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Commonwealth Challenge Rules
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The Commonwealth Challenge is designed as a friendly rivalry series between the schools’ athletics programs on an annual basis that continues the growing relationship between the two in-state members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Commonwealth Challenge is a comprehensive competition involving teams in the two schools’ athletics programs. With Adelphia’s support, it is designed to increase the exposure and interest level in the various sports, while promoting good sportsmanship among student-athletes, coaches and fans of the schools. A point system determines the annual winner of the competition.
“The Commonwealth Challenge will be a unique way for fans to follow all of the sport competitions between Virginia Tech and UVa,” Weaver said. “It will add to the excitement of the competition between our schools. We are excited about this annual athletic challenge.”
Littlepage shares Weaver’s enthusiasm for the competition.
“We are looking forward to the Commonwealth Challenge and appreciate the support of Adelphia in this endeavor,” Littlepage said. “This is another example of the positive relationship that exists between our universities. Our hope is the Commonwealth Challenge increases interest and excitement in the overall competition between our athletics programs. It also provides the opportunity to feature spirited competition, while emphasizing good sportsmanship by everyone involved.”
The “Challenge” joins several competitions around the nation involving the athletics departments of two in-state rivals. Duke-North Carolina and California-Stanford are two of the competitions that currently exist.
A trophy featuring a combination of the red brick prevalent at the University of Virginia and the limestone at Virginia Tech goes to the school winning the overall competition each year. The trophy will be presented at the Commonwealth Day football game between the two schools the following fall. There are also traveling plaques for the winning team in each sport.
“Adelphia Communications is proud to be the inaugural corporate sponsor of the Commonwealth Challenge between two great universities that are located in communities served by Adelphia,” said Paula Trustdorf, senior vice president of Adelphia’s central region. “Adelphia believes strongly in fostering a local connection to the communities we serve. Our role as primary sponsor of the Commonwealth Challenge is a logical extension of this community involvement.”
Based in Greenwood Village, Colo., Adelphia Communications Corporation is the fifth-largest cable television company in the country. It serves customers in 31 states and Puerto Rico, and offers analog and digital video services, high-speed Internet access and other advanced services over Adelphia’s broadband networks.
Adelphia serves approximately 600,000 subscribers and employs about 1,200 people in more than 70 communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania. More than 50 communities in Virginia are served, including both Blacksburg and Charlottesville.
“Being a strong media partner enables the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech to strengthen their visibility throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia to their students, alumni and fans,” said Curt Bourg, Adelphia’s area vice president for southern Virginia.