Sept. 5, 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced that it will launch an aggressive advertising and dealer marketing program surrounding the Mountain West Conference's fall sports schedule as part of the company's multi-year agreement to sponsor a variety of Mountain West varsity sports and special events.

Through the sponsorship, Cooper became the Official Tire of the Mountain West Conference and will provide support for individual sports and conference tournament events. Among the sports and championships sponsored will be football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, track and field, soccer, swimming, cross country, tennis and golf.

The multi-year sponsorship includes advertising, merchandising, promotional and media rights, as well as selected hospitality and special event packages for MWC events and championships.

To launch the program, Cooper Tire has created two new collegiate sports-themed television advertisements that will begin airing this fall during MWC football broadcasts on ESPN+Plus.

Using college football and basketball as backdrops, the TV spots salute the training and intensity necessary to excel in college sports while taking a humorous look at how Cooper Tire might contribute. The spots will be available for use by independent Cooper dealers in addition to the company's regional buys.

Cooper Tire dealers will have access to new 30-second and 60-second radio spots as well. Like the television ads, the radio campaign reinforces Cooper's tie to Mountain West Conference athletics.

"College sports challenge student-athletes to learn, to grow and to compete in a demanding environment against tough opponents," said Cooper Tire Vice President of Advertising and Communication Patricia J. Brown. "At Cooper Tire, we understand that challenge all too well. Our team of associates and dealers is pushed to excel in a similar way every day. This program is a perfect fit for our corporate philosophy."

"The geographic coverage represented by the Mountain West and the passionate loyalty of its alumni and fans were very attractive to us," said Brown. "This program provides excellent opportunities for our dealers to implement targeted consumer and business-to-business marketing programs in key sales territories."

"The Mountain West Conference is pleased to welcome Cooper Tire as a corporate partner," said Mountain West Assistant Commissioner for Marketing Dan Butterly. "It is crucial to our development as a Division 1-A conference that we align ourselves with corporate partners that are regarded as leaders in their industries. Partnering with Cooper Tire is in keeping with that goal."