Clemson Univ. "will wear the swoosh" until '22, as Nike has "extended the university's athletic apparel deal for eight years," according to Matthew Kish of the PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL. Nike "signed the extension in December" prior to the June 30 expiration date of its previous deal. The new deal "more than doubles the terms of the previous deal, mostly in increased equipment and apparel." The eight-year deal "will net the university" $23M "in cash and equipment and put it on par with similar athletic departments in the ACC." The deal ranks "No. 6 among the public universities in the conference." Clemson will get $2.5M "in equipment and cash from Nike this year," up from the $1M it received in the last year of the previous deal. The school will get $2.4M "in gear from Nike this year, up from $600,000 in the last year of the previous deal." Clemson "chose to get the bulk of the increased benefit in equipment and apparel." Cash terms "decreased from $400,000 annually in the last year of the previous deal to $150,000 this year" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/26).
SHELL GAME: In N.Y., Marc Tracy in a front-page piece writes the Univ. of Maryland is "striving to establish a nationally relevant" football program, and "central to that goal" is Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO Kevin Plank. Maryland AD Kevin Anderson said, “I saw the beginnings of what Nike did with Oregon. And that’s been our conversation from Day 1 -- that we can and do have that kind of relationship.” UA Exec VP/Global Marketing Adam Peake said, "Our brand, and at some level, our business, has really grown up with Maryland -- in Maryland, and with the university around the corner. We’ve helped each other grow" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/26).
