JACKSON, Miss. - November 16, 2004 - Cellular South has expanded its title sponsorship of Museum-administered college player of the year awards in Mississippi to include basketball and baseball.
The Cellular South Outstanding Player Awards will now include the Cellular South Howell Trophy in men's basketball and the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy in baseball. Cellular South has sponsored the Conerly Trophy, which is awarded annually to Mississippi's top college football player, since 1998, now titled the Cellular South Conerly Trophy.
"Cellular South is helping elevate college baseball and basketball players to the same level of recognition as college football players," said Museum Executive Director Michael Rubenstein. "They've been great partners for six years. We're very grateful."
The inaugural presentation of the Cellular South Howell Trophy, which is named after former Mississippi State All-American and six-time NBA All-Star Bailey Howell, will take place April 14, 2005. The second annual Cellular South Ferriss Trophy, named after long-time Delta State coach and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Boo Ferriss, will be presented May 23, 2005. The Cellular South Conerly Trophy is named after the late Charlie Conerly, an All-American quarterback at Ole Miss and an NFL MVP with the New York Giants. The Ninth Annual Conerly Trophy presentation will take place December 1, 2004.
Major league scouts select the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy recipient while more than 50 media voters from across Mississippi determine the Cellular South Conerly and Cellular South Howell Trophy honorees. All three presentations will take place at the private non-profit Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson, MS, which benefits from ticket sales to the presentations.
"When the Museum expanded its recognition program to include baseball and basketball, and named the awards in honor of two of the state's genuine athletic heroes, Cellular South immediately knew it wanted to be involved," said Hu Meena, president of Cellular South. "As a Mississippi-based company, we're proud to support our colleges and universities by underwriting awards for the top players in three major sports and providing athletic department scholarships to each winner's school."
About Cellular South
The company is one of the largest privately held wireless providers in the U.S. and is licensed to provide wireless service - to a total population of more than five million people - on its network stretching from the Memphis Metropolitan Area, throughout all of Mississippi, along Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Destin/Seaside. Cellular South offers nationwide coverage on a variety of rate plans including unlimited calling and free incoming calls. For more information, contact Cellular South at 1-877-CSOUTH1 or visit cellularsouth.com.
Contact:
Tanya Rankin, PR Manager (601) 974-7134, trankin@cellularsouth.com
