The provider's home-state advantage, teamed with the quality of its national wireless service, made nTelos the brand to beat, according to ISP's Rick Barakat, General Manager at Virginia Tech, who facilitated the agreement.

"It is very important to us to work with Virginia-based brands whenever possible," said Barakat. "nTelos is one of Virginia's key corporate citizens, and Virginia Tech is one of Virginia's preeminent state universities, so there's a natural cohesion between the two. We are very excited about the opportunities the partnership will generate."  

"nTelos is a very strong supporter of Virginia Tech and has worked with the school for several years," stated nTelos wireless President Carl Rosberg. "Stepping into the role of exclusive wireless provider for the football program is a major opportunity for us and we are proud to provide Coach Beamer and his staff with the best available wireless service. As a Top 20 team, we know they're only going to work with a brand they can rely on."

Jim Weaver, Virginia Tech Athletic Director, agreed with Rosberg. "We are pleased to partner with nTelos for our upcoming football season – and we are looking forward to the co-promotional opportunities the sponsorship includes, and to endorsing the nTelos brand," said Weaver.  

Support from the football sponsorship will be used to support student athletes across all 21 Virginia Tech athletics programs, Weaver added.

Coach Beamer himself will star in several of the planned nTelos television spots slated to air throughout the Hokies' season. The comedic spots feature Beamer "finding money" everywhere he looks in a riff on the new nTelos brand message, No One Else Compares -- an allusion to the fact that nTelos offers the best value in wireless.  nTelos will run additional television, radio and print advertising as part of the sponsorship, and the full-of-surprises brand also has some top-secret plays up its sleeve for Hokie fans at upcoming home games,according to Director of Public Relations, Mike Minnis. 

The nTelos Pass for Cash promotion, scheduled to take place during the November 10th game against Florida State, will serve as the highlight of these home field tactics, and will give two lucky fans a chance to pass the pigskin for a shot at winning fantasy vacations and nTelos bucks. NTelos will match each contestant's winnings with donations to charitable organizations chosen by Coach Beamer, Minnis said.

 About nTelos An integrated communications provider headquartered in Waynesboro,Virginia, nTelos provides products and services to customers in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and North Carolina, including wireless phone service, high-speed DSL (high-speed Internet access) and local and long-distance telephone services. Detailed information about nTelos is available at http://www.ntelos.com.