Dr Pepper and ESPN Sign Premier Sponsorship of College Football Programming

PLANO, Texas and NEW YORK, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dr Pepper today announced it has entered into an agreement with ESPN to be the presenting sponsor of the official trophy awarded at the 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game. The Coaches' Trophy presented by Dr Pepper will also appear in various ESPN content throughout the upcoming season.

"Like college football, Dr Pepper is an unrivalled experience," said Tony Jacobs, vice president, marketing for Dr Pepper. "With more than 25 years of partnering with college football, Dr Pepper is proud to sponsor the most sought-after trophy in college sports."

The Coaches' Trophy presented by Dr Pepper will conduct a season-long tour, stopping at key games in conjunction with ESPN's College GameDay. At each stop, fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with the trophy and download it for free. The first appearance is at the Virginia Tech vs. Alabama game in Atlanta on Sept. 5, and the tour will continue until it is awarded at the Citi BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl.

"With exciting players like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford leading top rated teams in the battle for the national championship, this is sure to be a fantastic year for college football," said Ed Erhardt, president, ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales. "Dr Pepper has a long history with college football and we are thrilled they are increasing their involvement for what is sure to be an epic season."

In addition to the sponsorship of The Coaches' Trophy, Dr Pepper entered into an agreement as a premier sponsor of ESPN college football programming. The agreement includes weekly sponsorship of features within ESPN's top college football programming including College GameDay Built by the Home Depot, College Football Live, ESPNU studio shows and primetime games on ESPN and ABC. Dr Pepper will also receive multimedia-integrated exposure with on-air promotion, tune-ins and billboards on all ESPN networks and ABC as well as ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Radio.

"The American Football Coaches Association is proud to welcome Dr Pepper as the presenting sponsor of its national championship trophy, The Coaches' Trophy," said AFCA executive director Grant Teaff. "Dr Pepper has been a solid supporter of college football for a long time, and their association with The Coaches' Trophy, as well as the AFCA, can only enhance the sport and what it means to football fans throughout the world."

About The Coaches' Trophy presented by Dr Pepper

• The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) created the trophy in 1986.
• This will be the 24th year the trophy has been awarded to the No. 1 team in the AFCA's final USA TODAY Coaches' Poll.