QUINCY, Ill. - WGEM announced Friday (July 8) that the 2011 Western Illinois Football season opener at Sam Houston State will be televised live on WGEM-FOX. Kickoff on Thursday, September 1st, is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The game is part of the Southland Conference TV network package. In the Quad Cities area WHBF-TV RTV4 (Channel 4.2) will also carry the game live, expanding the coverage area throughout west-central Illinois and the Tri-States area. Southland Conference TV announcers for the game have yet to be announced.

Western returns 13 starters and 37 letterwinners off last year's 8-5 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I playoffs. The Fighting Leathernecks defeated Sam Houston State last year at Hanson Field 56-14 as part of the 6-0 undefeated home record.

This game marks the second time in three years Western will open a season at the Bearkats, also winning at Huntsville, Texas, in 2009 by a 35-28 margin.

All the latest Leatherneck Football information can be found at www.GoLeathernecks.com.