Adidas vs. Nike (Recruiting)

[ND2015]

Next year I am going to be a freshman at Notre Dame and I have been looking for a Notre Dame forum and this is the best one I have run into. With my first post I would like to see everyones opinion on Nike vs. Addidas. Personally, I feel that Notre Dame being sponsored by Addidas really hurts the football team in recruiting even though I think the equipment they provide is much better than Nike. Around high schools you will never see kids wearing Addidas or UA. Literally everywhere you go all high school athletes are decked out in Nike from head to toe. Nike is much more popular because it is much more "fresh" than any other of the apparel companies and it would be a great benefit to the football team if Nike provides our equipment because it is much more attractive to kids in high school these days. Now I know Addidas pays us something like $6M a year and we have a contract running through 2014 or 2015 but I'm sure Nike would offer something very close due to the fact that we are such a national program and sell merchandise around the country.

2009. Alabama (Nike) vs. Texas (Nike)

2008. Oklahoma (Nike) vs. Florida (Nike)

2007. Ohio State (Nike) vs. LSU (Nike)

2006. Ohio State (Nike) vs. Florida (Nike)

2005. USC (Nike) vs. Texas (Nike)

2004. Oklahoma (Nike) vs. USC (Nike)

2003. Oklahoma (Nike) vs. LSU (Nike)

2002. Miami (Nike) vs. Ohio State (Nike)

2001. Miami (Nike) vs. Nebraska (Addidas)

2000. Oklahoma (Nike) vs. Florida State (Nike)

Now I know that the Nike isn't the sole reason that these schools are successful but it certainly helps when attracting recruits. Over the last decade every national championship winner has been sponsored by Nike with only one appearance by Addidas. This year UA will make its first appearance in the NCG. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[IrishLax]

I don't think it matters at all. And maybe things have changed in the past half a decade... but when I was in HS it was all about the UA.

 

[Sweetness34]

I think it matters to an extent. Some kids only consider Nike schools only. Nike is the giant in athletic apparel and I know for a fact that it does sway recruits. Little things like having the gloves with the schools logo on it when they put their hands together is seen as cool to the kids. The combat uniforms that select schools wear are also seen as very cool to the kids.

 

[Irish Man3]

I know some kids have joked about picking Oregon because of their uniform schemes. Sounds stupid but it's on these kids minds. But I also have to say, if a kid puts his education and future on which school is decked out in Nike... He may not be ND material anyway.

 

[ND2015]

I know some kids have joked about picking Oregon because of their uniform schemes. Sounds stupid but it's on these kids minds. But I also have to say, if a kid puts his education and future on which school is decked out in Nike... He may not be ND material anyway.

I agree with you but a good number of the athletes wouldn't get into ND anyways if they didn't get an athletic scholarship so I would like us to just go after the best athletes we can. Oklahoma State signed some new deal with Nike that is similar to Oregon's where they have 200 something different uniform combinations and it is so they are more attractive to recruits.

Again, if you look at the top 10 recruiting classes on Rivals.com this year all of them but 1 are Nike.

1. Texas Nike
2. Alabama Nike
3. Florida State Nike
4. Oklahoma Nike
5. Clemson Nike
6. LSU Nike
7. Ohio State Nike
8. USC Nike
9. North Carolina Nike
10. Nebraska Addidas

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I've always been an Adidas lover/Nike hater. I'm so glad ND wears Adidas. It would really **** me off if they ever went with Nike.

 

[johnnykillz]

This is crazy

Wow.

Brand of clothing has nothing to do with the team product.

 

[johnnykillz]

BTW:

Adidas
-not-

Addidas to all who follow.

 

[IrishLax]

Fwiw, I don't buy the premise that Nike > Adidas. On my Pandora station as I do compliance (and troll the internet...) has already played two rap songs featuring Adidas. And I can't remember the last one I've heard with Nike in it. So it's definitely still in pop culture.

 

[ACamp1900]

It matters... just a little bit, but it matters... it's like my point with unis... not having a new age flair hurts us... and every last bit adds up... and yes I agree with the TC... having Adidas does not hurt us... but having Nike would probably help a tad more... not sure what tangible impact we are talking about but yeah... I believe every last bit adds up with these kids and we do in fact have the number two guys behind us when most have the number 1 guy...

 

[Sweetness34]

Some people choose to be blind to the fact that it does matter to some kids if the school is a Nike, Adidas or Under Armour school. Trust me, I just came back from an official visit with an athlete at a Nike school and to see the faces when the schools equipment guy showed off the new Nike stuff, it was amazing. The other kids (who are all ESPN 150 kids) were all amazed. Trust me it matters!

 

[GreatGolson]

i personally have heard good things about the actual quality of each cleat/uniform. Both make great materials, and the reason you see big schools with nike is because they go after the schools that win. Much in the same way they go after good basketball players (MJ, Kobe, ect) In the end though its not the maker of the uniform, its how those wearing the uniform play that is going to sway recruits.

