In Portland, Allan Brettman reports the Univ. of Oregon is "backing away, for now, from a plan to funnel product licensing to a large company in an effort to increase revenue and promote efficiency." The school said the decision was made "following a review of responses to its request for proposals regarding its apparel and headwear licensing program." However, the wording of the release "made clear that changes in the future are possible -- but not for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014" (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/30).
IT WAS A VERY GOODYEAR: USA TODAY's Nate Ryan reports Goodyear at this Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will "unveil a right-side tire whose construction philosophy is based on a concept called 'zone tread.'" Goodyear Race Tire Sales Dir Greg Stucker said, "One of the reasons the company is involved in racing is the technology transfer and development; it doesn't matter which way it goes. This is one of those instances that it's coming from the consumer tires to the track, and we very much want people to know that connection" (USA TODAY, 8/30).
HEY RICKIE, YOU'RE SO FINE: Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman said of Rickie Fowler's new ads with Farmers Insurance, "I don't know even going forward a couple of generations if anyone's brave enough to do this like Rickie Fowler is. But he's a breath of fresh air. He's loaded with color, obviously, through his wardrobe. And the guy can flat-out play the game of golf. This is the new generation." Golf Channel's Steve Flesch: "It's marketing yourself, and you have to have the personality and the gumption to do it. Rickie's doing a good job of it" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 8/28).
