Sources: UT Athletics Mulling New Apparel Deal With Adidas

[mattdingus2002]

So the adidas deal is apparently 10 million per year, that’s not even that much and once this current cycle of deals goes through we would be well outside the top 10. For example Ohio State’s Nike deal is 16.8 million per year, if the rumor that Nike was willing to pay 9 million and we are going to a worse brand that players dislike over a small difference is true, then that’s just unacceptable and greedy

 

[YankeeVol]

So the adidas deal is apparently 10 million per year, that’s not even that much and once this current cycle of deals goes through we would be well outside the top 10. For example Ohio State’s Nike deal is 16.8 million per year, if the rumor that Nike was willing to pay 9 million and we are going to a worse brand that players dislike over a small difference is true, then that’s just unacceptable and greedy

TN won't leave Nike over $1 million

 

[griffdog14]

TN won't leave Nike over $1 million

Danny White has milked every dollar possible from this program, he absolutely would.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I have to wonder if we will see a switch to Adidas followed by Faizon Brandon magically signing a nice NIL deal with Adidas also.

I trust none of these deals not to be tied in ways that we can't see. The NIL and money games being played are probably at a level above what I can imagine.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I have to wonder if we will see a switch to Adidas followed by Faizon Brandon magically signing a nice NIL deal with Adidas also.

I trust none of these deals not to be tied in ways that we can't see. The NIL and money games being played are probably at a level above what I can imagine.

Most of these deals are for 10+ years. I dont see UT inking a long-term deal with Adidas just so we sign a kid who might only be here 3-4 years (if that).

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Most of these deals are for 10+ years. I dont see UT inking a long-term deal with Adidas just so we sign a kid who might only be here 3-4 years (if that).

It's the potential long-term affect of having a generational prospect. If Brandon leads us to a Natty, then it's very worth it.

 

[DeerPark12]

Thanks for the reply, but I was joking about Ryan Alpert. I understand that they all have a job and responsibilities to do what’s best for the school, especially now given the rev share stuff. Do Jordan Brand schools count as top 10 Nike $ schools or is that it’s own separate category?

Random Question I was hoping you might have the answer to…. Why does Alumni Hall have a much better selection and variety of labels than the Volshop? Even fanatics seems like they get stuff ahead of the Volshop.

Jordan Brand schools do count in the Nike category, because they only wear Jordan in football and basketball, Nike and everything else. It’s the same pot of money.

Alumni Hall carries a wider variety of merchandise because they have the buying power to do so. There are Alumni Hall Stores in 20 markets now, so they have the ability to get the full line and influence what stock colors are for brands like Peter Millar, Cutter and Buck and others.

The VolShop being the official on campus store and the in venue retailer means that they focus on ordering and selling a larger quantity of a smaller amount of items, mostly from Nike. They do have the exclusive for Lululemon, because they only sell collegiate products through on campus stores nationwide.

 

[DeerPark12]

So the adidas deal is apparently 10 million per year, that’s not even that much and once this current cycle of deals goes through we would be well outside the top 10. For example Ohio State’s Nike deal is 16.8 million per year, if the rumor that Nike was willing to pay 9 million and we are going to a worse brand that players dislike over a small difference is true, then that’s just unacceptable and greedy

Nike currently pays Tennessee about $4 million, but that is cash and product, not just cash. The Ohio State deal you mentioned is the combined cash and product. The most recent information I have is that Nike was willing to go up to about 6.5 million in cash and product combined, which would still be outside of the top 10 Nike deals. Obviously, that’s 10 million less per year than Ohio State is getting.

Wild card in all of this is that Nike has signed Georgia, Florida and LSU to new long-term contracts in the last year, but the contracts have not been finalized, so they are not subject to an open records request at this time. Those would be important points of data to have to fully identify what value Tennessee is getting in an offer from Nike.

The $10 million you mentioned from Adidas is allegedly the cash payment on top of 3 million in product and an additional seven figure amount that is promised to athletes through NIL and influencer deals. Nike does not offer that last part to any of their schools, although they occasionally make student athletes brand ambassadors. The only college player in the NIL era to have a signature shoe was Paige Bueckers at Connecticut.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Jordan Brand schools do count in the Nike category, because they only wear Jordan in football and basketball, Nike and everything else. It’s the same pot of money.

