A new Minnesota brand is adding a face very familiar to Minnesotans. Randy Shaver is joining Strib Varsity to both create something new and rekindle Minnesota’s love of football nights across our state.

Shaver, who retired last summer after 43 years in television news and sports reporting, has signed on with the Minnesota Star Tribune’s new high school sports brand, Strib Varsity, and will return to a role that made him a household name during his many years on KARE-11. Shaver will host a live show on football nights, showing highlights, reporting scores, sharing exclusive interviews and delivering analysis on games from greater Minnesota and the metro.

“What a thrill it is to join the team at the Minnesota Star Tribune,” Shaver said. “And I can’t wait to dive back into the madness that is live broadcasting. We’re bringing back a Minnesota tradition: live football-night reporting, all on your screen.“

The show, “Strib Varsity Live with Randy Shaver,” will debut Thursday, Aug. 28, the opening night of the football season, and will stream live starting at 9:30 p.m. on the Strib Varsity website (stribvarsity.com) and startribune.com.

Viewers can stream the 75-minute live show on their phones, computers and tablets, or cast the streaming video to their smart TVs.

The show’s format will be both familiar — scores, highlights, breaking news, live updates — and new. Shaver doesn’t do sport coats anymore, he said, so expect a scrappier, fun and loose production. Players, coaches and others will join as guests each week, too.

Fun, yes, but the show also will deliver the goods.

“I’ll have the support of the largest news and sports reporting crew in the Midwest on my side this season,” he said.

Star Tribune subscribers also will see videos each week from Shaver and Star Tribune journalists breaking down the most interesting story lines across the high school football landscape.

“Strib Varsity Live with Randy Shaver” will debut with back-to-back shows during football’s opening week: Aug. 28 and 29.