We MUST get rid of Under Armour

[USC2USC]

Doesn't our UA contract end next year? The athletic department is totally silent on what is going on. With these type things and the kind of $ involved, it would seem you are working for a year plus to try to explore options.

UA for available fan gear gets worse and worse every year.

This is the link to the official UA page for South Carolina gear. Check out the pathetic assortment....

Under Armour Search

Shop Search on the Under Armour official website. Find search built to make you better — FREE shipping available in the USA.

www.underarmour.com

Now for a direct comparison, check out the link below to the official NIke page for the ugly orange and purple crap....

Clemson Tigers Apparel & Gear. Nike.com

Shop Nike.com for Clemson Tigers apparel and gear.

www.nike.com

Its embarrassing and South Carolina fans and alums deserve better.

 

[Backyard Archer]

There are 229 items on the Under Armour page for Carolina stuff and only 64 on the Nike page for Clemson stuff. So Under Armour offers over 3.5 times more Carolina stuff than Nike does Clemson stuff. Plus Under Armour pays the school way more than Nike pays Clemson so we'd be crazy to leave.

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

It's a shame what UA has become. When we first signed with them, I loved their products. Bought a lot of their stuff, both Cock related & otherwise. Here lately, though.......I'd say in the last 2-3 years, their stuff has gotten very subpar. For starters, rarely do their shirts fit to size anymore. I've stopped buying it. I'm not crazy about Nike apparel neither.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

Absolutely +10000000000000

The official Nike fan gear available for Texas is so much better than UA for SC too. Not to mention how much better Nike fits and how much nicer the fabrics are.

But beyond just Nike for team gear, our other merch brand partnerships are just underwhelming. The variety and quality available for Texas that UT fosters relationships with is impressive. UT also has its own merch brand, Forty Acres Collection. Also compare how impressive the University Co-Op site is compared to the Russell House Bookstore site. In person is even more striking. University Co-Op is 3 stories of merch and 1 story of campus bookstore times a half a block footprint. Russell House Bookstore is one floor of poorly merchandised retail experienced crammed into a corner of the building.

I feel like Carolina doesn't even try at so many things. It's ******* sad. I asked an unnamed Associate Athletic Director 10 years ago if they study the best brands in college like Texas and Michigan to put plans in to place how to replicate their branding and merchandising success. He said, "no, never occurred to me to do that." SMFH.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

There are 229 items on the Under Armour page for Carolina stuff and only 64 on the Nike page for Clemson stuff. So Under Armour offers over 3.5 times more Carolina stuff than Nike does Clemson stuff. Plus Under Armour pays the school way more than Nike pays Clemson so we'd be crazy to leave.

It's not about the quantity. The quality of the UA fabrics and fits are **** and the designs are generally fugly. It's also not about just what's on the manufacturer site, go to The University Co-Op in person or online and check the Nike offerings there. Currently 120, just for men. 166 for women.

It is true that our UA contract is fairly lucrative and probably more lucrative than we would get from Nike.

 

[Uscg1984]

I think some of y'all are on Nike's payroll. lol. I own a good bit of Gamecocks shirts, hoodies, hats, quarter-zips, etc and I couldn't tell you the branding on most of them. I'm not sure what the problem is. On the list of things I think the university _must_ do, this issue isn't near the top.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

I think some of y'all are on Nike's payroll. lol. I own a good bit of Gamecocks shirts, hoodies, hats, quarter-zips, etc and I couldn't tell you the branding on most of them. I'm not sure what the problem is. On the list of things I think the university _must_ do, this issue isn't near the top.

I disagree. Maximizing the value of the brand is one the absolutely most valuable things the University should be doing. And for decades we have failed to put forth a cohesive long term brand strategy and it has a real impact on the perception of the school and the athletic department. It's another important piece of the equation that has resulted in Carolina's perception and reality as a mid-tier institution, not a top tier institution.

Branding one million percent matters and we suck at it. And nobody at the university seems to care.

 

[Guy in the Back]

I prefer UA to Nike. I don’t disagree that the fit in UA stuff is inconsistent, but my UA stuff holds up better than my Nike stuff.

As far as popularity with kids, there is no competition. Nike wins hands down.

 

[ctgarric]

If South Carolina switched to Nike, I would never buy a Gamecock piece is appeal again. That company will not get a dime of my money.

 

[USCEE82]

UA was the sexy brand at one time. It seemed every one including kids wanted to wear it. Not sure how they lost their mojo. UA stock price is in the tank and will probably never come back. I don't buy much gear anymore so I don't have a strong opinion. If the money is that much better with UA, then I would stick with it.

 

[bayrooster]

UA was the sexy brand at one time. It seemed every one including kids wanted to wear it. Not sure how they lost their mojo. UA stock price is in the tank and will probably never come back. I don't buy much gear anymore so I don't have a strong opinion. If the money is that much better with UA, then I would stick with it.

When they have children manufacturing their products they will truly have lost their mojo.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

While the genesis of this thread is about the official UA fan gear versus official Nike fan gear associated with a school's equipment contract (and of course myriad other brands make fan gear beyond the official equipment provider), my broader points about branding are what really stick in my craw.

I'm SO underwhelmed and disappointed by how South Carolina has mismanaged and underinvested in its brand strategy over the decades. This has nothing to do with "Nike" or "Under Armour" or "Tommy Bahama ," rather having integrated master brand and sub-brand strategies co-developed by the university and the athletic department accompanied by tactics, execution, and governance that builds and protects the brand and allows it to flourish on a multi-decade trajectory instead of being constantly diluted by short term decisions without vision and continuity.

It pisses me the **** off and it has forever. It makes me so mad.

 

[will110]

I like UA way better than Nike.

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

Now you’re one of UA’s top schools.Why go to Nike and be 50th most important school?

 

[1vagamecock]

If South Carolina switched to Nike, I would never buy a Gamecock piece is appeal again. That company will not get a dime of my money.

I haven't bought anything Nike since they sold thier soul to China

 

[Carolina Doc]

I have both Nike and UA clothing. Pretty much identical.

I have some UA shirts that are 10 years old and still look great.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

How about Adidas?

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

How about Adidas?

 

[Tngamecock]

How about Adidas?

No

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Guess that means it's UA or Nike then

 

[SuperCock99]

i totally disagree with the OP. To the point where I want to call FAKE NEWS like what cnn does. UA merch is always plentiful with new stuff coming out constantly. Directly from UAs website…. And Dicks, Academy, Addams, etc. Polos, T’s, Hoodies, hats…… Each one of those places gave stuff that the others don’t.


Personally I like the fit and design of UA over Nike and other brands team wear or not. Quality wise, like fabric, I think they are about equal. I feel that Carolina vibes really well with UA. Better than we would with Nike

 

[ThinnyJ]

I will not buy nike ever again... For anything.

UA stuff fits me best anyways... I like it a lot. I'm not sure why ppl whine about it

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

I will not buy nike ever again... For anything.

UA stuff fits me best anyways... I like it a lot. I'm not sure why ppl whine about it

I haven't personally purchased Nike or UA but have received both as gifts. UA feels better on my skin, especially the printed Tees.

 

[Lawjjusc]

If I get a vote, I would love to see South Carolina with the Jordan Brand. That’s what the big time schools are doing, and the Jumpman logo is still everywhere today. I grew up in the 90s so there’s my bias.

 

[HI Cock1]

I would prefer not to have the company's logo in the middle of the damn shirt.