Michigan Signs With Nike Comment Count

Brian

This has been a fait accompli for a few weeks now; it is now official:

Also press release.

Creepy divorce metaphor aside, this is likely to please everyone. We have a Best Of Adidas post being assembled and it's a doozy. Around here we started calling them the Only Incompetent Germans after Glenn Robinson's jersey exploded in a cloud of fibers for the third or fourth time.

Nike's not perfect—in fact the only Nike tag we have on the blog is "nike would like you to wear this aerodynamic fez"—but the athletes really wanted Nike according to internal surveys. A lot of the fans really wanted Nike according to Sam Webb, who would know. Even those who were pretty indifferent to the brand of clothing they're wearing scoffed at the many and diverse fashion crimes perpetrated on the best uniforms in sports. And so the department acquiesced even though there were reports that the Adidas offer was worth significantly more.

Yes: the athletic department made a decision based on something other than making revenue go up. Even if you don't really care what symbol is on Michigan's jerseys, that has to feel good.

No numbers yet. Those will be announced next week. Current details:

  • Contract runs to 2027 with a Michigan option to extend to 2031.
  • Contract starts August 1st of next year.
  • Michigan can use "Jumpman" apparel for their basketball teams—apparently this is a big deal.
  • The Daily's Zach Shaw reports that employees were told that Michigan will be Nike's "top deal." I think they say that to all the girls.

I don't think uniformz are off the table unless the AD says they're off the table; that will be the next thing to watch for.

Comments

kurpit

July 6th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^

I just realized that I absolutely HATE what this means for what our hockey jerseys could become.

 

Nike has an affinity for dye-sublimated stripes that don't continue around the whole sleeve, fake lace collars, and weird squared-off collars. See: Minnesota, Michigan State, or the previous Olympic jerseys.

H4ILH4RB4UGH

July 6th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^

Yes the jerseys might not be the best looking but this does mean a return to Bauer. And in my personal experience, most hockey players I know (I have played for 15 years) prefer Bauer equipment over CCM. Looking at the NHL, the biggest name wearing CCM equipment is Conner McDavid, and he hasn't played an NHL game yet. Just my .02

Yostbound and Down

July 6th, 2015 at 9:11 PM ^

Bauer is no longer owned by Nike. 

Bauer is probably on par with Reebok/CCM, but it is all personal preference. I have always liked CCM and Reebok jerseys, not much Bauer gear that I own but I know their skates have a good reputation.

Honestly would love if hockey went to Warrior since they are a Michigan company but I'm not sure how that would work.

ThadMattasagoblin

July 6th, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^

Well PSU, USC, Alabama, Texas etc. don't seem to wear uniformz much if at all so I don't believe we are behind the times or anything. I think the schools that wear them tend to be the schools that don't care about tradition like Oregon or Maryland. As for the money, I would go with nike if they offered 7 million or something. If adidas offered something like 15 million, I'd go with them because that money could be put to something more important like money for Mel Pearson or sprucing up Schembechler Hall.

Duke of Zhou

July 6th, 2015 at 5:23 PM ^

Those stupid slogans that were always on the basketball shirts were reason enough for a change. 'The Wolverine Way,' 'We On,' 'We Rise,' #michtape (wtf?)... so embarrassing. Now we can pretend this was just a bad dream we had once.

Amaizing Blue

July 6th, 2015 at 5:25 PM ^

Athletes prefer Nike.  If we get one kid per year out of this that we wanted and wouldn't otherwise get..then make the change.  I don't think the vast majority of the fan base minds paying more to subsidize this if they are getting value-it was the obvious sticky-tack cash grabs that were offensive.  Not having to grab every dollar is a legal advantage that comes with selling out Michigan Stadium each Saturday, so let's use that advantage.

Mr. Owl

July 6th, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^

Time to jump on the boat and be pumped for things that make football better, like new logos!  Chrome!  Metal-print!  Chrome!  Helmets that fade to different colors!  Digital alarm clock numbers!  Neon!  Chrome!  Neon-chrome!  Neon-metal that fades to stamped chrome!

NikeFlightHuarache

July 6th, 2015 at 5:58 PM ^

You're welcome for not having to look at my ugly mug.  Talked to Jimmy a few months ago for almost 30 minutes about Nike and Michigan back in the day, he was almost as excited as I was talking about kicks.  Super nice guy.  It's a good day today.  Go Blue!

bronxblue

July 6th, 2015 at 6:05 PM ^

This is a good thing, I guess?

The traffic around here with CRATER now that we don't have 4-5 posts a day speculating about apparel.  I can only hope the football season can come close to reaching that level of introspection.

 

 

Mski2812

July 6th, 2015 at 6:12 PM ^

Someone make a pic of what the basketball Jordan jersey would look like. I wanted Jordan but I just can't get the picture in my mind.

Black Socks

July 6th, 2015 at 7:15 PM ^

Not gonna lie - I fell in love with Michigan during the Nike days.  Thank you Phil Knight.

SMart WolveFan

July 7th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^

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.

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