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Topic: Russell contract to expire 2012

Topic: Russell contract to expire 2012

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perimeterpost
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165

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Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 3:50:12 PM

Our contract with Russell Athletic expires at the end of the year. With the recent success of our football and bball programs will we be in a position to get a more lucrative deal with Nike or Under Armor? Is there a reason for us to be loyal to Russell? Personally I think their unis are a little generic and they don't seem to offer much in terms of licensed fan apparel.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/genrel/083107aaa.html

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

JSF
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Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
Post Count: 6,554

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:11:55 PM

Apparel is as good as it's ever been. Yes, the uniforms are a little generic (and I really don't like this year's mains), but it's better than what Nike is doing to aesthetics. And based on what adidas is doing to people's eyes, they're not much better. Don't know what Under Armour is doing, though.

We'll just go for whoever gives us the most money.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

Monroe Slavin
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:13:48 PM

Nice avatar, JSF

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

DesignspiritUSA.com
The Pets On The Go Collection of pet gear travel bags
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Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,223

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:29:38 PM

perimeterpost wrote:

Agreed on the apparel. I'd love for the folks in fashion merchandising/design to come up with some good stuff. Looking around at the other fans in St. Louis, I saw some really nice shirts for men and women. Hate to admit it, but Ohio State has really good styles to choose from. I'm hoping that with increased demand we can have better options.

OU didn't know
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Member Since: 3/20/2005
Post Count: 185

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:31:14 PM

JSF wrote:

I agree on the coloring of the new Adidas uniforms, but it's simply a marketing ploy to get people talking about their new uniform technology. By the way, it's pretty amazing. Was able to check out some all white's this weekend (sans crazy stripe pattern) and they are really nice. Their uniforms have made huge strides over the last few years, especially since taking over as the official supplier of the NBA. The shoes have made a huge jump too. The techfit football uni's are incredibly nice as we'll. Adidas is currently dumping a ton of money into the American market, namely football and basketball.

Nike would seem like a good probability. Does anyone know if the shoe contract is a year-to-year thing? I really don't want Under Armour. Their uniforms generally look like crap and I really don't like their shoes. My guess is Adidas or Nike, though I could certainly see Russel offering Ohio a lot of money to stay. After all, the reveal video of the black football uniforms generated a ton of press for Russel on youtube and the national sports media.

OU didn't know
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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:33:27 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

perimeterpost wrote:

Swank...if anyone knows the proper people to contact within the department, I'd be more than happy to put some stuff together.

Recovering Journalist
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Member Since: 8/17/2010
Location: Cleveland, OH
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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:44:45 PM

Interesting piece on Russell, branding and perceptions.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46837901

bobcat28
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: United States
Post Count: 808

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:47:42 PM

I believe Russell gave us the black uniforms (both football and basketball) as an incentive to sign with them when their contract is up. Pretty sure we will stay with Russell.

Last Edited: 3/25/2012 4:48:05 PM by bobcat28

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:58:58 PM

OU didn't know wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

perimeterpost wrote:

Swank...if anyone knows the proper people to contact within the department, I'd be more than happy to put some stuff together.

I'd start with Dan Hauser. He's a reasonable guy and easy to talk with. He's also a pretty sharp dresser (always looks nice in my opinion) so your suggestions would be well received I believe. I'm sure there a licensing issues to deal with though.

born2bleedgreen
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Member Since: 3/23/2005
Post Count: 51

Status: Offline

RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 4:59:18 PM

I would hope that OU would seriously consider Nike and that Nike would seriously consider us. Nike has been the standard that all other companies are compared too. While Russell has given us love that we didn't get from Adidas before that. I would hope with a move to Nike it would up the quality of OU clothing out there. While College Bookstore tries to come up with designs on its own, they usually fall short of what I consider quality either due to design or the fact that most of the shirts are the Hanes beefy tee that are not nearly as comfortable as what Nike and Under Armour are producing these days.

