PROVIDENCE, R.I. – ESPN anchor Kevin Negandhi will serve as the emcee for the American Athletic Conference Summer Kickoff and Media Days, which begin, Monday, Aug. 3, in Newport, Rhode Island.
Negandhi, one of the leading figures in sports media, is an anchor for ESPN’s SportsCenter. He has hosted a number of high-profile programs on ESPN, including College Football Live, NFL Live, Baseball Tonight, NBA Tonight, Outside the Lines and the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
Negandhi will moderate a pair of roundtable discussions on national and conference-wide football matters Tuesday, Aug. 4, which will feature The American’s 12 head football coaches. The session with the West Division coaches will begin at 9:45 a.m., while the East Division coaches take the stage at 11:15 a.m.
Commissioner Mike Aresco will begin Tuesday’s schedule with his annual remarks to the local and national media members in attendance. Commissioner Aresco is expected to address a number of topical issues, including the addition of Navy to the conference, the playing of the first American Athletic Conference Football Championship, student-athlete health and well-being initiatives and protecting the game of football at the grass-roots level.
Live coverage of The American’s Summer Kickoff and Media Days will begin Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m. ET on The American Digital Network. ESPN3 will follow with a two-hour recap of the two-day event, hosted by John Rooke and Anthony Becht, Tuesday at noon ET.
The American’s contingent in Newport includes 15 players who were named to the 2014 all-conference team, including six returning first-team selections. Four players who have been named to the 2015 Maxwell Award preseason watch list will be in attendance (Cincinnati’s Gunner Kiel, Houston’s Kenneth Farrow, Navy’s Keenan Reynolds and USF’s Marlon Mack) as will two players named to the Bednarik Award watch list (East Carolina’s Zeek Bigger and Temple’s Tyler Matakevich).
2015 American Athletic Conference Football Summer Kickoff and Media Days
The American Digital Network Coverage
Tuesday, August 4
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9 a.m. |
Mike Aresco, American Athletic Conference Commissioner |
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9:45 a.m. |
West Division Coaches’ Roundtable |
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moderated by Kevin Negandhi |
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Tom Herman, Houston |
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Justin Fuente, Memphis |
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Ken Niumatalolo, Navy |
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Chad Morris, SMU |
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Curtis Johnson, Tulane |
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Philip Montgomery, Tulsa |
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10:45 a.m. |
Terry McAulay, American Athletic Conference Coordinator of Football Officiating |
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11:15 a.m. |
East Division Coaches’ Roundtable |
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moderated by Kevin Negandhi |
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George O’Leary, UCF |
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Bob Diaco, UConn |
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Tommy Tuberville, Cincinnati |
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Ruffin McNeill, East Carolina |
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Willie Taggart, USF |
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Matt Rhule, Temple |
ESPN3
Tuesday, August 4
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Noon |
John Rooke and Anthony Becht with in-depth coverage of Media Days, including |
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interviews with all 12 American Athletic Conference head coaches |
2015 American Athletic Conference Football Summer Kickoff and Media Days
Attendees’ Lineup (subject to change)
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UCF |
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Head Coach George O’Leary |
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Jordan Akins |
WR |
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Thomas Niles |
DL |
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Cincinnati |
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Head Coach Tommy Tuberville |
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Parker Ehinger |
OL |
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Gunner Kiel |
QB |
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Silverberry Mouhon |
DE |
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Adrian Witty |
CB |
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UConn |
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Head Coach Bob Diaco |
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Andrew Adams |
S |
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Andreas Knappe |
OT |
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East Carolina |
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Head Coach Ruffin McNeill |
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Zeek Bigger |
LB |
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Chris Hairston |
RB |
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Isaiah Jones |
WR |
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Montese Overton |
LB |
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Houston |
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Head Coach Tom Herman |
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Kenneth Farrow |
RB |
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Cameron Malveaux |
DE |
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Adrian McDonald |
DB |
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Memphis |
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Head Coach Justin Fuente |
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Alan Cross |
TE |
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Wynton McManis |
LB |
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Navy |
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Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo |
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Keenan Reynolds |
QB |
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Bernard Sarra |
NG |
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USF |
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Head Coach Willie Taggart |
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Jamie Byrd |
S |
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Mattias Ciabatti |
P |
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Marlon Mack |
RB |
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Sean Price |
TE |
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SMU |
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Head Coach Chad Morris |
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Matt Davis |
QB |
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Zach Wood |
DE |
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Temple |
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Head Coach Matt Rhule |
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Kyle Friend |
C |
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Matt Ioannidis |
DE |
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Tyler Matakevich |
LB |
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Tavon Young |
CB |
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Tulane |
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Head Coach Curtis Johnson |
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Tanner Lee |
QB |
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Darion Monroe |
S |
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Nico Marley |
LB |
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Arturo Uzdavinis |
OT |
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Tulsa |
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Head Coach Philip Montgomery |
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Derrick Alexander |
DE |
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Keyarris Garrett |
WR |
#AmericanKickoff Social Station
Student-athletes will be stopping by The American’s social station throughout the day Tuesday. Follow #AmericanKickoff on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine to see behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and more.
Relevant Social Handles
The American on Twitter: @American_FB, @American_Conf
The American on Facebook: www.FB.com/AmericanConf
The American on Instagram: @American_Conf
The American on Snapchat @American_Conf