 

[johnnykillz]

Some people choose to be blind to the fact that it does matter to some kids if the school is a Nike, Adidas or Under Armour school. Trust me, I just came back from an official visit with an athlete at a Nike school and to see the faces when the schools equipment guy showed off the new Nike stuff, it was amazing. The other kids (who are all ESPN 150 kids) were all amazed. Trust me it matters!

I would feel this to be a possible materialistic malfunction and defunct RKG status.

 

[Sweetness34]

I would feel this to be a possible materialistic malfunction and defunct RKG status.

I would say you were correct except for the fact that the athlete I was with has a Notre Dame offer and the other kids have offers from every big time winning program in the nation.

 

[IrishLax]

Hmm.... good info Sweetness....

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

I am a UA fan..in fact just got back from a UA outlet in Wilsonville Oregon (near PDX)....and from what I am hearing UA has Nike "worried" this comes from some friends I have at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton OR. TFWIW

 

[Irish Insanity]

Maybe it shouldn't, but to a degree it matters. Uniforms like Oregons compared to 'plain' looking uniforms or even equipment from other universities is another way to sell a University to a recruit. Same way people market cars, clothes, tvs,..................and anything else. And some of these recruits grow up HUGE fans of a program and desire to attend when they graduate. For young kids visual attraction can be huge. Alot of kids become fans of specific universities because they like their mascot, uniforms, or school symbol. All of which are marketing tools.

 

[ryno 24]

UA does not have near the gear as NIKE or ADdidas and NIKE is probably better but I think one of the reasons Notre Dame wheres addidas is because of the labor that NIKE uses with Notre DAme being a catholic school this might be a problem but I personally love Nike's products

 

[ND2015]

Some people choose to be blind to the fact that it does matter to some kids if the school is a Nike, Adidas or Under Armour school. Trust me, I just came back from an official visit with an athlete at a Nike school and to see the faces when the schools equipment guy showed off the new Nike stuff, it was amazing. The other kids (who are all ESPN 150 kids) were all amazed. Trust me it matters!

This is what I am trying to say. Sure there are some kids it really doesn't matter but for most i really does and if you can't see that you are either ignorant or you just don't want to believe it. If you go to any high school football game 70-80 percent of the kids are wearing Nike gear. Here are a few pictures of Kyle Prater in high school.


Notice how literally ever single piece of gear he is wearing Nike

Here are the links:
Google Image Result for http://images.maxpreps.com/site_images/editorial/article/f/a/f/faf95cc2-ebef-de11-94b3-001cc494dda6/7a6ed24f-b9f8-de11-94b3-001cc494dda6_original.jpg

Google Image Result for http://sandiegosportswire.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/182593.jpg

 

[ND_HAS_RISEN]

This is not as crazy as it sounds.... Granted, I am sure it has a very small impact on "some" recruits, for others its a superficial image... I played with Adidas in HS and went to a program that used Nike and it was a bit of a change. The cleats, the gloves (particularly the lineman's gloves ) were completely different. Also, the other gear is completely different. Some people like Nike, and some people like Adidas. I don't think it causes a difference on the grand scale of things, but I can definitely see how it may effect a recruit or two....

 

[NCDomer]

It's not surprising because Nike sponsors most of the BCS teams.

ACC
BC - UA
Clemson - Nike
Duke - Nike
FSU - Nike
Georgia Tech - Russell Athletic
Maryland - UA
Miami - Nike
UNC - Nike
NCSt - Adidas
UVA - Nike
VaTech - Nike
Wake - Nike

Big 12
Baylor - Nike
Colorado - Nike
Iowa St - Nike
Kansas - Adidas
KSU - Nike
Mizzou - Nike
Nebraska - Adidas
OU - Nike
Ok St - Nike
Texas - Nike
Texas A&M - Adidas
TT - Nike

Big East
Cincy - Adidas
UConn - Nike
Louisville - Adidas
Pitt - Nike
Rutgers - Nike
USF - Nike
WVU - Nike

Big 10
Illi - Nike
Iowa - Nike
Indiana - Adidas
UM - Adidas
MSU - Nike
Minn - Nike
NU - Adidas
tOSU - Nike
PSU - Nike
Purdue - Nike
UW - Adidas

SEC
Bama - Nike
Ark - Nike
Auburn - UA
UF - Nike
UGA - Nike
UK - Nike
LSU - Nike
Miss - Nike
Miss St - Adidas
USC - UA
Tenn - Adidas
Vandy - Nike

Pac 10
Ariz - Nike
ASU - Nike
Cal - Nike
Oregon - Nike
Or St - Nike
Stanford - Nike
UCLA - Adidas
USC - Nike
UW - Nike
WSU - Nike

Out of the 64 BCS teams, 46 wear Nike, 13 wear Adidas, 4 wear UA, and 1 wears RA. That's ~72% of the teams in Nike and only 20% in Adidas. FWIW, BSU, TCU, and BYU wear Nike too (Utah wears UA). Nike just dominates the market, so it's not surprising that Nike-sponsored teams are more frequently in the NC. I'd like to see the breakdown of BCS bowls and who wears what by percentage. Just looking at the NC doesn't provide a large enough sample size to say that Nike is the driving force behind them being over represented percentage-wise compared to their 72% representation coverage.

