By SCOTT BELL
Ever since he was hired, men's basketball coach Steve Cleveland has sounded like Merlin he's mentioned magic so much.
He's repeatedly talked about bringing back 'the magic in the Marriott Center.'
Now for his next trick: bringing the magic to the Cougareat.
Starting today at 7:00 p.m., KSL 1160 AM will be broadcasting 'The Steve Cleveland Show' live from the dining area across from the food court at the Cougareat.
Sportscaster Greg Wrubell will host the weekly show, and has big plans for its future.
'When the coaching staff changed,' Wrubell said, 'there was a real undertaking on Cleveland's behalf that part of the 'healing process' include getting the program out to the people. The decision to bring the show on campus is an extension of Cleveland's commitment to bring the program to the people.'
In the future, the show will be every Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Today's show is an exception since the Cougars played Washington on Tuesday.
The show will be split into two hour-long segments. The first hour will include appearances by BYU basketball players and coaches and athletes from other sports. Last week, for example, Wrubell had members of BYU's national champion women's cross-country team on air with him.
Cleveland will join Wrubell on air for the second hour to discuss Cougar hoops.
It is hoped that the show will attract the attention of students and eventually gain a following. In the future, plans include an open-mike feature where students can ask Cleveland questions on the air, and sponsored drawings and give-aways.
'Hopefully, it will be the kind of thing where someone who knows the show is going on will stop by,' Wrubell said. 'Then people who are just walking by will gather and we'll get the show running.'
When informed of the show, most students seemed excited about its prospects.
'I think it will be a good chance to revive the spirit of BYU basketball,' said sophomore Brendan MacKay. 'Right now, everyone is disinterested and doesn't care. This (show) will be a good chance for people to see what Cleveland's future plans are for the team. It will be a good chance to see if he still has his hopes up and maybe it will generate more fan support for the program.'
'It's good,' said junior Chris Berg. 'At least (Cleveland) is putting forth an effort to listen to the students.'
After today's debut broadcast, the show will take place again on Tuesday in the standard 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. time frame. After a holiday respite, the show will begin weekly broadcasts Tuesday, January 6 at the same 6:00 p.m. time.
Wrubell graduated from BYU in 1991, and has been working for KSL since 1989. He has been a regular at BYU sporting events since then.