CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Marshall's Sept. 6 football game at Wisconsin carries enough clout to be the main noon game on the Big Ten Network.

That's the good news. Still, there are some notable constraints on the exposure of that contest. Barring a substantial development in the next 41/2 weeks, Suddenlink cable subscribers in the Kanawha Valley will have to punt.

The Thundering Herd takes on the Badgers at noon EDT during the second weekend of the college football season. It is one of five games at that time being televised by the Big Ten Network - the others are Eastern Illinois at Illinois, Florida International at Iowa, Eastern Michigan at Michigan State and Northern Colorado at Purdue.

With MU-Wisconsin being the "main" game, we can skip all confusing explanations about "overflow" games. In Big Ten country, the Illinois game is funneled to cable systems in that state, the Spartans will air in Michigan, the Hawkeyes in Iowa and the Boilermakers in Indiana.

That means MU-Wisconsin will air on cable systems carrying the BTN in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, no question. But while the network seems to be pleased with its reach in its first year - 70 percent of homes in the eight conference states, it says - it hasn't reached ESPN numbers.

Wisconsin is the weak spot, as it turns out, at 36 percent exposure. Ohio is only at 40 percent, but Minnesota is 65 percent and Pennsylvania 83 percent. Indiana and Illinois are higher.

The problem in Wisconsin is this: Much of the state is served by Time-Warner Cable and Charter, neither of which has reached an agreement with the BTN. The network has insisted on being placed on expanded basic tiers in the eight states, and negotiations have been contentious in some cases.

BTN recently reached an agreement with Comcast, which could be a break for fans in the Huntington area and parts of Putnam County. Being outside the Big Ten footprint (barely), the Huntington system is free to pick up the BTN on its digital tier, though it has not yet done so. That decision would be made locally, according to Elizabeth Conlisk, the network's vice president for communications.

The BTN is not part of the Suddenlink digital lineup either. Conlisk was uncertain on the chances of that changing, whether on a local basis or throughout St. Louis-based Suddenlink's 1.3 million-customer empire.

What isn't uncertain is this: Cable systems will not be offered the game separately, and apparently won't get the chance to pick up the network for the day, as Comcast in Huntington did last year with ESPNU when the Herd played at Miami (Fla.).

"You're either a partner with us, or you're not," Conlisk said.

ESPN and ESPN2 also take Big Ten games for its noon slots on Saturday. On Sept. 6, those games are Ohio at Ohio State and Miami (Ohio) at Michigan.

This isn't an issue for Dish Network or DirecTV subscribers with the proper level of service. Those two services, along with AT&T U-Verse, carry all the BTN games simultaneously, using "overflow" channels.

The network launched Aug. 30, 2007 (with a bang - Michigan's loss to Appalachian State). It is a 20-year joint venture between subsidiaries of the conference and Fox Cable Networks. It boasts of more than 400 live events yearly, ensuring that all football and men's basketball home games of league members are televised.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Marshall's Sept. 6 football game at Wisconsin carries enough clout to be the main noon game on the Big Ten Network.

That's the good news. Still, there are some notable constraints on the exposure of that contest. Barring a substantial development in the next 41/2 weeks, Suddenlink cable subscribers in the Kanawha Valley will have to punt.

The Thundering Herd takes on the Badgers at noon EDT during the second weekend of the college football season. It is one of five games at that time being televised by the Big Ten Network - the others are Eastern Illinois at Illinois, Florida International at Iowa, Eastern Michigan at Michigan State and Northern Colorado at Purdue.

With MU-Wisconsin being the "main" game, we can skip all confusing explanations about "overflow" games. In Big Ten country, the Illinois game is funneled to cable systems in that state, the Spartans will air in Michigan, the Hawkeyes in Iowa and the Boilermakers in Indiana.

That means MU-Wisconsin will air on cable systems carrying the BTN in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, no question. But while the network seems to be pleased with its reach in its first year - 70 percent of homes in the eight conference states, it says - it hasn't reached ESPN numbers.

Wisconsin is the weak spot, as it turns out, at 36 percent exposure. Ohio is only at 40 percent, but Minnesota is 65 percent and Pennsylvania 83 percent. Indiana and Illinois are higher.

