It was Bill Martin that got us into the Adidas contract. No way Dave Brandon would have made this type of advertising/branding mistake.
Nike may have some bad stuff, but their good stuff more than makes up for it. Quality of materials and overall finish was/is just better. Those embroidered zip-up hoodies and sweatshirts, warm-ups, and such were better designed and reflected the tradition/sophistication I associate with UofM. This press-on, graphic-T, high-lite bull shit Adidas throws out on crappy cotton feels more appropriate for Sparty and the likes.
Adidas gave us the richest endorsement deal in the history of college sports. The previous best was Notre Dame (10 years $60 million) and Michigan got the $60 million for 8 years. On top of that, there is a "most favored nations" clause in the deal which keeps Michigan as Adidas' highest paid college team for the length of the deal.
Bill Martin signed a contract with the highest bidder. When that contract expires, Dave Brandon will sign a contract with the highest bidder.
No way would either of those individuals make the mistake of leaving money on the table.
Here's an old post about the switch to adidas http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/unverified-voracity-bids-nike-adieu.html
Really like most of it, really hate some of it.
Where can i find the blue Michigan outerwear old school Addias zipup with the throwback M? i don't see it on the mden website.
None of the new gear is on the MDen website. Wait a couple weeks and they'll have them up.
I always hold out hope that if people stop buying this crap, Adidas will stop making this crap.
Then I realize large segments of our fanbase will gobble this stuff up.
There's a reason Adidas won't let us have nice things.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
No. (Why the skinny M?)
Yes.
Yes.
No..
No.
Maybe.
Because it's supposed to be a Vintage/Homecoming track jacket.
hasn't that fad been dead for years? Love the blue jacket with the stitched M, though, and think it's striking how the stitches manage to evoke a whole glorious history with the simplest gesture. Think they stumbled on something there. . . .
UVa is a Nike-exclusive school, and I like more of what they put out for UVa than what Her Dassler and them put out for Michigan. Besides lacrosse stuff (some of which has been mega-flashy lately), the stuff they put in the UVa Athletics store is pretty subdued. There are exceptions, of course, but generally it's all pretty well-executed. That may be the happy result of being a low-priority for their designers.
They get the [participial] colors right.
I see the "Cylon Helmet" graphic came back. Of course, every other Adidas school uses it too.
/leaves to chase kids off lawn