i grew up in an era that consisted of russell and ridell being the " brand " that was football and then nike came in some time in the mid 90s and changed the game. the 1st team i remember wearing nike is FSU. since then nike and football gear has changed dramitcally but nike has consistantly been the "top dog" with most teams have 3 or 4 different combos every year and socks and cleats sleeves wrist bands etc the kids are literally branded from head to toe. i know under armour made small push with maryland and a couple other schools for a bit there and included and then adidas to include UT, UCLA and nebraska most notibable. Some schools brands are alot more cemented in the tradition of the school and how they are percieved to be a a part of that school such as UNC and jordan gear, oregon and nike gear, maryland and UA. but ive always kind of thought of the U as a nike school i just thought that nike ambodied what the U was about back in the swagger days of the U although i dont remember if they were nike in the begging i just felt that nike was the only one that could add to that swagger and it became a symbol and part of miami football.
now the U has signed with adidas.
http://touch.sun-sentinel.com/#section/1224/article/p2p-82455680/
My sons 10 and im not saying he is spoiled but when it comes to football he wants all nike gear he considers himself a nike athlete which maybe to my own fault because im a big nike guy myself. Im curios to see if this has an effect on recruiting. i do think it will play a part, the kids these days are all about looking cool and brands and looking a certian class or status not all but quite a bit. i think some kids will say im going to a nike school maybe not to the point where they will straight up eleminate a school from recruitment because they are not a "brand name" school but its something that goes into a kids mind.
im curious to know if anyone else thinks this will have an effect and if so what said effect will be on the U. do you think if VT was not a nike school it would have an effect? im a huge fan of the nike gear that we get just from a fan perspective over some of the other brands. i just think nike gives more options and better product and i think that kids want to wear nike. alot of talks go into our uniform and helmet combos and ive hear it be brought up alot with trying to show recruits all the uniforms etc so i think this is a topic worth discussing and even more so since its the off season and well we are going to be looking for things to talk about anyways. as always go hokies!
Comments
I think that branding has certainly become a huge part of college football, thats the primary reason you see Nike doing what it does with Oregon uniforms, and all of the Pro Combat gear (of which VT has worn several iterations) etc.
I don't think that it has quite come to the point (and frankly I hope that it never does) that kids are making decisions about which school to go to based on the corporate apparel sponsors of that university, as that seems to me to introduce another extremely shady influence into what is already a clearly gray area of college athletics.
I think you are spot on in that kids want to look good on the field. And I think there is definetely a psychological component to how good a kid feels he looks on the field to how good he plays on the field. Its human nature. When I am wearing my best suit for a consulting meeting, I feel more confident. Period.
So it will be interesting to see what these companies come up with design wise. Because it will be more about how the uniform looks (and a consistent generation of cool looking gear), than who is actually making it.
Nike actually hasn't done Pro Combat unis in a few years, or at least not a rollout like they used to with a bunch of teams having a specialty a certain weekend of the year. That being said, we need a uniform refresh, and we need it badly. The current look was really good in 2010, when it was a throwback look while we were wearing a cutting edge design, but it has grown tired and old.
We're in the process of some significant change within the program. New athletic director, new basketball coach, a new younger more energetic offensive football coaching staff with a renewed emphasis on recruiting, and a new President of the university. Everything seems to be new right now, the energy has changed, things are getting a bit exciting again. In my opinion, the time is perfect right now to have Nike rebrand the entire athletic dept based upon the current VT logo. Come up with a new custom VT specific typeface, the numbers of which we use on all athletic uniforms. If this means a bit of a tweak and refresh of the Hokiebird logos, so be it. Let em use all of the design elements around campus to do it. Everything just feels so different with the school right now, I wouldn't mind that change to be reflected in how we look nationally.
To be honest, I'd be very disappointed if the brand of athletic clothing a team wears sways an athlete's decision. My attitude is: just play football. I understand comfort, but I've also never been a good enough athlete where I actually noticed my clothes affecting my performance. Practice made me better.
However, I guess I could call myself an "LL Bean" engineer. Have you tried their khaki's with the hidden elastic in the waistband? A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Still comfortable even after 2 weeks of binge-eating, but no noticeable improvement in engineering creativity.
But you're ~34 (based on your sig).
