Adidas deal to be finalized today per Chris Low

[omghulkhands]

All you swoosh worshippers are going to look stupid when we don’t have a single player decommit over this.

We will be the biggest Adidas brand. Nike always treated us like a second class citizen even when we started winning in almost every sport. (By the way, our first 4 or so years with Nike were the worst in the history of our AD, so they never did anything to help our brand anyway. We didn’t start winning because we wore Nike. We did it because we finally hired competent administrators and coaches.)

Agree this is meaningless for football

For basketball, there is a non-zero chance this has an impact. The Nike mafia in the basketball recruiting scene is real. So an elite recruit stuck in that sphere of influence might get pushed away from an Adidas school. But again, it’s a low chance of happening.

The part where this actually sucks is the fan apparel side. At least, that’s my personal opinion.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

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.

Thanks for making my point

 

[NighthawkVol]

I think I'm happy about this. Nike apparently doesn't appreciate UT enough. While I understand not being as lucrative as Ohio State or Texas, UT should be viewed as being on that very next tier.

Hopefully Adidas brings back the 1997 uniforms for football. Block numbers and black trim on the road jersey.

No to black trim. Yes to bigger numbers.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Any idea how much Nike gives Texas and OSU?

 

[T2P_Priceless]

This is why the deal is a no brainer. You think the recruits won’t come because of Adidas? Well because of Adidas they’re gonna be paid more…that will be more of a factor than a swoosh

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

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

3 other major colleges are soon switching to adidas in a few years. I am thinking 2 of them are LSU and Miami, the other one escapes me at the moment. DW playing chess to checkers. GBO!

 

[KittenVol]

“We’re doomed!!! You have to be a Nike school to recruit well!!!” - Then explain how the Aggies and Irish are top-five in recruiting.

 

[adam.vol]

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.

I thought this was part of asking more money from everyone. Adidas isn’t paying TN to GIVE free merchandise to the fans.

We are the revenue stream! I didn’t expect Nike to match an offer since we already have new Nike products in our closets. Of course switching brands forces consumers to purchase more. My issue: “Why did it have to be Adidas?”. They scammed college basketball and their clothes may be hand stitched Kevlar, but the design has always looked like hammered dog ****.

No to black trim. Yes to bigger numbers.

Absolutely. I HATE the multicolored numbers.

3 other major colleges are soon switching to adidas in a few years.Miami, LSU, and the Aggies. DW playing chess to checkers. GBO!

They’ll get more than us because we moved first. We need to start competing with Georgia, Texas, and Ohio State right now.

 

[3holenones]

Just in time I broke out the old Adidas hat just yesterday. A bit old & faded but then so am I.View attachment 763185

Me too

 

[25vol]

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.

On us to improve?

Vol Nation is our differentiator, making us one of the elite brands in the nation. We lead the country in combined attendance for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and are the No. 1 CLC school nationally, selling more licensed products than any other school in the country.

We’re already No. 1 in merch sales and attendance. If that’s not enough for Nike to treat us like a top-tier school, when will it be? Nike passed on matching the offer. Adidas made us their flagship and gave us full creative control. They see our value. Nike didn’t. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

to me that sounds like we need not care. if somebody is gonna choose a school that flippantly then they aren't actually focussed on being a good football player. we need to stay above that crap and just offer more $$$ than the next guy.

It happens WAY more than you realize. There's an Ole Miss player who when being recruited had narrowed his choices down to Ole Miss, Miss St, and Georgia. He chose Ole Miss. Do you want to know why?

1. Miss St was an Adidas school and he didnt want to wear Adidas.

2. Georgia wore black socks and he hated wearing black socks!

You would be amazed at the things players will factor in when trying to pick a school.

 

[BenGrimm]

Is there a single recruit that has ever said the apparel brand was their deciding factor?

 

[VawlDave]

Personally, I think Adidas did great with all of these uniforms.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Honestly, I don't understand what about this new deal is bad for the university

Well, then, you understand. It was a no-brainer and (as always) Danny White did the right thing for UT.

With any issue, there are simply some people who are wrong. And, there are some people who are basically wrong about everything, and we call them "morons."

 

[BenGrimm]

I thought this was part of asking more money from everyone. Adidas isn’t paying TN to GIVE free merchandise to the fans.

We are the revenue stream! I didn’t expect Nike to match an offer since we already have new Nike products in our closets. Of course switching brands forces consumers to purchase more. My issue: “Why did it have to be Adidas?”. They scammed college basketball and their clothes may be hand stitched Kevlar, but the design has always looked like hammered dog ****.


Absolutely. I HATE the multicolored numbers.


They’ll get more than us because we moved first. We need to start competing with Georgia, Texas, and Ohio State right now.

Do a significant amount of fans go restock their closets to the official apparel partner?

Seems silly to me.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Any idea how much Nike gives Texas and OSU?

I believe I heard somewhere in the $16M range.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Do a significant amount of fans go restock their closets to the official apparel partner?

All you need to do is visit Alumni Hall next August to find out.

 

[EezyE]

Well, then, you understand. It was a no-brainer and (as always) Danny White did the right thing for UT.

With any issue, there are simply some people who are wrong. And, there are some people who are basically wrong about everything, and we call them "morons."

Yes! There are a lot of people commenting about the uniform designs that apparently doesn’t understand or has missed that Tennessee designs their uniforms. Adidas will not design the uniforms. Any design that is either beautiful or ugly will come from Tennessee.

 

[WVU05UT09]

I believe I heard somewhere in the $16M range.

We can't expect a Texas or Ohio State deal from Nike no matter how well our programs are performing and thats just reality.

Texas has 4 times the people of Tennessee and TU is the flagship school. Ohio has almost 4 million more.

Both schools also have way more living alumni than UT.

Both are highly recognizable brands outside their home territory in a way that Tennessee is not. The New York Times did a piece a few years ago about fav college football programs by zip code. Texas and Ohio State routinely register in the top 5 for a given zip code in places outside Ohio and Texas. For example several zip codes in the Northeast and Phoenix had Ohio State as their 3rd favorite team.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

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.

Settling for an inferior brand simply because you can get more revenue isn't something to rejoice over. There's reason Nike chose not to pay us what Adidas was willing. Cause they're the superior brand.

 

[WillisWG]

View attachment 763405
Me too

Nice

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

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 >

So thinking Nike's apparel looks better means we're brand worshipping? If Adidas uniforms looked halfway decent maybe some of us could stomach it. But there's a reason all the athletes prefer Nike. It isn't just group think. Their apparel in particular uniforms just looks better.

That's the main problem people have with Adidas. Their stuff just looks ugly. You can't deny that our uniforms have looked a lot better the last 10 years than they ever did with Adidas.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I thought this was part of asking more money from everyone. Adidas isn’t paying TN to GIVE free merchandise to the fans.

We are the revenue stream! I didn’t expect Nike to match an offer since we already have new Nike products in our closets. Of course switching brands forces consumers to purchase more. My issue: “Why did it have to be Adidas?”. They scammed college basketball and their clothes may be hand stitched Kevlar, but the design has always looked like hammered dog ****.


Absolutely. I HATE the multicolored numbers.


They’ll get more than us because we moved first. We need to start competing with Georgia, Texas, and Ohio State right now.

Texas A&M and Miami are already Adidas schools. They’re not switching to Adidas.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Brand prestige and product quality are two entirely different things.

True. In this case they align perfectly. Nike is the most prestigious and has the best quality. Especially in comparison to Adidas which is generally trash.

 

[knoxvol52]

Which is more important?

Winning or Uniforms?

I would rather be in ugly uniforms and WIN than be in nice uniforms and LOSE..