Alumni Hall carries a wider variety of merchandise because they have the buying power to do so. There are Alumni Hall Stores in 20 markets now, so they have the ability to get the full line and influence what stock colors are for brands like Peter Millar, Cutter and Buck and others.

The VolShop being the official on campus store and the in venue retailer means that they focus on ordering and selling a larger quantity of a smaller amount of items, mostly from Nike. They do have the exclusive for Lululemon, because they only sell collegiate products through on campus stores nationwide.

Thanks for the reply. In reference to what you said about getting top 10 Nike $, it feels like our brand is bigger than some of those Nike schools making more than us. I think you said at one point we’re top 6 in merchandise sales. That combined with our Athletic Department being arguably the best in the country should get us top 10 Nike $. I get that Ohio State, Michigan, Texas and others have some huge alumni groups, but we should be getting equal to or better deals than UGA, Clemson, LSU, OU, etc…At least IMO

 

[SpookyAction]

Part of the hate is Adidas is the biggest player in the uniform and apparel supplier for the sport most Americans hate. They are the big dog in Soccer/Football. You can ask anyone stationed overseas with the US military. Football/Soccer fans are borderline scary in their deep feelings for their teams. I am not too familiar with the Adidas' uniform design on other continents.

The other part of the hate is the uniforms and apparel Adidas supplied the program for most of 2 decades. Not popular with fans who spend a lot on apparel. I hated the Tennessee lettering on the front of our football uniforms at the time. That is 100% a deal-breaker for me. They did not always make the Adidas emblem the same color as the numbers. If its an away jersey; orange Adidas emblem. Home jersey; white emblem.

 

[Hyperion]

Am I the only one who hate the Nike numbers on the football jerseys? I hate the font with open 4.

I think Nike could have done much better in the uniform design department myself. How much real love do you get when they've got 90% of the schools.

I'm all for exploring opportunities. Just get the colors right.

I completely agree. I want block numbers. Clearly I came of age in the mid-90s but I also want the black trim back on the road unis as well. That was such a good look. The 1997 Adidas unis are the best UT has ever looked. The road unis had this awesome bright shine to them in night games. Huge numbers. It never got better than that.

If Adidas can do replicate that look and offers more money then it's an easy call.

 

[dduncan4163]

I completely agree. I want block numbers. Clearly I came of age in the mid-90s but I also want the black trim back on the road unis as well. That was such a good look. The 1997 Adidas unis are the best UT has ever looked. The road unis had this awesome bright shine to them in night games. Huge numbers. It never got better than that.

If Adidas can do replicate that look and offers more money then it's an easy call.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[EezyE]

I completely agree. I want block numbers. Clearly I came of age in the mid-90s but I also want the black trim back on the road unis as well. That was such a good look. The 1997 Adidas unis are the best UT has ever looked. The road unis had this awesome bright shine to them in night games. Huge numbers. It never got better than that.

If Adidas can do replicate that look and offers more money then it's an easy call.

DeerPark has said numerous times that Tennessee designs their own uniforms. I presume that if they switch to Adidas, Tennessee will take their designs with them to Adidas. Unless Tennessee wants new number fonts or designs, it isn’t happening.

 

[northknoxvol]

Adidas misses us

 

[onevol74]

Adidas misses us

For a total of $13mil/year, I miss them too. Nike can either put up or shut up. $6.5mil just ain’t going to cut it.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Adidas misses us

They should, considering their roster of schools.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I wonder if Nike is in the spot where the team apparel division has run into a problem with Phil Knight being obsessive about Oregon.

If they make apparel deals that include NIL for schools, Knight is bidding against himself to get Oregon's talent via NIL. Knight may be reluctant to have Nike money going all over the NCAA for NIL.

The availability of Nike NIL money via apparel deals to other schools makes acquiring athletes via big Nike NIL money at Oregon less effective.

 

[DeerPark12]

I completely agree. I want block numbers. Clearly I came of age in the mid-90s but I also want the black trim back on the road unis as well. That was such a good look. The 1997 Adidas unis are the best UT has ever looked. The road unis had this awesome bright shine to them in night games. Huge numbers. It never got better than that.

