADE FAB 50, and Don Bosco Prep is in good position to claim the title, having been ranked first all season long. The second spot is going down to the wire. Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) had a close call this weekend in a 17-14 victory over Gainesville (Fla.) in the Florida Class 6A state playoff game. Meanwhile, No. 3 Trinity for Boys (Louisville, Ky.) finished an outstanding season with a 62-21 win over Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.) in the Kentucky Class 6A state final.  For more information on this week’s high school football rankings go to espnhs.com

POWERADE FAB 50 Top 10 – Week 15

Rank School (City, State) Record Points (First Place Votes) Prior Ranking
1 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) 11-0 250 (5) 1
2 Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) 13-0 243 2
3 Trinity for Boys (Louisville, Ky.) 14-0 242 3
4 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 14-0 234 4
5 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) 12-0 229 5
6 Miramar (Miramar, Fla.) 12-0 227 6
7 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 15-1 218 7
8 Skyline (Dallas, Texas) 14-0 217 9
9 Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.) 14-0 205 10
10 Miami Norland (Miami, Fla..) 12-0 204 12

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