Thursday, October 06, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 6, 2005) - The East Tennessee State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Thursday that Pepsi has signed a new pouring rights agreement for all Buccaneer events, as well as provided sponsorship funding for both the Mountains States Health Alliance Buccaneer Sports Network and the Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Championships.

The agreement makes Pepsi products the choice of ETSU athletics, meaning drinks such as Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Aquafina, Gatorade and Propel Fitness Water, among others, will now be served at ETSU athletic events. More specifically, Gatorade will become the standard drink offered to Buccaneer student-athletes during actual competition.

"Pepsi has gone above and beyond with their support of our program," said Wayne Miller, ETSU's Associate Athletic Director for External Relations. "To have such a respected company partner with our program is important as we continue to build our corporate sponsorship base. We are extremely pleased that Pepsi chose to be involved in so many different ways."

Pepsi's Jim Dyer, the local Market Unit Manager for Pepsi Bottling Group, said the company was extremely pleased to be able to support ETSU's student-athletes.

"Everyone at Pepsi Bottling Group is very happy to be a part of the East Tennessee State University tradition," Dyer said. "We appreciate the commitment that ETSU has made to the community and we welcome the opportunity to partner with this outstanding establishment. Our Pepsi Bottling Group Team Members like ETSU Team Members are enthusiastic, civic minded individuals that care about the people that make up our community and about the progress and success of the city that we all know and love."

For more on Pepsi and its products, visit www.pepsi.com.