These guys are literally half your age. 17 year olds make decisions based on totally different things.
I would hate 17 year old me for how immature/irrational/naive I was.
If branding didn't affect these guys at all the schools/clothing corporations wouldn't spend the money on it that they currently do.
I saw several teams this year that made me say "wow" for good or bad reasons. There were a few that made me remember what school wore them; exactly what a marketing team wants. Cool uniforms get attention and publicity. Since there is (almost) no such thing as bad publicity, I say bring on the unique uniforms
35 (I red-shirted), but I can still get after ya'
I see your point, I just wish things like hard work, heart, family and a winning tradition mattered way more than image. But you're right, I'm not a 17-yr old star athlete. I'm a weekend warrior family man that wears steel-toed shoes and design door knobs for a living.
It assuredly does to some people.
Lets not forget the whole decision making part of the brain not being developed thing too. Which is why if you get too into recruiting you'll lose your mind.
Schlage? Great locks...
Correct sir, and thank you.
knobs...
"insert british slang reference"
Rumor is we have an opening for a Master Plater, if anyone is interested.
I hear a UVa grad has had the Knob Polisher job on lockdown for the last 11 years. Just can't seem to the that promotion...
It definitely has an impact. Recruits always want to look 'cool' and these one-off uniforms where the marketing dept of the outfitter shows off what it can do is that 'cool' aspect. What we have tried recently has been as far from cool as it gets, with the foghorn leghorn, and the hokie tracks, and even the HokieStone helmets just didn't look professional (the seam down the middle was way, way too obvious). Even the special grey uni we wore against Bama looked cheap, and the orange camo helmets last year looked like the logos were put on with painter's tape.
However, I expect to see an immediate change in this next year. Heck, we saw a small change this past year with the Orange Effect helmets that had the metallic orange logo. I would not be surprised to see our uniform set scrapped and redone this offseason to something more flashy, while sticking to our Hokie ways. Recruiting-wise, we're on a bit of a surge right now, and what better way to continue that feel through the offseason than to let Nike make us look 'cool' again. With Miami out of the way, we're by far the biggest football program in the Coastal they are going to be outfitting going forward. Let 'em run with it.
Along this conversation, Oregon is about to play in arguably their most important game in their schools football program history and they are doing so in a Nike Uniform that doesnt even have their Green and Yellow colors. Its all White Top with Silver/Black decor and lettering with smoke grey pants.
Even the Nike Ohio State uniform looks a bit off from their traditional uniforms but its at least close.
Seems to me if I was Oregon, I would want to imprint those school colors on the National scene, so I wonder if this is more the schools vote or the Nike design. Just seems odd to me for the National Championship.
More on the uniforms can be found here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/nike-unveils-ohio-state-...
I'd argue that the one thing Oregon isn't known for right now is their color scheme. Yes, the yellow and green look is good when they pull it off well (like they did against FSU) but really, when people think of Oregon, they're known for an offense that is as flashy as their uniform set. And the last time they were in the National Title game, they wore a set that was almost exactly this same set, just with a day-glow yellow as a highlight color.
When you've looked like the following over the past 24 months, I 100% say to them the template is more important than the colors.
And the kicker is.... my absolute favorite Oregon look is by far their throwback
But it looks so completely un-Oregon that they're almost unrecognizable anymore
The third photo with the Nike concept with Dark Green would have looked great in this game, rather than the greys/black.
To me though, they needed something more like this:
If forced to go lights, than this:
There are also these, although its a little Packerish
Oregon has a standing order, never wear the same uniform twice, and they haven't duplicated sets in years. I agree that the first one, the one they wore for the Rose Bowl, would have looked great against Ohio State in the title game, but it actually goes against their brand, which is to always be changing and evolving. And the other looks you showed, while nice at the time (though the last one I believe is a fan concept and never worn) just don't look like Oregon anymore. It would go against their current branding, and for the biggest game they're going to play, they're going to wear something that conforms to their standards. The set they are wearing does that, in their own way.
Third one from the top is badass. What Phil Knight and Oregon have accomplished is remarkable. It's more than just unis though. The unis are the centerpiece of a focused, concerted marketing effort. They have an exciting and modern style of play to go with their exciting and modern unis that reflect their immaculate, state of the art facilities. Wasn't that long ago Oregon was another one of those PAC teams, now they're a truly elite program.
