Adidas deal to be finalized today per Chris Low

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

I don't know anything about the equipment difference between Nike and Adidas, but what I will say is a big reason Adidas is paying us so much is we'd be their biggest brand in college athletics. Nike has copious amounts of schools/teams on or above our level as a program and doesn't need to shell out money.

Addidas is paying us a lot in part because we're going to make them a lot of money, relative to other programs. Where as with Nike we're just another drop in their gargantuan sized bucket.

More evidence Adidas is the inferior brand. Why do we want to be associated with a brand no other elite program is associated with?

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Lot of folks would apparently rather get bent over by Nike because they think it looks better. Says a lot about the mentality in this fanbase

That money ain't going in your pocket. We want our program to look good like other elite programs. Wearing Adidas ain't that. Which is why none of the other major programs are with them. The reason Nike isn't paying as much is because they know they are the superior brand.

Aligning yourself with an inferior brand because they pay more isn't a winning strategy.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Again just win!! That is all that matters recruits don’t give a damn if we are winning what brand is on their uniform.

But to win you first need the recruits. And most recruits don't want to wear Adidas. They prefer Nike. This will hurt us in recruiting and thus lead to less wins.

Bad move all around.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

But to win you first need the recruits. And most recruits don't want to wear Adidas. They prefer Nike. This will hurt us in recruiting and thus lead to less wins.

Bad move all around.

What do you do for a living?

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

This is a stupid af take, did you forget that Miami is an Adidas school and had the best qb in the country. Your dumbass logic would rather have less money for NIL and have debatably better uniforms? News flash, the kids today don't give a damn about who makes their uniforms, if they did nobody would go to an Under Armour school like Notre Dame or Auburn. Kids only care about the bag and how much money they can make rather than who makes the uniforms

We're talking about when things are relatively similar. Obviously if you overpay you can get any recruit. But if 2 schools are offering similar money and opportunities then most recruits will pick the Nike school over the Adidas school cause Nike has better uniforms and apparel.

There's a reason Adidas is paying us way more than Nike did. It's because they know they're an inferior brand. Inferior brands have to overpay to get what a superior brand gets for less. This was a dumb short sighted move by Tennessee.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

What do you do for a living?

Relevance?

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

That money ain't going in your pocket. We want our program to look good like other elite programs. Wearing Adidas ain't that. Which is why none of the other major programs are with them. The reason Nike isn't paying as much is because they know they are the superior brand.

Aligning yourself with an inferior brand because they pay more isn't a winning strategy.

BUT Nike DID pay both Ohio State and Texas big money and chose to disrespect UT with a very poor offer.

It's not that they WON'T pay schools. It's that they wouldn't pay UT.

When they pay Ohio State $16.8M / yr and pay TX $16.67M / yr but apparently didn't even counter, as they had the right to legally, the Adidas offer.... seriously, what do you want UT to do?

Just take the disrespect and sign for whatever we can get from Nike? I think not.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Relevance?

Just wondered. You pop off about a number of things with a deluded sense of certainty. Danny White knows what he is doing. Our head coaches know what they're doing. The total tonnage of what they know that YOU don't know would stun an entire team of oxen

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

BUT Nike DID pay both Ohio State and Texas big money and chose to disrespect UT with a very poor offer.

It's not that they WON'T pay schools. It's that they wouldn't pay UT.

When they pay Ohio State $16.8M / yr and pay TX $16.67M / yr but apparently didn't even counter, as they had the right to legally, the Adidas offer.... seriously, what do you want UT to do?

Just take the disrespect and sign for whatever we can get from Nike? I think not.

Maybe it's because Tennessee isn't as good as those programs and needs to win something of value if it wants to get treated elite. If we want to get the same respect as the big boys then we need to EARN IT. We can't just expect to get treated like Ohio State if we haven't earned it.

Running to an inferior brand because they'll pay us more is a losers move. A winning move would be to win a national title then demand Nike pay us what we're owed. Not expecting it just because and if we don't get it running to an inferior brand.

 

[Hyperion]

Maybe it's because Tennessee isn't as good as those programs and needs to win something of value if it wants to get treated elite. If we want to get the same respect as the big boys then we need to EARN IT. We can't just expect to get treated like Ohio State if we haven't earned it.

Running to an inferior brand because they'll pay us more is a losers move. A winning move would be to win a national title then demand Nike pay us what we're owed. Not expecting it just because and if we don't get it running to an inferior brand.

This is so stupid. Receiving this offer from adidas will help UT far more than staying with Nike for peanuts. I've got news for you. UT is elite and has earned a deal that reflects that fact. It's one of very few athletic departments that's highly competitive in all the major sports. Nike obviously doesn't prioritize UT or they would have made a competitive counter offer. Their choice but **** them.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Just wondered. You pop off about a number of things with a deluded sense of certainty. Danny White knows what he is doing. Our head coaches know what they're doing. The total tonnage of what they know that YOU don't know would stun an entire team of oxen

Arguing based on authority is a logical fallacy. You don't need inside information to know what this move is about. Its based on money because anyone with any sense knows Nike has the better brand value. Our argument is the money isn't worth the loss in brand value. We don't need inside information to know that. We've got common sense. We all know which brand is more popular with the general population as well as athletes. The increase in money from Adidas won't make up for the loss in brand recognition of moving from Nike.

Nike is just better than Adidas. And only a third rate program would go to a weaker brand for a few more bucks.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

This is so stupid. Receiving this offer from adidas will help UT far more than staying with Nike for peanuts. I've got news for you. UT is elite and has earned a deal that reflects that fact. It's one of very few athletic departments that's highly competitive in all the major sports. Nike obviously doesn't prioritize UT or they would have made a competitive counter offer. Their choice but **** them.

