Under Armour out of the running; decision coming in June

Submitted by DISCUSS Man on

per el twitter

Under Armour reportedly out of UM apparel race. Nike/Adidas will duke it out; Adidas still offering ~ $4M more annually. Decision late June

— Teddy Blanks (@MaizeAndBlue14) May 23, 2015

Also, Adidas' pitch reportedly includes proposal to dull their yellow—no more highlighter/neon. So there's that..

— Teddy Blanks (@MaizeAndBlue14) May 23, 2015
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iPhone

May 23rd, 2015 at 5:47 PM ^

It will be NIKE. Another $4MM is not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. I feel that most athletes want NIKE and the AD is really taking their opinions seriously.

Joined: 04/30/2015

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Pickle Rick

May 23rd, 2015 at 5:59 PM ^

Michigan went into discussions knowing that Nike couldn't pony up the cash that Adidas would offer.

To me, this means Michigan is alright with entertaining an offer from Nike, knowing that they're the overwhelming favorite with fans and athletes.



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steve sharik

May 23rd, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^

Don't see how this is any sort of negotiating point, as the U copyrighted the official logo, colors, and even a "Victors font" a couple years ago.

Current adidas contract may have them grandfathered in with respect to their authority to have some color input, but going forward the contract would have to explicitly give them legal permission to use anything other than what the University states is their shade of maize.

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JOHNNAVARREISMYHERO

May 23rd, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^

Nike is offering less (which most knew would happen) and we are still considering them.     Bodes well for Nike.

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TheCool

May 23rd, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^

We're going back to Nike, Nike, Nike. We're going back to Nike. I do(n't) think so. I also hope so because I prefer Nike. Their basketball and football apparel, shoes, etc are better. I won't trip of we stay with Adidas as long as maize becomes maize again.

Joined: 07/13/2011

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Gisele

May 23rd, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^

Do people actually believe there is a $4million gap between the preceived value of Michigan between Adidas and Nike?  Sure, there is a premium for Adidas having Michigan as one of it's signature schools, but there is no way that number is $4mil a year.

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CoachBP6

May 23rd, 2015 at 6:59 PM ^

What Michigan loses from Adidas it will make up somehow from Nike or other ways. I'm sure Nike would sell more apparel, and I'm positive the players and recruits like Nike more than Adidas. I am hopeful that Hackett will choose Nike, as I like everything they do compared to Adidas. Also it will help (slightly) with recruiting, and some recruits value Nike so much that it actually impacts their decisions of where the will go to college.

Joined: 12/18/2013

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CoachBP6

May 23rd, 2015 at 8:54 PM ^

There are endless ways to make $4 million dollars with arguably the largest fanbase in college football, not to mention all of the wealthy, powerful alumni. $4 million dollars is chump change in the grand scheme of things. We want our athletes in the best gear possible, and if the vote was overwhelmingly Nike over Adidas than the move needs to be made. Most of college footballs most successful brands have taken less $$ to go with Nike and have done just fine without that extra money. Our players should be the most important thing in this decision.

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gbdub

May 24th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^

But can you make $4 million BECAUSE you have Nike? Otherwise you're still leaving money on the table. You're making the athletic department cut other stuff so your tshirt can have a swoosh instead of three stripes.



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MichiganMAN47

May 23rd, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^

Most of our best moments in sports have been with Nike gear. Nike knows Harbaugh will be big. On the other hand, Adidas also knows that Harbaugh will boost sales significantly. We are the last big Adidas school left. They need us badly.

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CoverZero

May 23rd, 2015 at 7:08 PM ^

So they are not going to Protect this House?

Adidas is Bad Karma (and their unis look like crap).  Michigan football has been pretty horrible since the start if the Adidas Error. 

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JOHNNAVARREISMYHERO

May 23rd, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^

Good point.  I just think we have to be more efficient with our money.  

We were so loaded with money that Brandon made a wealthy donor pay for the band to go to Dallas.  

Not only was scheduling that game idiotic, but the lead-up was as well.  

Hackett seems to have a solid grasp on the fans and players.

If the players overwhelming want Nike, I have a feeling he will go with Nike.  

Doesn't it seem odd to survey the players, get their opinion that they want Nike, and then say oh by the way, we are staying with Adidas.  

 

Joined: 02/06/2015

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pescadero

May 24th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

No.

 

Athletic Dpeartments are typical bureaucracies. No matter how much money they have, it will never be enough - and will mostly be used to grow the bureaucracy.

 

Athletic Departmenst goals (not just Michigan) are largely to grow themselves.

 

If there is excess money - it WILL be spent, and they'll find something pointless or stupid to spend it on if there isn't something worthwhile.

Joined: 03/28/2013

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umbig11

May 24th, 2015 at 9:05 AM ^

That guy has no clue! This is a multi-million dollar decision that is very closely guarded and only a few at Michigan are in the know. I will wait for an announcement. 

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Optimism Attache

May 23rd, 2015 at 9:14 PM ^

So here is a dumb question about how the revenue from Michigan-logoed apparel sales works. Regardless of who the sponsor ends up being, does Michigan get a certain percentage of every sale of that company's UMich-branded merchandise? That is, is part of the calculation whether UM thinks they might recoup some of that $4 million in greater sales volume by virtue of having a more popular brand partner? 

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Michigan4Life

May 23rd, 2015 at 9:44 PM ^

but it's a very small percentage and the sales/merchandising revenue don't make a dent to the overall athletic department revenue. In other words, it's nearly impossible to recoup the $4 million difference by going with Nike.

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