When SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland envisioned its broadcast partnership with ESPN, opportunities for the network to showcase conference games across the entire spectrum of the worldwide leader was a point of emphasis.
On Tuesday, that became a reality when the conference announced that Sunday’s Mississippi Valley-Jackson State game will be televised on ESPN 2 at 2 p.m. CT instead of ESPN 3 as originally scheduled.
For Mississippi Valley State, a team that has yet to play a game this season due to COVID-19 issues within the program, being featured in a rare nationally televised contest is special.
“This is the only opportunity that we will have to really show people who we really are being nationally-televised,” said Dancy during the SWAC weekly coaches’ media availability. “They understand that. From hearing all the critics, people burying us before they’ve even seen us, we’re already picked last again.”
Also read: SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland puts ‘full-court press’ on ESPN to showcase more league games
And a matchup against a longtime rival that has garnered significant notoriety only adds to the moment.
“The only way we can prove a point is to be seen,” he said. “They understand that and that alone drives these players, motivates these players to go out and be level-headed, to go out and stay humble, to go out and show the world Mississippi Valley State can go out and play with the best of them.”