 

[ND2015]

This is not as crazy as it sounds.... Granted, I am sure it has a very small impact on "some" recruits, for others its a superficial image... I played with Adidas in HS and went to a program that used Nike and it was a bit of a change. The cleats, the gloves (particularly the lineman's gloves ) were completely different. Also, the other gear is completely different. Some people like Nike, and some people like Adidas. I don't think it causes a difference on the grand scale of things, but I can definitely see how it may effect a recruit or two....

Honestly I think it is less about the performance of the gear and more about how the gear looks. I like Adidas gear better when I am wearing it, but I think that Nike makes better looking gear for CFB teams. Like I said earlier, Nike is more "fresh" than Adidas to most high school football players. So many of them care about how they look on the field a bit too much and they think Nike is the more attractive brand. That is why towels are becoming very popular now. Do they need to wear them? Probably not, but it is a fashion statement. Wearing multiple layers of socks is also starting to become a popular trend. Another example is in the NBA where a lot of players wear headbands because they think they are fashionable and that is why wearing headbands is banned for the Chicago Bulls. If there was a survey for players in the NBA that wear headbands I bet that most of them say they don't wear one to keep the sweat out of their eyes and Rajon Rondo stopped wearing a headband this year because there is some new rule where you can only wear the headband straight and he wore it backwards.

 

[johnnykillz]

Why are noobs, AKA people with less than 100 posts, so sprung on this topic?

I find it mindless fodder. Pardon me. I say we switch to Starter brand clothing. Maybe Champion.

Geez.

 

[ND2015]

Why are noobs, AKA people with less than 100 posts, so sprung on this topic?

I find it mindless fodder. Pardon me. I say we switch to Starter brand clothing. Maybe Champion.

Geez.

Why does it matter how many posts you have? Like I said in the original post I have been looking around for a forum and this is the best one I found so I am new. If you feel the topic is stupid it is simple-Don't read the thread.

 

[johnnykillz]

I can't ignore the thread. I'm intrigued. I'm only wondering if this is the work of one soul or four to five...

Are you a Nike mole?

 

[Irish Man3]

Why are noobs, AKA people with less than 100 posts, so sprung on this topic?

I find it mindless fodder. Pardon me. I say we switch to Starter brand clothing. Maybe Champion.

Geez.

Then why do you continue to post in this thread and other threads about this topic? If you dont like this thread or topic then why are you opening and reopening this thread? Im not trying to be a jerk but instead of posting off topic dribble (thnx TT) just move on to another thread. It may not be a topic that interests you but 18 year old kids care about it. To a 30+ year old man this is absurd but these kids do care. The swoosh on your jersey does make a difference. Why would numerous sites show the new and upcoming jerseys if it didnt matter? We knew what jerseys Boise State and Va Tech were gonna wear a month before the game. Why? Because it matters.

 

[johnnykillz]

Then why do you continue to post in this thread and other threads about this topic? If you dont like this thread or topic then why are you opening and reopening this thread? Im not trying to be a jerk but instead of posting off topic dribble (thnx TT) just move on to another thread. It may not be a topic that interests you but 18 year old kids care about it. To a 30+ year old man this is absurd but these kids do care. The swoosh on your jersey does make a difference. Why would numerous sites show the new and upcoming jerseys if it didnt matter? We knew what jerseys Boise State and Va Tech were gonna wear a month before the game. Why? Because it matters.

Last I checked, that's where this whole thread fits.

Fans buy jerseys. That's why the commercials are shown.

 

[Irish Man3]

Last I checked, that's where this whole thread fits.

You whined about the topic in the Kelly Knows thread as well. Get over it dude. If it doesnt matter to you then move on and stop argueing with people that do care. This is a topic that does in fact translate into recruiting, something I think we all care about or recruiting threads wouldn't dominate the main page daily.

 

[johnnykillz]

You whined about the topic in the Kelly Knows thread as well. Get over it dude. If it doesnt matter to you then move on and stop argueing with people that do care. This is a topic that does in fact translate into recruiting, something I think we all care about or recruiting threads wouldn't dominate the main page daily.

lol.

I got reps for my replys.

How many do you have?

PMs if ya got beef here on out. Wins equates to recruiting. Period.

 

[ND2015]

Then why do you continue to post in this thread and other threads about this topic? If you dont like this thread or topic then why are you opening and reopening this thread? Im not trying to be a jerk but instead of posting off topic dribble (thnx TT) just move on to another thread. It may not be a topic that interests you but 18 year old kids care about it. To a 30+ year old man this is absurd but these kids do care. The swoosh on your jersey does make a difference. Why would numerous sites show the new and upcoming jerseys if it didnt matter? We knew what jerseys Boise State and Va Tech were gonna wear a month before the game. Why? Because it matters.

Exactly. To people in high school this stuff does matter though it doesn't really matter to me. I started the thread to see what people think because I really do think that having Nike would help in recruiting. By the way Nike's appeal is going to grow even larger when their sponsorship of the NFL begins in 2012.