New Apparel and Shoe Deal

Katzenboyer

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Nike has a million other schools and the owner is the #1 Oregon booster. They don't need to promise us NIL stuff. Under armour (or Adidas) would make ND priority #1.

I see this bandied about quite a bit, but is there any indication that this is actually true? I mean, the UA guy played on Maryland's football team. That's not priority #1 for him? And Nike's just going to ignore ND despite it being one of the biggest brands in college football?

Plus, I'm not sure how viable UA is in the long term, and I've heard that players hate the footwear. If we get better stuff from Nike, I don't see the issue with going with them - they seem to be the best.
 

forkbeard3777

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I see this bandied about quite a bit, but is there any indication that this is actually true? I mean, the UA guy played on Maryland's football team. That's not priority #1 for him? And Nike's just going to ignore ND despite it being one of the biggest brands in college football?

Plus, I'm not sure how viable UA is in the long term, and I've heard that players hate the footwear. If we get better stuff from Nike, I don't see the issue with going with them - they seem to be the best.

I think if ND jumps ship, Under Armour will be out of the college uniform apparel venue shortly thereafter.
 

BleedBlueGold

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Nike isn't going to shy away from ND if it's a mutually beneficial deal. Being affiliated with numerous other schools makes no difference to Nike. ND is one of the largest brands in collegiate sports. If it's good for Nike's bottom line, they'll be open to whatever ND wants. The question will be what does ND want to prioritize and will Nike be willing to go along with it? ND has the leverage in this deal, imo.

When the guys on II talked about this new apparel deal potentially coming with NIL opportunities, my intrigue immediately peaked. ND may never get on board with paying upfront sums of money to high school recruits. BUT....if they can start offering shoe and apparel contracts as part of the deal when the kids sign, that's just one more way that ND can blaze a trail in the legal and literal sense of NIL. Between FUND and an apparel/shoe contract, players' "base pay" could be quite hefty at ND and that could sway a lot of kids who may be on the fence about ND's NIL plans (in that the money comes AFTER you show up and become a star).
 

StPaul_Irish

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I see this bandied about quite a bit, but is there any indication that this is actually true? I mean, the UA guy played on Maryland's football team. That's not priority #1 for him? And Nike's just going to ignore ND despite it being one of the biggest brands in college football?

Plus, I'm not sure how viable UA is in the long term, and I've heard that players hate the footwear. If we get better stuff from Nike, I don't see the issue with going with them - they seem to be the best.

1) My Alma Mater isn't my #1 priority, not by a long shot. Just like Hometown U wasn't my priority coming out of JRs. I have never understood this argument.

2) Fact, their cleats suck, however the workout shoes/boots are pretty dope

* I am a big U/A guy for Golf/casual/sport gear. Their Cold gear/down jackets and pull overs are top notch. I wear it for winter hiking/climbing. I would put it up against the big alpine brands. That doesn't mean I think ND should stay with them, I am just saying that their gear sans shoes is really good stuff.
 

FDNYIrish1

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ND really has a chance to change the landscape with this deal. Jack can really be the pioneer of a new way of doing business. What a great time to be looking for a deal under the current Wild West environment.
 

Polish Leppy 22

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Notre Dame, a Catholic university who prides itself in fighting injustice and championing the poor, partnering with Nike would seem to be something of note given where Nike's products are made and the slave labor who provides the products.

Dollars matter and it is a business, but dollars aren't everything at ND. ND operates differently and money isn't the only thing.
 

BeauBenken

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Notre Dame, a Catholic university who prides itself in fighting injustice and championing the poor, partnering with Nike would seem to be something of note given where Nike's products are made and the slave labor who provides the products.

Dollars matter and it is a business, but dollars aren't everything at ND. ND operates differently and money isn't the only thing.

Are Adidas not also made in Southeast Asian sweatshops?

I genuinely do not know as I do not own any Adidas gear anymore. I assume most of what we wear nowadays unfortunately is.
 

ColinKSU

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Notre Dame, a Catholic university who prides itself in fighting injustice and championing the poor, partnering with Nike would seem to be something of note given where Nike's products are made and the slave labor who provides the products.

Dollars matter and it is a business, but dollars aren't everything at ND. ND operates differently and money isn't the only thing.
If Notre Dame wants to take a principled stance against Nike and its labor practices, then it also needs to refuse to work with UA and Adidas and also probably ban its employees from using Apple iPhones or Android phones or pretty much anything they are currently using for any purpose whatsoever.
 

