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SOU markets sports teams Enters into deals with Pepsi, radio By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon University athletics plunged deeply into the world of sports marketing Friday. A plan to market SOU teams and gain supplemental income to pay for them began when Pepsi-Cola agreed to pay $25,000 for exclusive distribution and advertising rights, said Southern Oregon athletic director Monty Cartwright. The agreement with Pepsi is for five years. He presented the news at a press conference at McNeal Pavilion on the Southern Oregon campus. He also announced a two-year agreement with Citadel Communications to carry Raider football and men's and women's basketball games. "Nobody ever thought our athletic department could go out and get this kind of a donation," Cartwright said of the deal with Pepsi. "It's a sign of what's to come in our program." The agreement isn't as big as the $5 million Oregon State recently received to rename Parker Stadium, Cartwright said, "but it's the same idea." The OSU facility is now Reser Stadium, named for alumnus Al Reser. The food magnate bought the naming rights last month. Ken Pastega, vice president of the Pepsi Co. of Southern Oregon, presented Cartwright with a check for part of the $25,000. "We want to help the schools, but this is also good business for us," said Pastega. In the agreement, Pepsi will have exclusive athletic department rights to vending machines. It will also have its name on arena and stadium signs, and it will be part of advertising and special promotions on campus. "Pepsi has been a sponsor for us before, but the difference is this is a bigger commitment financially," said Cartwright. "It adds to our budget and supplements monies we receive for the budget through student fees." SOU has an athletic budget of $500,000 for the upcoming school year. The agreement with Citadel Communications -- which owns six Medford-area stations -- means the Raiders will be carried on the company's sports station, KTMT-AM (580). The deal calls for all football games and up to 30 selected men's and women's basketball games to broadcast. KTMT didn't renew its agreement with Oregon State to broadcast football and basketball in order to pick up the Raiders. "We decided to go with the local school," said KTMT General Manager Bret Fox. "We think there's significantly more interest in SOU on the radio than Oregon State." Suzanne Daniel, SOU athletic resource development coordinator, said the school had "been trying to get the radio package since I got here last year. Key elements were that they (Citadel and Pepsi) wanted to be involved with our product and because the school and myself have good relationships with both of them." SOU games were broadcast on KOPE radio the past two years. Pete Belcastro and Joe Brett will continue as broadcasters for SOU football and basketball through the Table Rock Sports company. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.