Recruits react to Nike
This stuff matters. Recruits care and Nike is a powerful tool.
If the rumblings of Michigan getting Air Jordan/Jumpman sponsorship are true, that would basketball recruiting a boost.
Michigan going to Nike yess.
— CJ Turner1 (@cj_turner1) July 6, 2015
Michigan to Nike
— Matt Falcon (@mfalcon21) July 6, 2015
Michigan to Nike is so sweet if it's true #GoBlue
— R.I.P. MARY (@THEGIF7) July 6, 2015
Wouldn't mind rocking them Nike unies#Michigan #GoBlue
— DILLARD (@_DBK8) July 6, 2015
Nike please
— Erik Swenson (@Eiek77) July 6, 2015
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I'm a 40 year old guy and here's where I come down on this:
- As far as an actual "brand" is concerned, I personally don't care. What is important to me personally as a direct consumer of Michigan gear is quality of construction, fit, and visual design (incuding most notably the shade of "maize" that is being employed). What actual corporate logo is on the gear makes no difference to me personally.
- That being said, I just want to win, baby. If the recruits overwhelmingly favor a certain "brand" to the point that we see a non-zero uptick in our ability to recruit the kids to our squad, then I'm all for it. My HOPE is that the kids' preferences are also rooted in reality, and that the reason they DO want a certain brand is because that brand actually does in fact produce a superior quality/fit/design. Or at least represents a lateral move in quality/design.
But the reality is, I'll be willing to wear a goddamned maize & blue Fruit of the Loom clown suit if the program can more easily field a winning squad because of the brand/uniform switch.
he should clean out the refrigerator full of Chobani and throw it in storage.
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It matters. It is almost never the #1 factor (and I'm not sure I would want a kid for whom it was) but recruits are extremely image conscious. The frequency with which the Nike logo is plastered all over these kids for their 4 years of college is nothing to sneeze at, and it is always good to align yourself with the brand these kids like the most.
What do you mean that it "matters"?
Everything matters to some degree. I don't think it matters much. Do some people like a certain brand, yes. Is it hugely important to recruits, nope.
Of all the considerations for where to go to school, such as coaching staff, proximity to home, success of program, academics, amenities of the facilities, hot girls, etc. this one goes pretty far down the list,
I would even suggest that IF this happens to "matter" enough to beat out any of those other factors above, well.... that recruit has messed up priorities.
The question is how important this is and my hypothosis is that the more important this is to you, the less mature you are about the decision you are making. The less mature you are, the bigger the risk your overall priorities are messed up or will get you messed up.
In the end, I just don't think it matters much at all. It is probably somewhere around the importance level of a "cool throwback" or "crap throwback" uniform in a night game. De minimis.
Wow, we went from shoes to ad homs in three lines.
Let's leave the ad homs for the OSU and MSU boards.
The mere fact that this (and other) boards have multiple 100+ comment threads a day on the subject means that it matters to the fanbase.
It's probably not much different than growing up a Michigan fan and and choosing the college you attend. The fact that you are a Michigan fan has some baring on what you ultimately decide, but some choose elsewhere because of money or prestige or ...
This is so overblown.
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I love these threads because I can't believe I have a serious opinion on the subject! I hope the The_Mad_Hatter is just playing Devils advocate on this subject to get people riled up, because if he really doesn't care about brand names as he claims he does he is in the less than 1% that does! I'm 52 and i still care about brands! Whether it be Ford vs Chevy, Nike vs Addidas or Coke vs Pepsi, I have my brand favorites! I am 52 and for as long as I can remember I tried to buy a pair of new sneakers in Maize and Blue colors, preferably the ones the Coach's wore on the sideline that I only wore on Football Saturdays. I also tried to buy a few t's, a hat and a wind breaker or hoodie every year, I loved that Nike came out with something new every year, it fit great and looked good, I stayed brand loyal to Nike because my school wore Nike! Now when we switched to Addidas I tried to keep up this tradition and got more and more frustrated every year, its like Addidas didn't even try to make team-centric gear, it made it very difficult to stay brand loyal to Michigan. And the final straw was those God Awful Uniforms Addidas came up with for thier schools for the Final Four tourney, did you see what Wisconsin looked like in those things! I was almost glad we didn't get in so my favorite team wouldn't have to wear that clown suit!
Spell Adidas wrong once and auto correct kils you for the rest of your post!!!! Sorry about that!
Spell Adidas wrong once and auto correct kils you for the rest of your post!!!! Sorry about that!
I think this is a great move and will make an impact. Nike is absolutely one of the most influential brands for millennials http://www.businessinsider.com/top-50-millennial-brands-2015-5 (Nike #1, Jordan #9).
How big of an impact will vary greatly depending on recruit, but being aligned with the best is an absolute win. Oregon has definitely reaped the benefits of Nike. Compare that to Maryland, (headquarters of UA right down the road) and it's no contest. Brands matter. I am not making the argument Oregon is better than Maryland because Nike is better than Under Armor. I'm making the argument that if you asked a recruit who had nod visited either school which university is 'cooler' Oregon or Maryland, Oregon would win out.
Bottom line, it comes down to what makes Nike money. Nike knows Michigan is a cash cow and they will innovate and bring new things to Michigan because they know it will equal sales.
Michigan, North Carolina, Marquette, Georgetown and Cal are the only programs who have it.
It's Michael Jordan brand. The shoes will be Air Jordans.
Can't wait!
Woodson, LaMarr Woodley and Jeter are sponsored by Jordan. It would be cool if some of the football players wore Jordan cleats for a game.
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It matters to the 'croots!!
http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Recruits-React-Michigan-to-Nike-3807…
Who is Dillard? figured out that thegif is Terrance Davis.
Where are the Twitter updates now that this is official?
I'd like a complete rundown, please. I came here to see reaction, all I got was the OP. #Disappointed.
http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Recruits-React-Michigan-to-Nike-3807…
2016 5* LB Caleb Kelly: "Nike is my favorite. It's a cool move and I'm excited."
2016 Top100 OL Terrance Davis: "It's not huge but I like Nike a lot more than Adidas. It takes away from one of the only negatives I had about Michigan."
http://mgofish.com/alumni-players-and-recruits-react-to-michigan-going-…
Mgofish has a much better list.
....the most interesting commit in the world.
Victor Viramontes: "Even if we're wearing Nike, Adidas or Russell Athletic, we're going to give 110% on the field, but it's definitely something to be excited about. It's like Deion Sanders said: "You look good, you feel good, you play good"."
I may not always play Quarterback at Michigan, but when I do I wear Nike.
"The apparel deal also includes the Jordan Brand "Jumpman" apparel for men's and women's basketbal"
http://www.maizenbrew.com/2015/7/6/8902511/interim-ad-jim-hackett-the-r…
I'm actually glad that they switched back. Now football and basketball will get the recruits back.