| 7/25/2024 | Football BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic Athletics, in conjunction with multimedia rights holder Playfly, has announced its Florida Atlantic Sports Network broadcast team for the 2024 season. Chris Newbold, who played offensive line for the Owls from 2007 to 2011, joins Ken LaVicka and Mike Mreczko in the booth, and Frank Forte on the sidelines this season. “We are thrilled to be adding former Owl Chris Newbold to the Florida Atlantic Sports Network,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White. “I know Chris will bring a unique perspective to the radio broadcasts, and I can’t wait to hear Ken, Chris, Mike and Frank calling our games. I’m so glad to have him back in Paradise and on our radio network.”LaVicka, the voice of Florida Atlantic football and men’s basketball on the radio returns for his 16th season behind the mic and teams with Newbold providing analysis. Mreczko, who joined the broadcast in 2015, anchors the 30-minute pregame and postgame shows. Forte, a longtime TV sports personality in the South Florida market and current FAU athletics staffer, will provide sideline updates. “I am honored to contribute my voice, knowledge, and experience as a Florida Atlantic player to an amazing radio team,” said Newbold. “I could not pass up this opportunity to be part of something special at the institution I love. I am excited about the team Coach Herman has and I can’t wait to get started with Ken, Mike and Frank.” FOX Sports South Florida 640 is the flagship station for the Florida Atlantic Sports Network, with the station carrying each game live, along with the Owls’ weekly coaches shows. LaVicka hosts the weekly coaches shows live from Duffy’s Sports Grill on St. Andrew’s Avenue Boca Raton that features Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman. All Florida Atlantic games and coaches shows can be streamed live worldwide on the FOX Sports 640 website (https://live.foxsports640.com/listen) and the FOX Sports 640 app.The crew will be together for the first time when Coach Herman and Florida Atlantic open the 2024 season at Michigan State on Friday, Aug. 30. The pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff set for 7 p.m. THE TEAM Ken LaVicka – LaVicka joined the football broadcast team in 2009 and assumed full-time football play-by-play duties in 2011. In addition to football, LaVicka has called all Owl men’s basketball games since 2009, including the program’s Sun Belt Championship game in 2011 and the historic Final Four run in 2022-23. He began broadcasting Florida Atlantic basketball games in 2007 and was on the call for the baseball team’s memorable run in the 2013 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional. LaVicka will also continue to host the weekly Florida Atlantic Coaches Show, carried on FOX Sports South Florida 640. As a regular emcee at FAU events, he was on hand for the 2011 football stadium dedication. He has covered the transitions into Conference USA and, most recently, the American Athletic Conference. Chris Newbold – Newbold joins the team in 2024 after playing five seasons for the Owls as an offensive lineman. The Fort Lauderdale native redshirted in 2007, the first bowl season for FAU, and drew his first action versus North Texas in 2008. Newbold was part of the Owls’ second bowl team, which traveled to Detroit for a Motor City Bowl victory over Central Michigan. He concluded his career in 2011 during the program’s inaugural season playing at FAU Stadium. A long-time season ticket holder, Newbold has attended every home game since graduating from FAU. He currently serves as a middle school athletic director for Pine Crest Boca, managing approximately 20 teams. He coaches flag football and boys and girls basketball and serves as an assistant coach for boys lacrosse. Shortly after his collegiate playing career ended, Newbold coached football at Spanish River High School. Mike Mreczko – Mreczko is in his 10th season as a member of the radio team. He has covered the Owls as a studio host, engineer, analyst, and pre-and postgame host. He joined the Owls after a stint as a news reporter and fill-in anchor for 610 WIOD in Miami. Mreczko was previously a sports anchor on 1010 WINS in New York and has been heard on ESPN Radio affiliates in West Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Lehigh Valley, Pa. He is also currently a teacher at the Sports Leadership Arts Management (SLAM!) charter school, helping students generate content for SLAM! Radio on SiriusXM Channel 145, among other duties. Frank Forte – Long-time South Florida sports broadcaster Frank Forte joined FAU in March of 2017 as the “Inside the Owls’ Burrow” Show feature producer and host and enters his first season as a member of the radio broadcast team to provide sideline updates. Forte joined the Owls after spending 11 years at Fox Sports Florida/Sun Sports. Before working at Fox Sports Florida, he was a sports anchor and reporter for WPLG-TV(ABC) in Miami for 23 years. His experiences have helped Forte win three regional sports Emmy Awards. COMPLETE SCHEDULE Click HERE. SEASON TICKETS 2024 Season tickets are available for as low as $75. To purchase season tickets, click HERE.Recent alumni and Florida Atlantic faculty/staff can access discounted season tickets as low as $50. To learn more, submit your info HERE or visit HERE to make a purchase today.VIP group experiences with discounted tickets are available now, including pre- and post-game field access, halftime team tunnels, fundraising opportunities, and more. If you have a group of 15 or more who are interested, sign up HERE. FOLLOW THE TEAM Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball. |
