NEW LINEUP RELEASED

Gow Media announces new weekday lineup for ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM

Gow Media announces new weekday lineup for ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM
The new shows start next Monday on ESPN 97.5, 92.5 FM. Photo via: Wiki Commons.

Gow Media today announced a new weekday lineup on its stations, ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.

The new lineup will write the next chapter in the station's storied history. Starting on Monday, August 16th, Houston's independent voice for sports will showcase a new direction, featuring new voices, and new shows with an emphasis on covering the teams and storylines that Houston sports fans care about.

The all-local weekday lineup will continue to boast veteran hosts John Granato, Lance Zierlein, Charlie Pallilo and Joel Blank. New additions to the roster include Jeremy Branham, Jake Asman, Cody Stoots and Brad Kellner. The brand-new lineup is as follows:

7a-10a - The Bench with John Granato & Lance Zierlein

10a-12p - The Charlie Pallilo Show

12p-3p - The Killer B's with Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham

3p-7p - The Wheelhouse with Jake Asman, Cody Stoots & Brad Kellner

"We're thrilled about the new local lineup", said General Manager Todd Farquharson. "We've added some new voices to a lineup of proven all-stars. It's going to be great sports talk with a lot of fun."

Longtime station host Fred Faour will continue to be part of the on-air team, joining shows throughout the week in a new role as the station's sports betting analyst. The growth in sports gambling is undeniable and Fred's talent in that arena makes him the perfect fit. CEO David Gow said, "Fred has a deep connection with our listeners, and will continue to be an important part of our on-air team. He will also lead the development of a new online offering that we'll be launching soon."

The new hosts shared their thoughts:

Jeremy Branham - "Excited and grateful for the opportunity. I've been listening to sports radio in Houston since it was born in the 90's, so getting a chance to team up with Joel and talking to Houston every day is as good as it gets."

Jake Asman - "Houston has become my home for the last 3 years and I'm so excited for this opportunity to talk about the teams and storylines that fans in this city care about. From the Texans to the Astros, to the Rockets, to anything big nationally we are going to have you covered. I can't wait for the city to hear all the fun that we're going to bring every afternoon!"

Cody Stoots - "Excited would be an understatement. I'm thrilled with the opportunity we have in front of us at ESPN 97.5 and 92.5. Jake and Brad are going to be great partners. With football season here and an Astros playoff run on deck we can't wait to get started!"

Brad Kellner - "I am incredibly fired up to be a part of the new afternoon show at ESPN 97.5 and 92.5! The opportunity to join the top station in one of the best sports cities in America is a dream come true for me and I can't wait to get started. I'm especially looking forward to working with Jake and Cody to bring Houstonians the best sports radio experience available."

Weekday evenings on ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM will continue to feature Patrick Creighton's Late Hits and weekly show Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis.

About Gow Media

Gow Media, LLC is a large multi-platform media company founded in 2007 and based in Houston. The company's digital assets include CultureMap, the leading online destination for lifestyle content in five cities of Texas; SportsMap, the top sports site in Houston; InnovationMap, the voice for innovation in Houston; and AutomotiveMap, which covers news and industry trends in the automotive industry. The company also owns a Houston sports station, the popular ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM, and it owns one of the country's largest national sports radio networks, The SportsMap Radio Network. Gow Media, LLC is backed by a private investment group with significant experience in media ownership. The investor group includes Steve Webster, co-manager, and co-CEO of Avista Capital; Patrick Dugan, vice president and general counsel of Nortex Corporation; and David Gow, chairman and CEO of Gow Media, LLC.

For Media Inquiries

Todd Farquharson

todd.farquharson@gowmedia.com

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The Texans square off with the Packers this Sunday! Composite Getty Image.

The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.

It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?

Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.

After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.

The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.

X-factors

The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.

If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.

For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube

The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!

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