Dr Pepper Enhances College Football Experience With $1,000,000 Challenge

Dr Pepper Enhances College Football Experience With $1,000,000 Challenge

Weekly Contest Versus Former College, NFL Star Mike Golic to Produce Contestants for Live Halftime Football Toss at ACC and Big 12 Conference Championship Games

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Football fans across the country will have the chance to be a part of the action and compete for two $1 million prizes by participating in the "2006 ESPN College Pick 'em Game," presented by Dr Pepper. The contest features Mike Golic of ESPN Radio's national talk show Mike and Mike in the Morning inviting fans to outperform him in selecting a weekly series of games. Winners from each week will have an opportunity to compete in a preliminary competition on Dec. 1 at the ACC (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Big 12 Conference (Kansas City, Mo.) championship games. The two grand prize finalists from each region will throw for up to $1 million on the field during halftime of a Dec. 2 championship game. Football fans can participate at www.espn.com, keyword: pepper.

Golic, the former Notre Dame All-American who played professionally for the Miami Dolphins, Houston Oilers and Philadelphia Eagles, and Gino Torretta, the former Heisman Trophy winner and college football standout, will coach the Big 12 Conference and ACC grand prize finalists, respectively, in an effort to increase their chances of winning the $1 million.

"To many fans, Dr Pepper is synonymous with college football, and over the past decade we have provided football enthusiasts with some memorable experiences," said Andrew Springate, vice-president of Dr Pepper brand marketing. "Through the $1 million challenge, we give fans the once in a lifetime experience of being a part of the action at two of the biggest games in college football."

Dr Pepper is the title sponsor of the ACC Championship, which will take place in Jacksonville, Fla., and is in its 11th year as title sponsor of the Big 12 Conference Championship, set for Kansas City, Mo. The brand is also the exclusive presenting partner of the SEC Championship Game played on Dec. 2 in Atlanta, Ga. Both the ACC and Big 12 Conference championship games will be broadcast on ABC, while the SEC match-up will be on CBS.

Competition Overview

Contestants who beat Mike Golic in the weekly "2006 ESPN College Pick 'em Game," presented by Dr Pepper on ESPN.com will be entered into a random drawing to become a finalist. Dr Pepper will fly each of those finalists and a guest to the ACC or Big 12 Conference championship game to compete in the preliminary competition on Friday, Dec. 1. A grand prize finalist will be named and receive the opportunity to be coached by Mike Golic at the Big 12 Conference championship game or Gino Torretta at the ACC championship game, and a chance to win up to $1 million during halftime of the championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2. The remaining finalists will enjoy an all expenses-paid weekend, including a pre-game party and two tickets to the championship game.

Preliminary Competition: Dec. 1, 2006

Finalists will compete in the preliminary competition to determine the grand prize winner. The competition will require all contestants to throw a football from the 5-yard line at an oversized Dr Pepper can replica placed on the goal line. The contestant is eliminated if the football fails to make contact with the target. All of the contestants completing the throw will move back five yards and throw again. This process will continue until there is one contestant remaining. In the event that all remaining contestants have been disqualified in the same round, they will be reinstated to attempt the throw again. The one remaining contestant will become the grand prize finalist and receive the opportunity to throw for up to $1 million during halftime of the respective championship game.

Finals: Dec. 2, 2006

The grand prize finalist at each championship game will have the opportunity to pass 10 footballs from the 5-yard line into a two-foot hole cut into an oversized Dr Pepper can replica placed on the goal line in 30 seconds or less with each successful pass netting $10,000. At the end of the 30 seconds, the grand prize finalist will proceed to the 20-yard line and attempt to pass one single football into the can, if successful, the finalist will multiply their winnings from the first round by ten.

About Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper is a leading brand in the beverage portfolio of Plano, Texas- based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), a subsidiary division of Cadbury Schweppes plc (NYSE:CSG). CSAB is one of the largest producers of soft drinks and premium beverages in the Americas. CSAB's brand portfolio includes Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, Mott's Apple Juice, RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T Mixers, Holland House Mixers, Rose's, Mistic, Yoo-hoo, Orangina, IBC, Stewart's, Nantucket Nectars and other well-known consumer brands. For additional information on CSAB and its products, visit www.brandspeoplelove.com.

Media Contact:
Jason Genthner
Dr Pepper
(972) 673-6688
jason.genthner@cs-americas.com

Sarah Schorno
Pyramid Public Relations
(212) 714-1280 x249
sarahs@pyramidpr.net

Source: Dr Pepper

CONTACT: Jason Genthner, Dr Pepper, +1-972-673-6688,
jason.genthner@cs-americas.com; Sarah Schorno, Pyramid Public Relations, +1-
212-714-1280 x249, sarahs@pyramidpr.net

Web site: http://www.brandspeoplelove.com/
http://www.espn.com/

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