SEC Network, ESPN’s 24-hour television channel devoted to the Southeastern Conference, has hired five former U.S. Olympians as part of a 10-person commentating pool for ESPN and SEC Network’s coverage of SEC Gymnastics. Kathy Johnson Clarke (1980, 1984), Bart Conner (1984), Courtney Kupets (2014), John Roethlisberger (1992,1996,2000) and Alicia Sacramone-Quinn (2008) will be a part of three different commentating teams covering 21 meets scheduled across SEC Network, ESPNU or ESPN2.

Coverage of the sport will be highlighted by television veterans – Conner and Clarke – and new to ESPN analysts – Kupets and Quinn – as well as a talented roster of reporters with personal connections to gymnastics.

SEC Gymnastic Commentating Teams and Accolades:

Play-by-play Bart Conner, analyst Kathy Johnson Clarke, reporter Amanda Pflugrad^

• Conner: only American male gymnast to win gold medals at every level of competition; 1981 Nissen Award (University of Oklahoma), NCAA Champion, 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in Parallel Bars & Team; Inducted into USA Gymnastics, International Gymnastics and Oklahoma Hall of Fame; 30-year veteran in television commentating
• Clarke: Captain of two US Olympic Teams, with a Silver medal for Team and a Bronze Medalist for Balance Beam (1984); Inducted into the USA Gymnastics, Louisiana, and Centenary College Athletic Hall of Fame; 30-year veteran in television commentating
• Pflugrad: Oregon Cheerleader; gymnast; analyst for Pac-12 Networks
  ^SEC Network reporter Laura Rutledge will also contribute on this team throughout the season

Play-by-play Melissa Lee, analyst Courtney Kupets, reporter Suri Serano

• Lee: fifth season as SEC gymnastics commentator; also covers volleyball, basketball and softball for ESPN and SEC Network
• Kupets: 4x NCAA Champion (University of Georgia); 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in Team and Bronze Medalist for Uneven Bars; making television debut as analyst on Friday, Jan. 16
• Serano: competitive gymnast and dancer; television host and sideline reporter for NCAA gymnastics

Play-by-play John Roethlisberger, analyst Alicia Sacramone-Quinn, reporter Ashley Lee

• Roethlisberger: 3x NCAA All-Around gymnast (University of Minnesota); 1993 Nissen Award, 3x Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000)
• Quinn: 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist in Team; Previously “Sacramone” before marrying NFL QB Brady Quinn; television experience includes Pac-12 and Big 12 gymnastic competitions
• Lee: 3x All-American gymnast at LSU

SEC Network’s wealth of experts will voice the most live television of SEC meets in conference history. The events will include another first by utilizing a scoring interface system, developed by the ESPN technology team, to update scores live.

Schedule:

Coverage starts on Friday, Jan. 16 with a doubleheader of live meets on SEC Network, beginning with defending NCAA National Champions, Florida, at home facing Auburn. The schedule continues with seven consecutive Friday night showcases. In total, 21 SEC meets will be carried on either SEC Network, ESPN2 or ESPNU this season.

*tape delayed

The SEC Network

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network which will launch August 14, 2014. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will carry SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year. The network will televise 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include in-depth commentary and analysis in studio shows, daily news and information, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, and more. AT&T U-verse® TV, Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast Xfinity TV,  Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH, Google Fiber, LUS Fiber, Mediacom, PTC Communications, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, Wilkes Telephone, and members of the NCTC, NRTC and NTTC and will carry the television network nationwide at launch. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively as SEC Network+ events on WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com through authenticated access from AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DISH, Google Fiber, Suddenlink, and members of the NCTC, NRTC and NTTC.

-30-

Media contact: Gracie Blackburn, [email protected]