Blazers Of Glory: UAB, Nike Ink Five-Year All-Program Deal

UAB Inks Five-Year Deal With Nike

The Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) has signed a five-year deal with Nike worth about $500,000 to outfit all of the school's athletic programs, according to Steve Irvine of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS. The deal marks the "first time in the program's history that every sport will be under the same shoe and apparel contract." The school will receive a "set number of shoes, uniforms and apparel ... as well as lower purchase prices on other merchandise." All but three UAB teams had "been associated with Adidas under a three-year contract that expired in April."  The men's and women's soccer teams and men's basketball team already were with Nike. UAB Senior Associate AD Lee Moon: "For us this is a huge step in validation of our program. ... To be affiliated with [Nike] and be an all-sports deal, I think it says they see us as a good investment" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/21).