BeauBenken

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If Notre Dame wants to take a principled stance against Nike and its labor practices, then it also needs to refuse to work with UA and Adidas and also probably ban its employees from using Apple iPhones or Android phones or pretty much anything they are currently using for any purpose whatsoever.
This was my line of thinking.

There is hardly a product we touch that didn't take advantage of cheap/forced labor.
 

ulukinatme

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Notre Dame, a Catholic university who prides itself in fighting injustice and championing the poor, partnering with Nike would seem to be something of note given where Nike's products are made and the slave labor who provides the products.

Dollars matter and it is a business, but dollars aren't everything at ND. ND operates differently and money isn't the only thing.
We must be thinking of two different Notre Dames. The one I know will squeeze the blood from a stone to get an extra buck. ND will hit up donors like the LaBars (Of the LaBar practice field) for extra donations on top of the standard donations and then take away their tickets if they don't pony up.
 

Irish4life

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Notre Dame, a Catholic university who prides itself in fighting injustice and championing the poor, partnering with Nike would seem to be something of note given where Nike's products are made and the slave labor who provides the products.

Dollars matter and it is a business, but dollars aren't everything at ND. ND operates differently and money isn't the only thing.
Under armour has the same business practices as Nike.
 

Polish Leppy 22

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For all those who responded by putting UA, Adidas, etc. in the same bucket as Nike:

It's important to distinguish that cheap labor (where the cost of living is incredibly lower as are wages compared to US workers) is not equivalent to slave/ forced labor.

I got rid of all my Nike stuff when they endorsed Kapernick in 2016, but ND signing on with Nike would be something.
 

notredomer23

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Notre Dame will choose among Under Armour, Nike and adidas.



“The contract ends next year but given the lead time on uniforms and things, your negotiation period is always about 16 months ahead,” Swarbrick said. “We are nearing the end of that process.



“We’ve had great conversations with three apparel companies, all of whom have a very strong interest in being our partner. We’re getting close in time to having to make a decision.”

Part of Prister's interview series with Swarbrick. Nike or UA for me. Please don't go back to Adidas.

I will also add, as someone who ocassionally improperly posts information from II-- they are absolutely worth the subscription no matter how many times Tommy Loyd fumbles for access like this.
 

FightingIrishLover7

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Part of Prister's interview series with Swarbrick. Nike or UA for me. Please don't go back to Adidas.

I will also add, as someone who ocassionally improperly posts information from II-- they are absolutely worth the subscription no matter how many times Tommy Loyd fumbles for access like this.
Adidas is much much better than UA, from performance and reliability
 

Pops Freshenmeyer

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Yeah I am just speaking selfishly bc I don't wanna wear adidas lol. I understand that footwear is probably the biggest part of this deal and UA is way short of the quality of Nike and adidas.
It's weird just how bad UA shoes are. I buy athletic shoes/cleats/etc. for three kids and myself (well, I don't get myself cleats) and the UA stuff is just stiff, molded plastic crap.

Did the other shoe makers just get to all the good patents before UA entered the arena? Does UA need to have higher margins on cost/price? Does UA just not spend anything on R&D?
 

IrishLion

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Adidas hoodies are the GOAT, and their shoes are still pretty good. Wouldn’t mind that.

Prefer:

1. Jordan
2. Nike without Jordan
3. Adidas
.
.
.
18. Kirkland/Spyder
19. UA
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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It’s all a smokescreen for the New Balance deal.
It was the dad shoe, then got co opted by neo nazis and suddenly now they have gained a younger and far less racist audience more recently. Getting a deal with ND would be like taking a trip to Mars for them. I doubt it happens but we'll see.
 

stlnd01

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It was the dad shoe, then got co opted by neo nazis and suddenly now they have gained a younger and far less racist audience more recently. Getting a deal with ND would be like taking a trip to Mars for them. I doubt it happens but we'll see.
I wear them every damn day (to be clear I’m a runner/dad not a neo-nazi). New Balance may not be “cool” (except maybe ironically) but they make way better shoes than Under Armour.
 

Blazers46

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I wear them every damn day (to be clear I’m a runner/dad not a neo-nazi). New Balance may not be “cool” (except maybe ironically) but they make way better shoes than Under Armour.
As a runner myself I love that UA shoes can connect to my Bluetooth running app. Plus I have a ton of free UA shoes I got from NMSU athletic department I got through a friend. I’m 39 so comfort is becoming a higher priority and I’ll probably start moving away from UA.
 
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