Aberdeen Dad Vail ® Regatta - Coaches Nationwide React To News:2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail To Be Shown LIVE On 6abc/ESPN3.com

The news has sent waves through collegiate rowing circles.

"It's a great move and just a great concept for the Regatta," said Purdue University head coach Dave Kucik.

With immense implications for all involved, the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee has announced that the finals of the 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta presented by Coca-Cola will be broadcast LIVE throughout the Philadelphia region on 6abc and live-streamed worldwide via ESPN3.com

In the tight-knit Philadelphia rowing community, the prospect of viewing the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta on live, broadcast television is staggering. The state-of-the-art production will include two camera boats catching the action from the Schuylkill River, as well as seven wired cameras, two wireless cameras in the stands and four 40-to-80 foot booms equipped with cameras arcing over the river for a bird's-eye view of the action.

"You have a huge level of interest in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area and to see something other than the three main sports of football, baseball and basketball get some airtime and have it be rowing is just great for the athletes," said La Salle University head coach Larry Connell.

While all the Philadelphia-area crews are ecstatic to have the Regatta shown live locally, the reactions nationally were just as positive. When given all the details in-full, Fairfield University head coach David Patterson was taken aback by the news.

"Hearing that for the first time ... well, it's very exciting," he said. "I can't imagine the reaction that I'll get when I tell my team that if they make the grand finals, they'll be watched worldwide. Who wouldn't get excited by that?"

On the downside, "I'll have to make sure their uniforms match," Patterson said with a laugh.

In Canada, the announcement of Aberdeen Dad Vail's partnership with ESPN3 caught Brock University head coach Peter Somerwil a bit off-guard. Somerwil witnessed his men's varsity heavyweight eight capture the coveted Aberdeen Dad Vail Cup a year ago.

"Well, now there's certainly more pressure as the defending champion," he noted.

After reflecting for a moment, though, Somerwil continued, "I think it's a great thing not only for the Dad Vail Regatta, but the sport of rowing and collegiate rowing in general to get this type of exposure. This is huge for rowing."

Added Brock assistant coach Steffan Wager, "That's amazing. This is the first I've heard of something being done on this scale at a regatta other than the Olympics or something. It speaks to the Dad Vail Regatta and what drew Brock into it four years ago. It's a regatta that seems to set the pace for other regattas in terms of how it's organized and the culture and feeling that you get when you're there."

Easy to use and fully interactive, ESPN3 is a broadband network of live sports programming over the Web. The site delivers thousands of live games and events like The Masters, U.S. Open Golf, all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, as well as live games from the NBA, MLB, college football and basketball.

"For the rowers that will be there, I think it will be tremendous for their self-esteem," said Mercyhurst College head coach Adrian Spracklen. "It creates a feeling of, ʻOK, we're more important than we were before. People feel like it's worth putting this on commercial-airwaves.' It will make them feel like they're a part of something very special. When you know it's on TV, it's almost as if you've arrived like a movie star."

ESPN3 is available nationwide for anyone with a subscription to a participating high-speed internet service provider. For all the Aberdeen Dad Vail programs looking for exposure to recruits, alumni or family and friends, the coverage will be invaluable.

"Dad Vail is a regatta that suits everyone - club programs, Division III programs, Division II and a lot of Division I programs - crews that look for season-ending experiences," said University of Buffalo head coach Rudy Wieler. "That makes the Dad Vail an interesting regatta. There's no doubt that this will be huge for not only recruiting, but overall exposure."

Over 3,000 student-athletes from more than 100 colleges and universities in North America will embark upon Philadelphia's Schuylkill River on May 13 and 14 for the 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Presented by Coca-Cola. Friday's qualifying heats and Saturday's semifinal heats will be shown live on www.dadvail.tv. This broadcast will cover the exciting start of each of these races and the final 500 meters of each race. The 6abc/WPVI and ESPN3 broadcast of Saturday's finals will show the races in their entirety from 1 pm to 5 pm EST.

Brendan F. Quinn
Editorial Writer
Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee
DVROC Office Line: (610) 234-2076
brendan.quinn@dadvail.org.
www.dadvail.org
www.twitter.com/DadVaildotTV

About the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Presented by Coca-Cola®
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta presented by Coca-Cola is the largest collegiate regatta in North America with over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada. Held annually since 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River, thousands of student athletes and spectators visit the City of Philadelphia during the weekend of the second Saturday in May.

About Title Sponsor — Aberdeen Asset Management
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc is the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, a global investment management group which is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, and manages more than $287 billion of assets for both institutions and private individuals (as of Dec. 31, 2010). Philadelphia is home to the U.S. equity and fixed income investment management teams, as well as U.S. client servicing, consultant relations, business development and other operational staff: more than 180 employees in total. Aberdeen manages and services approximately $53 billion in total assets on behalf of North American and international clients. For more information, visit www.aberdeen-asset.us Here in the U.S., Aberdeen is also proud to be one of the supporters of the British Garden at Hanover Square, New York. This New York City park celebrates historic ties of friendship and unity between the U.S. and the UK. Globally, Aberdeen has a long standing association with university rowing competitions having sponsored the Oxford v Cambridge University Boat Race in the UK from 1999 – 2005. The company also continues to support the Aberdeen Universities Boat Race in Aberdeen, Scotland in their annual event which takes place every February.

About Presenting Sponsor — The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

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