Season opener to be televised on SEC Network

AUBURN -- The Tigers will open next season hosting Arkansas on the SEC Network, ESPN announced Friday.

"We are all going to head down this way, (Aug.) 30th to have Arkansas roll into town and the defending SEC Champions take the field, which I think is going to be very exciting," ESPN's Joe Tessitore said at an event on campus Friday. "Nova flying up above in that moment is going to be thrilling and what better way to open a season than that?"

The game time will be set at a later date.

Tessitore was hired in December to host the SEC Network's traveling road show SEC Nation, which will also be in Auburn for the season opener.

Stephanie Druley, ESPN vice president of production for college networks, said SEC Nation will visit all of the 14 SEC campuses in the first year of the network, which launches Aug. 14.

So far AT&T U-verse and Dish Network have reached agreements to broadcast the network. Talks with other outlets remain fluid and on-going, as is typical in negotiations between networks and telecommunication providers.

"We will continue to discuss other carriers, there is interest, there's a lot of interest from the fans," Druly said. "We need people to tell their providers they want it. We are continuing to talk to folks. Demand for the network is there, the one thing about this conference is people are extremely passionate. I think as we get closer, I think we'll see that."

Asked how the network will handle breaking news, Druly said it her plans are to "cover the news," but not dig for dirt.

"We're not going to be Outside the Lines," she said. "You're not going to see us out investigative reporting."

The SEC Netowrk has hired several on-air personalities, including Tessitore, Brent Musberger, Tim Tebow, Maria Taylor and several former players.

Druly was asked specifically about former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen being a candidate for the network. Though the sides have not spoken, Druly is hoping to hire a former Auburn player "at some point."