Russell Corporation Signs Landmark Agreement With Oldest Historically Black College Conference

Russell Corporation Signs Landmark Agreement With Oldest
Historically Black College Conference 


ATLANTA, March 22  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Russell Corporation (NYSE:RML)
announced that it has signed an agreement to be the exclusive provider of
athletic apparel, team uniforms, balls and sports equipment to all 12 member
schools of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the oldest
of the Historically Black College and University Conferences. Russell will also
become an official sponsor of the CIAA basketball tournament.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030630/RMLCORPLOGO )

With the addition of the CIAA, Russell now has partnerships with the four major
Historically Black Athletic Conferences representing 46 schools. The company
had signed agreements in 2004 with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC),
the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference (MEAC).

"This agreement allows us the opportunity to involve our full range of products
and brands beyond the team uniform business," said Jon Letzler, president and
COO.  "By including our Russell Athletic, JERZEES, AAI, Huffy Sports, Bike and
Spalding brands, we will have increased brand awareness and sales opportunities
across the campuses, including the playing fields and courts as well as the
college bookstores.

"This latest agreement also provides the added potential of the CIAA basketball
tournament," added Letzler.  "We are excited to be a part of what is widely
recognized as one of our country's legendary sporting events."

Athletic programs included in the agreement are men's and women's basketball,
football, baseball, softball and volleyball.  Russell's association with the
schools will begin immediately.  Member schools of the CIAA are:  Bowie State
University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University,
Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, North Carolina Central
University, Saint Augustine's College, Saint Paul's College, Shaw University,
Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State
University.

"We are proud to have Russell as a partner with the CIAA.  Russell's extensive
brand lineup and the quality of their products speak for themselves," said CIAA
Commissioner Leon Kerry.  "This relationship will have such a positive impact
for the CIAA member institutions and the student athletes by providing
additional scholarship monies.  Also, we know the teams will be wearing the
best uniforms made.

"Beyond the agreement, I applaud Russell's commitment to the African American
community," Kerry added.

About Russell Corporation

Russell Corporation is a leading branded athletic and sporting goods company
with over a century of success in marketing athletic uniforms, apparel and
equipment for a wide variety of sports, outdoor and fitness activities. The
Company's major brands include Russell Athletic(R), JERZEES(R), Spalding(R) and
Brooks(R).  The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol RML and its web site address is http://www.russellcorp.com/ . 

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DATASOURCE: Russell Corporation



CONTACT:  Financial, Roger Holliday, [phone], or Media, Nancy

Young, [phone], both of Russell Corporation



Web site:  http://www.russellcorp.com/ 

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