AT&T Kicks off the 2008 'All-America Player of the Week' College Football Program

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced today that for the fifth consecutive year college football fans will have the chance to vote via text messaging for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week, the only national college football honor that is determined solely by fans.

Additionally, AT&T customers can view video highlights and photos of each week's candidates and track their favorite teams through AT&T's wireless NCAA Football Portal, which is accessible on AT&T handsets by launching AT&T MEdia(TM) Net and clicking through to the sports category. AT&T wireless customers with 3G handsets can also watch "Confessions of a College Football Junkie" video clips featuring Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit by accessing ESPN on AT&T CV.*

"College football fans are some of the most involved and impassioned in all of sports," said Tim McGhee, director of corporate sponsorships for AT&T. "That's why we're so excited to once again give them a voice in selecting the top college football player each week. With this award program and the NCAA(R) Football Portal available on AT&T handsets, we're connecting college football fans with the sport they love through rich content they crave."

Each week, a panel of experts from ESPN will choose four finalists based on those players' outstanding performances from that week. The four candidates will be revealed at 9 a.m. ET each Sunday on ESPN's "SportsCenter," via text message alerts and online at http://www.espnallamerica.com.

Fans can register to vote for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week throughout the season by text messaging VOTE to 87654 on their wireless phones. They have until 11:59 p.m. ET each Wednesday to participate in that week's voting. The winner then will be announced Thursday at halftime of the ESPN College Football Primetime Presented by Applebee's. Standard text messaging rates apply.

There is no limit on fan voting, and each vote counts as one entry into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the 2009 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship game in Miami. Full sweepstakes rules can be found at http://www.espnallamerica.com/rules.aspx.

In December, four finalists for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year Award will be announced during a one-hour special on ESPN in conjunction with the announcement of the AT&T ESPN All-America Team as selected by the Football Writers Association of America. Fans will then get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year through the BCS. Voting ends at noon ET on Jan. 6, and the winner will be announced during the BCS National Championship game on FOX on Jan. 9.

Last year, Texas Tech freshman wide receiver Michael Crabtree was honored as the AT&T All-America Player of the Year, edging Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow of Florida, Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Virginia's Chris Long. Voting for the 2007 AT&T All-America Player of the Year was the highest total in the four-year history of the award.

Through the AT&T MEdia Mall, fans can also download fight song ringtones from more than 150 college and universities. Animated screensavers and 3-D mobile wallpaper are available for more than 100 college and universities.