Past, present and future Wolverines welcome new Michigan-Nike deal
Are folks in the Michigan community excited about the news the Wolverines are going back to Nike after almost a decade with Adidas?
In a word, "Yes."
While some might prefer the look and/or feel of Nike apparel or detest the alternate uniforms Adidas provided, others simply swoon for the Swoosh.
But is that all?
Scott Hirth, who co-owns the Michigan team shop in Ann Arbor, told the Detroit News the timing of the switch from Nike to Adidas didn't work out very well for the latter company regardless of missteps it might have made while outfitting the Wolverines.
The first year Michigan football wore Adidas uniforms, the Wolverines missed a bowl game for the first time in decades and lost more games than in any other season since they started playing football in 1879.
"Here's what's interesting about our business: You can't separate Nike and Adidas from wins and losses," Hirth told the paper. "People really embraced the Adidas product when it first came out and they really embraced (head coach) Rich Rodriguez that year, but when we only won three games, sales suffered greatly. You can't separate our sales from wins and losses on the football field."
Birth has to be happy with any move that means a whole slew of new gear for fans to fork down money for, but he was far from the only one to weigh in on the topic Monday after the school announced the move.
From Charles Woodson....
OH BABY!! WE JUST DID IT
Posted by Charles Woodson on Monday, July 6, 2015
... to current commits....
Nike will soon take over the World… #GoBlue
— Chris Evans (@Kidnplay_abc123) July 6, 2015
Nike ?〽? #GoBlue
— Josh Metellus ✊ (@NoExcuses_23) July 6, 2015
... to those still waiting to make a decision...
Michigan to Nike is so sweet if it's true ?✔️〽️〽️ #GoBlue
— R.I.P. MARY (@THEGIF7) July 6, 2015
Wouldn't mind rocking them Nike unies 〽️? #Michigan #GoBlue
— DILLARD (@_DBK8) July 6, 2015
... the move seems to be a success already.
(H/T The Detroit News and Maize n Brew)