The problem in Wisconsin is this: Much of the state is served by Time-Warner Cable and Charter, neither of which has reached an agreement with the BTN. The network has insisted on being placed on expanded basic tiers in the eight states, and negotiations have been contentious in some cases.

BTN recently reached an agreement with Comcast, which could be a break for fans in the Huntington area and parts of Putnam County. Being outside the Big Ten footprint (barely), the Huntington system is free to pick up the BTN on its digital tier, though it has not yet done so. That decision would be made locally, according to Elizabeth Conlisk, the network's vice president for communications.

The BTN is not part of the Suddenlink digital lineup either. Conlisk was uncertain on the chances of that changing, whether on a local basis or throughout St. Louis-based Suddenlink's 1.3 million-customer empire.

What isn't uncertain is this: Cable systems will not be offered the game separately, and apparently won't get the chance to pick up the network for the day, as Comcast in Huntington did last year with ESPNU when the Herd played at Miami (Fla.).

"You're either a partner with us, or you're not," Conlisk said.

ESPN and ESPN2 also take Big Ten games for its noon slots on Saturday. On Sept. 6, those games are Ohio at Ohio State and Miami (Ohio) at Michigan.

This isn't an issue for Dish Network or DirecTV subscribers with the proper level of service. Those two services, along with AT&T U-Verse, carry all the BTN games simultaneously, using "overflow" channels.

The network launched Aug. 30, 2007 (with a bang - Michigan's loss to Appalachian State). It is a 20-year joint venture between subsidiaries of the conference and Fox Cable Networks. It boasts of more than 400 live events yearly, ensuring that all football and men's basketball home games of league members are televised.

When the Herd does make it to Wisconsin, the left knee of defensive end Albert McClellan will be one of the top issues. It was about 51 weeks ago when the 2006 Conference USA media choice for defensive player of the year tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a light-contact drill.

McClellan's rehabilitation has reportedly progressed well at all stages, and he even took part in some light drills in the spring. But the question will persist, as with all who suffer ACL tears: Will he regain his previous form, and if so, when?

Free safety C.J. Spillman reported one encouraging development from a recent "run test" in summer conditioning.

"He was running up there with Cody Slate," Spillman said, referring to the speedy tight end. "So I think he'll be ready to go."

Almost all the players are out of town getting one last respite before reporting to camp Sunday. After the team's media day Monday, practice begins Tuesday.

The first practice open to the public is on Aug. 9, at 3 p.m. Fans are reminded that recording devices are prohibited.

Basketball-wise, Herd fans still await the release of the schedule. While many schedules have been released already, this isn't out of the ordinary for Marshall - last season's slate was unveiled on Aug. 31.

At least two things are holding up the schedule right now - Conference USA's slate and the final details on the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. C-USA is well known for going the extra mile to maximize television exposure.

Staged in November, the Wilkes Classic features eight teams playing four games, one on campus sites and three at Daytona's 5,000-seat Ocean Center. Alabama-Birmingham played in the inaugural edition last year, though not too well - the Blazers lost all three in Florida, perhaps zapping their chances for an NCAA tournament at-large berth.

Lee Frederick, president of Sport Tours, said "Two or three things are cooking, and we're not in a position to make a statement" on the field.

He said five teams are set - Marshall, Mississippi, Utah, Morgan State and Wisconsin-Green Bay. That's down two teams from previous reports, which had Bradley and Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis participating.

Frederick is hoping negotiations pick up when coaches come off the recruiting trail at the end of the month. He is bullish on the venue, where the arena is across the street from the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.

"It's better than Orlando, better than Las Vegas," Frederick said. "It's a world-class beach and a world-class hotel. You can throw the ball off the hotel onto the Ocean Center."

The tournament is named after Glenn Wilkes, the "Godfather of Florida basketball." He went 551-436 at Stetson from 1957-1993 and is even more noted for directing camps and clinics. He originated his own basketball school in 1958 and directed that for 37 years, currently works with the Nike camps and is even an assistant director of the Michael Jordan Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas.

Reach Doug Smock at 348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.