If Adidas can do replicate that look and offers more money then it's an easy call.

If Tennessee moves to Adidas, I expect the designs of the three primary football uniforms to remain the same, including the number font. Important to remember that UT has used that number font extensively on facilities and branding beyond uniforms. I'd be stunned if it changed.

Tennessee will retain "design control" on uniforms, but I'm not sure that means that Tennessee's in-house creative team will design every uniform anymore. I've heard that has been a sticking point, to a certain extent.

 

[DeerPark12]

I wonder if Nike is in the spot where the team apparel division has run into a problem with Phil Knight being obsessive about Oregon.

If they make apparel deals that include NIL for schools, Knight is bidding against himself to get Oregon's talent via NIL. Knight may be reluctant to have Nike money going all over the NCAA for NIL.

The availability of Nike NIL money via apparel deals to other schools makes acquiring athletes via big Nike NIL money at Oregon less effective.

Does not play a role at all. Nike's corporate team doesn't see a ton of value in college player deals because they link their big deals to signature shoes.

Phil Knight supports Oregon's collective with his money. Nike corporate money isn't being used for NIL deal there (or anywhere else) beyond what they do in some smaller influencer deals.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

If Tennessee moves to Adidas, I expect the designs of the three primary football uniforms to remain the same, including the number font. Important to remember that UT has used that number font extensively on facilities and branding beyond uniforms. I'd be stunned if it changed.

Tennessee will retain "design control" on uniforms, but I'm not sure that means that Tennessee's in-house creative team will design every uniform anymore. I've heard that has been a sticking point, to a certain extent.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Does not play a role at all. Nike's corporate team doesn't see a ton of value in college player deals because they link their big deals to signature shoes.

Phil Knight supports Oregon's collective with his money. Nike corporate money isn't being used for NIL deal there (or anywhere else) beyond what they do in some smaller influencer deals.

Ah, there's the reason Adidas has the edge. Nike isn't playing "we'll help the school fund NIL" and Adidas is willing to help the school with NIL.

If that's the corporate decision from both, UT is better taking the Adidas deal and more NIL help.

Cool jerseys don't win games. Talented players do.

 

[DeerPark12]

Ah, there's the reason Adidas has the edge. Nike isn't playing "we'll help the school fund NIL" and Adidas is willing to help the school with NIL.

If that's the corporate decision from both, UT is better taking the Adidas deal and more NIL help.

Cool jerseys don't win games. Talented players do.

If you can find the kids that want that money in exchange for what is required of them. Less than half of the student athletes at Miami and Texas A&M have signed the Adidas influencer deals that are available to them.

 

[Voltopia]

Less than half of the student athletes at Miami and Texas A&M have signed the Adidas influencer deals that are available to them.

Now that right there is an interesting data point. One could not help but be curious as to why they'd turn down money, even for whatever amount of work is required. Not enough money? Too many hours of work (perceived or otherwise)? Better pay already coming in? It is curious.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

If you can find the kids that want that money in exchange for what is required of them. Less than half of the student athletes at Miami and Texas A&M have signed the Adidas influencer deals that are available to them.

Do you have any idea what that is? Instagram posts wearing Adidas stuff? I’m guessing some of them might agree to do an Adidas football tv ad that featured them wearing their school uniforms. Nike did this last year with a combined NFL guys and players from UGA, Oregon and other schools.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

If you can find the kids that want that money in exchange for what is required of them. Less than half of the student athletes at Miami and Texas A&M have signed the Adidas influencer deals that are available to them.

Interesting. Adidas apparently isn't just handing money where the school says hand it but has expectations of at least some ROI or athlete participation in some kind of NIL activity.

That's something for UT to take in consideration. If the athletes won't use that Adidas NIL money, it might be better to take more cash from Nike and less in NIL consideration given there's data that the NIL money isn't being used.

I'm unsure if this leads to more transfers out of Miami and aTm because the NIL money is "too hard" to get compared to elsewhere but that would be my first thought or maybe the "free lunch" NIL era is coming to an end everywhere.