FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University's upcoming move to NCAA Division I
status in athletics is currently featured on a Pepsi can. The new limited
Lancer/Pepsi can was scheduled to be available in most major grocery outlets
from Roanoke eastward to Amelia, including Farmville, after January 15.
Through special arrangements with Pepsi, more than one million Pepsi cans will
be produced to help promote the move. The can features the new Lancers logo
with the words "DIVISION I HERE WE COME" and "Longwood University Is On
The Move," along with the address for the Longwood Lancers web site
(longwoodlancers.com).
"This is an excellent way in which we can communicate our change in status
with the Community," said Longwood University Director of Athletics Rick
Mazzuto. "I'm sure a number of them (cans) will end up as collector's items."
The can is part of a 10-year contract that Longwood recently secured with
Pepsi. It will be sold locally at Food Lion, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie and
convenience stores, according to a Pepsi spokeswoman based in Lynchburg.
Longwood, which has competed at the Division II level since the 1980-81
academic year, is currently in the first year of a four-year reclassification period
toward Division I certification, the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. If all
goes well, Longwood will be officially certified for Division I status in September
2007.
