WJR (760-AM) will become the flagship radio station for Spartans' athletics beginning in the 2006-07 season, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon announced Thursday.

"MSU's relationship with WJR in recent years has been a valued one and athletics now becomes part of that relationship," Simon said.

She added that faculty have long been guests on WJR programming.

WJR will replace WXYT (1270-AM), the Spartans' current flagship station.

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, the agreement is for five years.

WJR will cover live MSU football and men's basketball events and broadcast weekly in-season call-in shows with the respective head coaches.

WJR will also have the rights to broadcast additional MSU sporting events.

"MSU developed an exciting partnership plan with WJR that proved beneficial to both," WJR president and general manager Michael Fezzey said. "Combining assets to reach and serve people is at the heart of our respective missions."

The partnership marks the first time WJR has been MSU's flagship station since a stint from 1963-76.

"To have them back now, again, is really something special for us," MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason said. "It's really going to serve our alums in the southeastern part of the state and our alums across the country because of the signal that WJR has. I think this is a step in the right direction.

"From my own personal perspective, I am as excited as the devil to work with WJR."