That's why it's not working for Maryland. They put out a bunch of unis sure, and I think some of them look pretty cool, but that's the only difference from before the Under Armor deal. They still play meh football in a meh stadium in their meh athletic facilities. They're giving it a whirl but let's face it, Maryland sucks.
In discussions with folks who know the program a bit. They are very happy with the B10 move. Frees up more operating cash flow. Believe it or not the crowds are becoming more football less New Jersey. I never would have believed it, but I'm starting to buy it. I want to see big time football games in the DC area. Outside of driving to VT, HappyValley, maybe Morgantown, there are no big time games in CFB.
While many say it is UA and Planck driving decisions in Maryland, I say it is more fundamental economics. Great market, great TV market, bring the cash flow, get rid of the non-football fans, build the base, grab some free cash flow, upgrade facilities, etc.,etc.
Bottom line is Maryland is righting their battleship but it takes a while to get it turned around. I think our Nike uniforms suck and hate the fact that Weaver in one of his last acts extended the contract with Nike. We need to push the donor bases aside and get the badarse unis the kids love. I still cannot believe the black and bold orange isn't a staple among our recruits. From what I understand this is THE UNIFORM the kids love and the crappy clothing company who has our contract won't make it available. We are also in the ACC which is still not working hard enough to get our economics on par with the B10 and SEC.
We will have more competition in the mid-atlantic for football players. Edsall may not be a big player in Maryland because his base was NE with UCONN, but most Maryland fans seem to want more of a focus on Virginia. Seems very remote that they could recruit Virginia well under Edsall, but perhaps they are just one coach away from turning south to get more players. Imperative for me that we start getting a more relevant total package for kids. Everyone loves the maroon hokie garb. I think alot of kids look good in it, but I don't think its that exciting a color for kids. Kids want vibrant colors for the most part... and vibrant with black is even better.
Sorry rant over.... economics and branding (part of which is clothing)... wish we'd do better... unlike you I see Maryland playing a long game pretty well consider where they are coming from and us lagging... worry they will be our competition as they get better facilities.
I absolutely love the 3rd uniform from the top. Imagine that with maroon instead of green. That would be sweet.
I know that people here in knoxville are extremely excited to be switching from adidas to nike...
Yeah, I like Adidas and all but some of the uniforms they put out for both Football and Basketball are absolutely horrendous.
Wait until these brands get into sponsors 7 on 7 like they do for basketball. Players who play on a brand x team will more than likely go to brand x college.
I'm a Nike guy too. I love it, and like you said love the products we get as fans for being a Nike school.
As a current VT student I kind of have a similar mind as the recuits and players. Do I think kids are choosing schools for their brand? Not at all. Do I think kids get excited about "cool and unique" uniforms? ABSOLUTELY. It's exciting, it's fun, it provides a 'swagger.' I saw a twitter exchange the other day involving JC Coleman, Houshun Gaines, and the VTFB Equipment account talking about how the players want to be hooked up with some cool new cleats.
Some universities are loved for their tradition and their uniforms that go along with it (Penn State, Alabama, USC) and some for the opposite (Oregon). VT does not have a "classic" uniform, but does have a unique colorway with Orange and Maroon. I say take advantage of that and yes, let's use "cool" uniforms and let's do it often. It creates excitement and exposure for VT ("Cool" uniforms literally blow up social media). And I know a lot of people say "Quit worrying about the uniforms and worry about coaching the damn team." Don't worry, a lot of the uniform decisions do not fall on Coach Beamer and it is not taking any of his time away from coaching the team.
have seen stories where recruits end up with cool versions of SWAG... someone takes a pic of them in it and they blow up social media.... that is hot sh** in my book ... maybe borderline violation but I don' t know that they've been brought up by the NCAA on it... imagine being a teenage kid, getting your pick taken in something that looks great and is new, blowing up social media, having a bunch of people sell out a small print design
its excessive, don't get me wrong, probably not sustainable... but marketing has changed because of social media... having an integrated branding, clothing, social media strategy is becoming essential IMHO
It plays a big part in the fan experience as well. People have Oregon paraphernalia and like the team just based on their uniforms. And these are people living on the east coast with no ties to the school whatsoever
The biggest thing I think schools need to get away from is tying themselves down to one brand for every sport. Having seen hundreds of teams come through in football, basketball, wrestling and volleyball, there is no one right answer for every sport. I know it would be hard for most schools to get multiple contracts, but with the quality that Adidas and Under Armour have been putting out recently, I think it could happen for some schools. Nike is definitely the top dog for most sports and there are kids that won't even look at a school unless they are with Nike, but over time that could change if Adidas and Under Armour (*or even some new brand that pops up) keeps pushing the envelope and making headway with star players in the major sports.
