NU to stick with Adidas
Nebraska athletics has earned its stripes to the tune of $22 million.
In what ranks among the richest deals in college sports, Adidas will provide more than $22 million in cash and products to be the official apparel and footwear provider to the Huskers through 2013.
The tentative deal was announced Monday at a joint news conference where representatives of both sides said they were pleased to continue an association that began with the trademark Adidas stripes showing up on Nebraska football uniforms in 1995.
No changes in the football uniform are anticipated.
"When you think of great sports and you think of great sports brands, the University of Nebraska and Adidas are very fitting partners," NU athletic director Steve Pederson said in announcing the deal. "We believe that it's important that we solidified the commitment between the two of us. We were Adidas people, and they were Nebraska people."
The deal was negotiated over the last 10 months by NU associate athletic director Paul Miles, a former Nike executive. It encompasses all 23 varsity sports at Nebraska for the first time.
Currently, Nebraska has an agreement with Adidas for football only. Head coaches in several other sports at NU had their own compensation and apparel deals with the company.
All will be rolled into the new contract, under which Nebraska will bring in an additional $600,000 in cash and $500,000 in apparel and footwear in the first year.
Adidas will also pay Nebraska a $1.5 million signing bonus once the deal has been approved by the NU Board of Regents.
Pederson said there are no specific plans for the money but that the new contract will help to continue the financial stability of the department.
Adidas executives said they are proud partners with the Huskers.
"We do very few of these all-school deals," said Tim Haney, director of licensed properties. But "a school like Nebraska, just because of the history and tradition, is one of those unique situations."
Nebraska also negotiated with Nike, Reebok and Under Armour, Pederson said.
In what ranks among the richest deals in college sports, Adidas will provide more than $22 million in cash and products to be the official apparel and footwear provider to the Huskers through 2013.
The tentative deal was announced Monday at a joint news conference where representatives of both sides said they were pleased to continue an association that began with the trademark Adidas stripes showing up on Nebraska football uniforms in 1995.
No changes in the football uniform are anticipated.
"When you think of great sports and you think of great sports brands, the University of Nebraska and Adidas are very fitting partners," NU athletic director Steve Pederson said in announcing the deal. "We believe that it's important that we solidified the commitment between the two of us. We were Adidas people, and they were Nebraska people."
The deal was negotiated over the last 10 months by NU associate athletic director Paul Miles, a former Nike executive. It encompasses all 23 varsity sports at Nebraska for the first time.
Currently, Nebraska has an agreement with Adidas for football only. Head coaches in several other sports at NU had their own compensation and apparel deals with the company.
All will be rolled into the new contract, under which Nebraska will bring in an additional $600,000 in cash and $500,000 in apparel and footwear in the first year.
Adidas will also pay Nebraska a $1.5 million signing bonus once the deal has been approved by the NU Board of Regents.
Pederson said there are no specific plans for the money but that the new contract will help to continue the financial stability of the department.
Adidas executives said they are proud partners with the Huskers.
"We do very few of these all-school deals," said Tim Haney, director of licensed properties. But "a school like Nebraska, just because of the history and tradition, is one of those unique situations."
Nebraska also negotiated with Nike, Reebok and Under Armour, Pederson said.
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