The Missouri Valley Conference and FSN Midwest will give a unique "thank you" to American troops with the telecast of the Northern Iowa at eighth-ranked Wichita State men’s basketball game on Saturday, December 30. The television coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. Central on December 30 from Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

In a special event titled "This One’s For You," the telecast will recognize American Armed Forces serving overseas. American troops worldwide will be able to watch the game via American Forces Network (AFN).

The telecast will feature greetings taped by American troops -- deployed in Iraq -- with ties to Wichita and Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Troops from 130th Field Artillery Regiment in Topeka, Kansas, and members of the 1st Battalion of the 133rd Infantry Iowa Army National Guard -- which includes several UNI ROTC graduates -- will be featured.

Back in the United States, UNI and WSU coaches and players will tape special greetings for troops watching on AFN. The sold-out crowd at Koch Arena will salute the troops with signs, American flags and their renowned enthusiasm. The arena video board will also show the greetings taped for the telecast.

Local viewers can watch the game live on FSN Midwest and Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) on December 30. It will be shown on AFN the next day (Sunday, December 31) on tape-delay at 2:00 a.m. Central, which equates to 1:00 p.m. in Southwest Asia/Iraq, 11:00 a.m. in Central Europe and 5:00 p.m. in the Far East/Japan/South Korea.

Mitch Holthus, voice of the Missouri Valley Conference, will call the action with former Missouri State head coach and MVC TV Network analyst Charlie Spoonhour.

Said Robert Matheson, AFN Director of Broadcasting: "This isn’t the first time that FSN Midwest has gone the extra mile for our men and women in uniform around the world. It is such a privilege to work along side individuals and industry professionals who continually place our military at the top of their priority list. This event says a great deal about the Missouri Valley Conference as well as the people who make the broadcast happen. It not only honors those who stand in defense of this country, but it is an incredible ‘touch of home’ that cannot be underestimated, especially at this time of year. Your efforts are sincerely appreciated and on behalf of Americans stationed in 176 countries and serving aboard U.S. Navy ships at sea, thank you and well done."

"We’re very excited about having this unique opportunity to salute the men and women who are serving our country overseas," said MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin (pictured at left), who is in his 19th year with the league. "The collaborative efforts of our telecast partner at FSN and our two institutions have been heartwarming. We are essentially thankful of the sacrifices our military men and women and their families have made during the holidays."

"We thank The Valley, Wichita State, UNI and AFN for their great enthusiasm and support," said Jack Donovan, FSN Midwest General Manager and Vice President. "With an important Conference match-up, a sold-out arena and close proximity to McConnell Air Force Base, this game presents an ideal time and place to recognize American troops overseas."

Metro Sports of Kansas City serves as the production company on Missouri Valley Conference telecasts. The U.S. Army Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDs) is gathering the footage of troops overseas for the telecast.

About the Missouri Valley Conference
Now in its 100th year of existence, the Missouri Valley Conference is celebrating its Centennial season in 2006-07. With 10 member institutions, it is the nation’s second-oldest Division I athletics conference, trailing only the Big Ten Conference. With league headquarters in St. Louis, the Missouri Valley Conference will serve as host for the following NCAA Basketball championship events in St. Louis: 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional (March 23 and 25 at the Edward Jones Dome); 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four (April 5 and 7 at Scottrade Center); and 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional (March 26 and 28 at the Edward Jones Dome).

About FSN Midwest
FSN Midwest is the leading provider of local sports in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, reaching more than 5.4 million cable and satellite homes. FSN Midwest televises 31 Missouri Valley Conference events in 2006-07.

About American Forces Network
The American Forces Network Broadcast Center (AFN-BC), located in Riverside, Calif., distributes stateside radio and television news, entertainment and sports programming, along with Department of Defense (DoD) news and information, via satellite to approximately 850,000 DoD militray and civilian employees, and their families, stationed overseas in 176 countries and U.S. territories, and aboard more than 180 U.S. Navy ships at sea.

For more information, contact:
Missouri Valley Conference: Jack R. Watkins, 314/421-0339, ext. 327, watkins@mvc.org;
FSN Midwest: Geoff Goldman, 314/206-7000, ggoldman@foxsports.net;