MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama football program is beginning a two-year transition to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA I-A) level officially when the season kicks off Sept. 1, and the Jaguars won’t have to wait long to make their first-ever television appearance.

USA Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann announced Wednesday that the Jags’ contest with West Alabama that night will be aired live locally on UTV 44 and available nationally via ESPN3.  In addition, Erdmann confirmed kickoff times for the Jaguars’ first four games of 2011 as well as a second ESPN3 appearance.

USA and UWA will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with Jim Cox (play-by-play), Dan Brennan (analysis) and Pat Greenwood (sidelines) handling broadcast duties.  The matchup will also be available on ESPN3.com, which is currently available in over 70 million homes across the country and at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection/cable subscription from an affiliated service provider.

The Jaguars’ first-ever game against another FBS member, which will take place at North Carolina State Sept. 17, can also be viewed on ESPN3.  Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. Central time in what will be the first road contest of the year for USA.

The Jags and Lamar will start play at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 in a rematch of a 26-0 USA victory from a year ago, while the final game of the month — Sept. 24 at Kent State — is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. Central.

All other game times for the 2011 season will be announced in the near future.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—