Nike is the superior product. They dont need to throw money like Adidas for a reason. My argument isn't that Nike treated us right. My argument is you dont leave a superior brand for an inferior one regardless of the difference in money. Why? Because brand value is more important. If we want better treatment from Nike it's on us to improve not to run to a weaker brand.

This is the equivalent of a player transferring from Tennessee to MTSU because we wouldn't agree to give him a pay raise. At some point the difference in prestige matters more than the difference in money. All we're saying is we'd rather stay at Tennessee for less money than go to MTSU.

 

[Hyperion]

Nike is the superior product. They dont need to throw money like Adidas for a reason. My argument isn't that Nike treated us right. My argument is you dont leave a superior brand for an inferior one regardless of the difference in money. Why? Because brand value is more important. If we want better treatment from Nike it's on us to improve not to run to a weaker brand.

This is the equivalent of a player transferring from Tennessee to MTSU because we wouldn't agree to give him a pay raise. At some point the difference in prestige matters more than the difference in money. All we're saying is we'd rather stay at Tennessee for less money than go to MTSU.

Why is Nike a superior product in your eyes? Are you basing this purely on marketing? I've worn both shoes and Adidas was clearly a superior shoe. I see nothing about Adidas that'll hamper the program.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Maybe it's because Tennessee isn't as good as those programs and needs to win something of value if it wants to get treated elite. If we want to get the same respect as the big boys then we need to EARN IT. We can't just expect to get treated like Ohio State if we haven't earned it.

Running to an inferior brand because they'll pay us more is a losers move. A winning move would be to win a national title then demand Nike pay us what we're owed. Not expecting it just because and if we don't get it running to an inferior brand.

The contracts are long and not negotiable once in place so we can't renegotiate if we win more with an apparel contract.

Nike simply didn't want the contract. They apparently didn't bid at all against Adidas and our current contract is about $6M / yr. We're obviously worth more than that now with our football, basketball, and baseball success.

We didn't "run to another company" and Nike contractually had the right to make an offer vs Adidas and apparently chose not to do so. You can't do business if the other company isn't interested.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Why is Nike a superior product in your eyes? Are you basing this purely on marketing? I've worn both shoes and Adidas was clearly a superior shoe. I see nothing about Adidas that'll hamper the program.

Because more people want to wear Nike than Adidas. In particular athletes. There's a reason almost no major college programs are aligned with Adidas. While all the major programs are with Nike. The difference in brand prestige is obvious and doesn't need to be explained.

 

[feathersax]

Because more people want to wear Nike than Adidas. In particular athletes. There's a reason almost no major college programs are aligned with Adidas. While all the major programs are with Nike. The difference in brand prestige is obvious and doesn't need to be explained.

Nike is a notorious vendor; China "sweat shops" pay workers diddly while bigwigs make billions.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

But to win you first need the recruits. And most recruits don't want to wear Adidas. They prefer Nike. This will hurt us in recruiting and thus lead to less wins.

Bad move all around.

What an absolutely horrendously stupid take. Well, like most of your takes I suppose.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Because more people want to wear Nike than Adidas. In particular athletes. There's a reason almost no major college programs are aligned with Adidas. While all the major programs are with Nike. The difference in brand prestige is obvious and doesn't need to be explained.

Dobbs still going to the hall of fame? You literally have no idea what you're talking about....about anything.

 

[onevol74]

The irony of fans complaining about the tint of the orange when they worship the black and burnt gray uniforms.

 

[knoxvol52]

Players won't care if it's Adidas or Nike, the only color they care about in this NIL era is Green... The fans are the ones worrying about what their new tee shirts will look like ,.,good grief.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Honestly, I don't understand what about this new deal is bad for the university. It gives them millions upon millions more in revenue, creative control, the face of a big brand, AND an NIL component. But they're supposed to stay with Nike on a deal that hasn't really helped the school? It's a no-brainer decision. There are schools and athletes who have gone with Adidas as well so it's not like we're going to start losing recruits over this. In fact, it's probably going to be the opposite given the amount of money the school will bring in and the fact that Adidas will work NIL deals with the athletes. I'm not sure what the benefit of turning down Adidas' offer would have been outside of...some people just like Nike more?

 

[dobre_shunka]

What a dumb decision. Adidas' equipment is wack. There's a reason they are paying more than Nike. They know they're an inferior product. Choosing a subpar product for money is not wise. Dumb dumb decision by Tennessee.

OK, why don't you help make up the reported millions less UTAD would get to stay with Nike?

With the never ending whining about UT sports getting too expensive for an "average fan", seems people should be rejoicing that UTAD has found another revenue stream.

 

[UTwild82]

Nike was paying $5.5M a year and treating us like a run-of-the-mill program, denying us deals that top-10 teams receive. Adidas is (per Chris Lowe) paying around $20M and will make us their highest-level priority.

They will get the orange right this time, and I'm certain that Danny White will make sure of that. We will have design input and alternate jersey options.

Anyone who doesn't accept this as a no-brainer is a moron.

Nice! Thanks for the info. Definitely a no brainer move.

 

[SalVolinus]

You can tell who the poors are in this thread. They don't even realize their swoosh worship is cringe, acting like it's Vuori or Lulu or some actual premier brand. It's sweatshop crap lol.
Adidas >

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Because more people want to wear Nike than Adidas. In particular athletes. There's a reason almost no major college programs are aligned with Adidas. While all the major programs are with Nike. The difference in brand prestige is obvious and doesn't need to be explained.

Brand prestige and product quality are two entirely different things.