Cleats and sneakers are all part of shoes, or footwear if you will.
Their footwear isn't good, and is doing really poorly in the marketplace.
Their footwear isn't good, and is doing really poorly in the marketplace.
Under Armour
- Thread starter RU Dienasty
- Start date
Nike would be foolish to concede Rutgers too any of those two companies. It's Rutgers and Maryland only in this mid Atlantic region.
You guys are looking at this the entirely wrong way. Just because kids that you see at the local courts are wearing predominantly Nike or Adidas or UA, doesn't mean squat in the recruiting world. Specifically for basketball, it's all about the AAU circuit. These brands compete for affiliations with major AAU teams and those affiliations matter because it allowed the brands to basically start spoiling these kids from day one. Also, if a team is UA (for example), many of the AAU tournaments that they play in will be UA-sponsored tournaments, allowing even more exposure to the brand. That's why these connections matter. UA has done an astounding job on the basketball circuit and having exclusive rights to the McD's All-American game is even more positive exposure.
Football is a little bit different because it's driven by high school football as opposed to AAU, which is more like exclusive, private teams. But once again, that same All-American game affiliation absolutely helps. As does partnering with major football schools like Notre Dame.
I'm not telling you that UA is the be all end all and the best choice for Rutgers (money certainly plays a big factor here too), but these affiliations are strategically important and carry more weight than just seeing people wear that brand.
Football is a little bit different because it's driven by high school football as opposed to AAU, which is more like exclusive, private teams. But once again, that same All-American game affiliation absolutely helps. As does partnering with major football schools like Notre Dame.
I'm not telling you that UA is the be all end all and the best choice for Rutgers (money certainly plays a big factor here too), but these affiliations are strategically important and carry more weight than just seeing people wear that brand.
Those high school kids I referenced are AAU teams.
I'm just telling you, I see tons of those kids and coming from Maryland where everyone wears it, it is noticeable how few kids out here do. It just doesn't have stain.
Look at it another way. How many Nike schools dropped them and went to UA?outside of Maryland, I can't think of one. Meanwhile, Nike took Tenn. and Michigan from Adidas, losing only Miami. Those are big scores.
ND got a mega deal to leave Adidas including stock. Good for them, but I doubt any other school would get that.
Someone else said it- Nike isn't going to easily concede the mid Atlantic college market. I fully expect Rutgers to stay with Nike, which I'm happy about. Their stuff is just better.
Outside of Notre Dame, virtually every top program is a Nike school. The same can be said about athletes from other sports. Nike dominates the market, for good reason.
I'm just telling you, I see tons of those kids and coming from Maryland where everyone wears it, it is noticeable how few kids out here do. It just doesn't have stain.
Look at it another way. How many Nike schools dropped them and went to UA?outside of Maryland, I can't think of one. Meanwhile, Nike took Tenn. and Michigan from Adidas, losing only Miami. Those are big scores.
ND got a mega deal to leave Adidas including stock. Good for them, but I doubt any other school would get that.
Someone else said it- Nike isn't going to easily concede the mid Atlantic college market. I fully expect Rutgers to stay with Nike, which I'm happy about. Their stuff is just better.
Outside of Notre Dame, virtually every top program is a Nike school. The same can be said about athletes from other sports. Nike dominates the market, for good reason.
Yes it's my opinion. Though I would bet a large amount of money that UA is doing better with kids (which was my point)
And as I noted above, I also have a personal preference for Nike.
But here in NJ, for all the youth sports that I am around (soccer, lax, basketball, baseball, football and golf).... it's not even funny. ..UA is way ahead of Nike...and it's not even close.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION AND BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS ..NOT FACT
Many schools are locked up in long term deals. Who currently wears what is not the way to look at it. Who changes, or is willing to break a contract to change, is what matters.
Nike still dominates. But UA has gotten several good brands as they've become available. Current UA schools (in addition to Maryland) are:
ND
Navy
Auburn
USCe
Boston College
Utah
Texas Tech
Cincy
Northwestern
FWIW, UA has picked up several national powerhouse high school teams in both football and basketball in the last few seasons.
http://footballscoop.com/news/nike-adidas-or-ua-who-wears-what-in-fbs/
Nike still dominates. But UA has gotten several good brands as they've become available. Current UA schools (in addition to Maryland) are:
ND
Navy
Auburn
USCe
Boston College
Utah
Texas Tech
Cincy
Northwestern
FWIW, UA has picked up several national powerhouse high school teams in both football and basketball in the last few seasons.
http://footballscoop.com/news/nike-adidas-or-ua-who-wears-what-in-fbs/