San Diego State, FOX Sports College Properties and iHeartMedia announced Wednesday that it has filled its broadcast lineup for the 2017 season. Joining veteran play-by-play announcer Ted Leitner in the booth as color analyst is Rich Ohrnberger, while Chris Ello will continue his role as sideline reporter.
Additionally, Judson Richards will serve as host of the pre-game show and Jon Schaeffer will host the post-game show, while former Aztec great J.R. Tolver will be an analyst for both the pre- and post-game shows.
Fans can listen to the game broadcasts locally on 101.5 KGB and XTRA 1360 AM in San Diego, on iHeart Media Riverside and the Inland Empire, and nationwide on iHeartRadio, live streaming radio service. In addition to the pre-, post- and in-game broadcasts, iHeartMedia San Diego will produce and air a weekly “Coaches Show” with SDSU head football coach Rocky Long.
Leitner is one of the most recognizable media figures in San Diego, where he has served as the voice of the Aztecs, Padres and the former San Diego Chargers on radio and television. The Oklahoma State graduate has been a part of San Diego State as far back as 1978, including the past 12 seasons with the SDSU football team.
Ohrnberger is currently the co-host of The Mark & Rich Show, which airs weekdays from noon-3 p.m. PT on XTRA 1360. Ohrnberger played 39 games across five seasons in the NFL, starting eight times on the offensive line. Ohrnberger, who played two years with New England, a year with Arizona and his final two with the Chargers, was a two-time all-Big Ten selection at Penn State, earning first-team honors as a senior in 2008.
Ello has worked in some capacity with the football broadcast team since 2008, including stints at play-by-play, color and sideline. Ello has also been the lead broadcaster for the women’s basketball team since the 2007-08 season, and has been the school’s lead broadcaster for the Mountain West Network since its inception in 2012.
Tolver starred at San Diego State from 1999-02, where he broke numerous school records including three career best - receptions (262), yards (3,572) and 100-yard games (13, tied) - four season records in 2002 - receptions (128), receptions per game (9.8), yards (1,785) and yards per game (137.3) - and the most receptions in a game (18 at Hawai’i on Dec. 7, 2002). Tolver was a Sporting News Third-Team All-American in 2002, where he was also a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award (top wide receiver in the country). He was also a three-time all-MW pick, including a first-team honoree as a senior in 2002.
Richards enters his first year with the Aztec broadcast crew and currently is the co-host of Hardwick and Richards at 6 a.m. PT on XTRA 1360. Richards brings experience as the host for the “Chargers Post Game Show” on the station for many years. Prior to getting into radio, Richards was minor league baseball player in the San Francisco Giants organization.
Schaeffer also will be working on the SDSU broadcast crew and works on XTRA 1360. Schaeffer has experience working with the Phillies Radio Network and has appeared nationally on FOX College Sports, ESPN GamePlay and ESPN3.
Duke Little, the Vice President / General Manager of San Diego State Sports Properties, is slated to be the executive producer of the broadcast. Matt Skraby (updates), Jeff McBrayer (technical studio) and Brett Neas (engineer/travel) also have responsibilities within the broadcast.
SDSU is coming off an 11-3 season, knocking off Wyoming, 27-24, in the MW Championship game and Houston, 34-10, in the Las Vegas Bowl, to finish with a No. 25 ranking in both the AP Top 25 poll and the Amway Coaches Poll. It was just the second time that San Diego State has been ranked in the final AP poll in program history (also 1977). The 11 wins tied a school single-season record as the Aztecs became the first team in program history with back-to-back 11-win campaigns.
SDSU has been picked to win the West Division for a third straight year and for a second consecutive season garnered all the first-place votes in the division.
Aztec football season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Season tickets start at $125, while mini plans start at $90. Fans can purchase tickets at GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
The Aztecs kick off the 2017 season at Qualcomm Stadium Sept. 2 against UC Davis at 5:30 p.m. PT.
To join the Aztec Radio Network and receive additional information on sponsorship and advertising opportunities, call Duke Little, VP/GM at (619) 594-4455.
2017 San Diego State Football Radio Broadcast Team
(Pre-game, in-game and post-game on 101.5 KGB, XTRA 1360 and FOX Sports IE 1350)
In-Game:
Play-by-Play - Ted Leitner
Color Analyst - Rich Ohrnberger
Sideline Reporter - Chris Ello
Pre-Game:
Host - Judson Richards
Analyst - J.R. Tolver
Post-Game:
Host - Jon Schaeffer
Analyst - J.R. Tolver
Update Anchor:
Matt Skraby
Executive Producer:
Duke Little
Technical Studio:
Jeff McBrayer
Engineer/Travel:
Brett Neas