Georgia Tech is the "only Power-5 program in the country using Russell Athletic as its official provider of athletic wear," meaning the school "finds itself working with a group best-known for outfitting minor-league football players and middle school baseball players," according to Joey Weaver of SB NATION. Russell Athletic's current deal pays GT around $2.3M per school year, which is "second-worst among ACC teams and 47th nationally of 65 Power-5 programs." GT is "joined by only" two other FBS programs in using Russell Athletic, as Coastal Carolina recently made the switch to Under Armour. Russell also outfits the AFL, Harlem Globetrotters and Little League Baseball -- "not exactly the kind of exclusive company that a Power-5 athletic program should be aiming to keep." Maybe the "worst part of all of this isn’t the remainder of the 10-year contract with Russell Athletic that Georgia Tech is stuck with" through the '17-18 school year, but the "lack of attention paid to brand" by the school itself. The "remainder of their athletic peers sport popular brands with exciting uniform releases and popular, aesthetically-pleasing apparel." But when the contract with Russell does expire, "all indications are that the Yellow Jackets will move" to either adidas, Nike or Under Armour (SBNATION.com, 8/13).
STICK TO THE SCRIPT: Pitt AD Scott Barnes noted that the school has seen a 50% "increase in merchandise and apparel sales" since the unveiling of the Pitt script May 18 and "carrying through until the end of the fiscal year." In Pittsburgh, Craig Meyer noted Q1 sales numbers are "not yet finalized and will not be available until October" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/16). Also in Pittsburgh, Jenn Menendez notes Pitt football yesterday "unveiled its 'throwback' alternate uniform that harkens back to the program's glory days" of the '70s and '80s. The new jersey, pants and helmet combo "will debut for the homecoming game Oct. 8 against Georgia Tech at Heinz Field as a kind of tribute to the past." The replica is "not a carbon copy of any one uniform design, but brings back the color scheme with a modern twist." Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi "intimated there is a strong chance the throwback uniform could become a regular fixture after it debuts" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/17).