Think UA and Adidas have to buy share and go high on bids to win them. Many places I think just want to play it ordinary and go with tried and true Nike. Significantly, I think Miami wanted to move away from Nike. They are looking to make some movement with their uniforms. I think their colors are similar to ours in that some very cool stuff is possible, but some really ugly stuff is possible as well. Should be interesting to see if Adidas f's this up or makes a splash.
one thing i took away from the article was this
With the change, Miami is expected to not only sign a more lucrative contract that will inject a significant amount of money into the athletic program, but the expectation is athletes and coaches will be receiving more gear than they did under the schools present contract with Nike, with the source saying Miami will be treated like a special entity.
how much more gear can you give than you already do? ive seen the gear atleast college football players get and their closet looks like the campus bookstore nike section and then some. i have to wonder if adidas is just blowing smoke or if they are going to start giving out adidas cars.... kidding obviously but at what point does potentially giving out gear because a NCAA violation? how much gear can i give a kid? if im VT i go to nike and say hey give me everything you make with a nike check on it and throw a VT on it we are going to give it to ehhh lets just say josh sweet for instance.
Gear being clothing. So you're talking about shirts, sweats, underwear, socks, pants, hats, sunglasses, shoes, backpacks, watches, with an Adidas logo and specially designed for the University of Miami. And I'm sure there's a limit on how much can be given or provided, but I'm sure the variety of offerings to kids at Miami is going to increase significantly.
One thing I found interesting. Apparently the current Miami typeface and their secondary logo (seen below) belong to Nike and will not be going to Adidas, so they essentially get a blank slate to rebrand themselves based on their current logo. For a school that still does have a name (albeit fading fast), and a history of wanting to be on the cutting edge of uniform design, this really was an opportunity for Adidas to hitch their ride to a big boy and bring themselves to the forefront of athletic design, and to do so with a blank slate. Not bad for $3M a year, considering what they could potentially make off it should they do it right.
Makes me wonder what the terms of our current Nike deal are. I know it was secretly extended as Weaver was walking out the door. Just hope it wasn't for too long a time period and too little a price tag.
I think the rule reads something like "as long as it's designated for practice use, you can keep it." If Oregon, for example, wanted to have a matching warm-up or practice set (shoes, socks, shorts, pants, tshirt, long-sleeved shirt, jacket, hat, beanie, all of the base layer shirts/compression shorts etc) for each uniform set, they can provide any and all of that for each game if they so desire and the kids get to fill up their closet. I think the only limit is that it has to be designated as a practice or warm-up outfit, therefore they couldn't pass out suits or blazers or kilts in the schools official tartan. Conceivably an athlete could get 12-15 unique outfits every season if Nike et al so desired to sway a recruit with a bunch of gear. Anyone that dresses for a game can also keep certain parts of the uniform like shoes and gloves and whatnot. I remember hearing that we set the date for a special uni set a few years ago to coincide with the most kids dressing (do we dress more than usual for homecoming?) so that more kids would get the perks.
Note: Notre Dame is an adidas brand.
Not anymore...they switched to Under Armour for this football season.
Are you kidding?!
That is disappointing on so many levels.
A few years back Malcolm Delaney tweeted that he ignored recruiting from Louisville because they were an adidas school, and he was only interested in playing at a nike school. That should tell you all you need to know.
I found this while refreshing myself on what our orange effect helmets looked like this season on google images. I think this guy's new concept for VT would have looked cool in the 1990s or 2000s, but what do y'all think.
http://boards.sportslogos.net/topic/77065-bohobs-ncaa-football-concepts/page-3
Saw this in that site as well...
I'm torn on what I think about it. I like it, but then I don't.
Looks very retro, but man, that head just starts to look like...