In Orlando, Mike Bianchi notes UCF football coach Scott Frost’s ties to Nike and "desire to shake up the program helped usher in a dramatic new look for the Knights." The program "gave fans their first look at the team's new uniforms Thursday morning on the school's website after months of hype." Four different white, gold, anthracite and pewter helmets, jerseys and pants "were mixed and matched to form 64 different looks" created by Nike Football Senior Graphic Designer Josh Iverson. Player jerseys also "will bear their last names for the first time" since '04. UCF's new catchphrase "Rise & Conquer" also is "inscribed inside the neckline on the back and the university’s Pegasus logo is featured on both sleeves" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/6).
MONEY PENNEY: In Dallas, Maria Halkias noted Pro Football HOFer Michael Strahan once again "has teamed up with J.C. Penney" to create a "line of active lifestyle apparel for men." MSX by Michael Strahan is "basically workout wear with enough style that it blends in if you pair it with jeans or a nice jacket" as part of your business casual wardrobe. Strahan last year "launched the JCPenney Collection by Michael Strahan, and it’s doing well enough that he wants to do it again with leisure clothing." MSX will "hit 500 J.C. Penney stores on May 21" (DALLASNEWS.com, 5/5).
I'M ON A BOAT: In Maine, Kathryn Skelton noted Team USA in Rio will "sport red, white and blue leather boat shoes hand-sewn here by high-end shoemaker Rancourt & Co." during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the Olympics. Ralph Lauren, which is making the official uniforms, "reached out" to Lewiston-based Rancourt in April '15. Company President Michael Rancourt said that his business "has worked with Ralph Lauren for seven years quietly making private-label shoes for its stores." Rancourt VP Kyle Rancourt said, "The fact that we're being credited for making the shoes, it's another level" (Lewiston SUN JOURNAL, 5/3).
CROSSOVER DRIBBLE: ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted Nike has just rolled out a "Ky-rispy Kreme" truck that "will be touring the country -- with a limited edition Kyrie (Irving) 2 shoe in the doughnut brand's signature red and green colors, sold out of a Krispy Kreme truck." The truck "left Nike's Oregon headquarters on Thursday and will be in Cleveland on Tuesday if there's a Game 5 in the Cavaliers-Hawks series or on May 13" (ESPN.com, 5/5).