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. - John Wooden

perimeterpost
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 5:19:49 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

Interesting piece on Russell, branding and perceptions.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46837901

Great article, a few quotes that stand out--

Quote:

Today, they (Russell) are a small player in the (apparel sponsor) space, making its name in the value space that fills Walmart and Target

Quote:

Five teams in the 68-team tournament have worn its gear (Colorado St, Mississippi Valley St, Norfolk State, Ohio & Western Kentucky)

Quote:

Powell says that Russell is now the seventh biggest player in the sports apparel space, owning 3.5 percent of the market.

Quote:

While Russell does sponsor sports teams, it doesn’t spend big money.

Quote:

Buffett could be cheering for Ohio tonight. But it’s not as important to him to win the game as it is for Nike executives to have the Tarheels win. Russell is in the commodity space now, not the branding business.

We're the highest profile university for a sponsor who's business model is geared toward playing in the low end , value space, not on growing brand value. Russell and OHIO are going in different directions, its time to part ways.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

born2bleedgreen
General User

Member Since: 3/23/2005
Post Count: 51

Status: Offline

RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 5:28:21 PM

Even more of a reason to move on.

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. - John Wooden

OU didn't know
General User

Member Since: 3/20/2005
Post Count: 185

Status: Offline

RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 5:56:58 PM

Anyone happen to have a link to a uniform history of Ohio football and basketball? I've tried searching in the past but never really turned much up. Anything would be appreciated.

The Optimist
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Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,597

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 6:04:30 PM

I'm a lot happier with Russell after the black unis... No problem staying with them if the cash is there. We are their top recruit, and they are going to continue to try to keep us happy.

If not Russell I'd actually like to go with Under Armour.

I've seen crazier things happen.

D.A.
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Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Georgetown, ME
Post Count: 1,190

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RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 7:10:07 PM

Georgia Tech is the highest profile Russell program, then likely OHIO, and they LOVE having us on their team. That was Russell's motivation for the black unis and setting up the program for fans to purchase the personalized authentics, and they give the department a TON of free threads. (if you noticed all the staff Russell attire, plus for the cheer team staff, all interns,attire for giveaways for donors, etc.

The biggest debate at this point, as we can likely find no vendor to treat the program with as much love as Russell has, is the perception of recruits. Like it or not, brand matters (sound familiar...like the OHIO brand), and potential recruits really have high value for being in a Nike or Under Armour sponsored program.

Tough decision to make, either being the low man on a tall totem or the top man on a low totem. I just hope it isn't Nike.

The Few, The Proud, The Bobcats!

And for the record, I hate tOSU, and Ricordati and Torgerson are DB's.

"This isn't just another walkover from the MAC." Kirk Herbstreit, another DB, on College Football Gameday

OUcats82
General User

Member Since: 1/9/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 1,883

Status: Offline

RE: Russell contract to expire 2012

Posted: 3/25/2012 11:05:11 PM

I personally am ok with Russell. If you look at many of the schools who are signed with Nike they have what appears to be uniforms that were available from a generic template in their colors. For every UNC or Oregon with highly unique/custom uniforms, you have others who chose option 4b in the catalog (I am making these up as I have no idea how it all works, just surmising).

Like another mentioned my biggest issue is the lack of available product from Russell. Most major teams out there make the sideline apparel worn by players and coaches available to the general public (OSU is a perfect example). The polo shirt the coaches are wearing can be seen on John Q. Fan in the stands too. I've only ever seen a polo shirt (which I own and love) and a windbreaker or two available, and they were not even from an Athens-based distributor. It was on the website that has 300 different names but is really one company (the same store you find under Ohiobobcats.com, Footballfanatics.com, ncaastore.com, and so on.).

I wish we had a better selection of office-appropriate clothing like button up shirts etc. College Bookstore does try hard but too many of their products look "homemade". There are a few really nice items available from the Alumni Association's online store.

Just my $.02.

Ohio-The State University

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