Menu
Marketing and Sponsorship

Florida Unveils Swamp-Themed Nike Football Uniforms, Drawing Criticism On Social Media

The Univ. of Florida football team yesterday unveiled new Nike uniforms it will wear Saturday against Texas A&M. The uniforms have been in the works for over two years, and this weekend marks the first time in school history that UF will stray from its traditional orange and blue look. A swamp green -- used for the first time -- covers the helmet, which has a satin finish. The gator head logo also appears on one side of the helmet, another first for UF. The team will be in a swamp green jersey covered in a tonal gator print. Player numbers are orange trimmed in royal blue, while names appear in orange (UF). ESPN.com's Paul Lukas noted the helmet, pants and socks are "rendered in the same color, but without the gator-skin treatment." Reaction to the uniform on social media was "swift and, for the most part, intensely negative" (ESPN.com, 10/9). CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli tweeted, "If I found one of those Florida uniforms in my locker I would transfer so damn fast." ESPN's Bomani Jones: "Hadn't heard about this nike/stacey adams partnership." NBC Sports' Bryan Fischer: "Not a late April Fools joke." FootballScoop.com's Zach Barnett: "The worst uniforms in the history of Western civilization." College football writer Brett McMurphy: "The end zone is Land of the Lost." Jaguars radio broadcaster Frank Frangie: "So Florida is unranked, has a horrendously bad offense and this week is wearing all gray scaly looking uniforms. Um ... well ok then."

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 25, 2024

Motor City's big weekend; Kevin Warren's big bet; Bill Belichick's big makeover and the WNBA's big week continues

TNT’s Stan Van Gundy, ESPN’s Tim Reed, NBA Playoffs and NFL Draft

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN’s VP of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/10/10/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/UF-Nike.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/10/10/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/UF-Nike.aspx

CLOSE