Nevada's current contract with Nike includes $400,000 in apparel with no pure cash valueGetty Images
The Univ. of Nevada is in the process of "negotiating its next apparel sponsorship deal," and with a "rising hoops program, Nevada has drawn interest from The Big Three -- Nike, Adidas and Under Armour," according to a front-page piece by Chris Murray of the RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL. Nevada has been with Nike since '08 after it "struck an all-sports deal," then extended with another five-year deal in '13. Nevada's current contract, which expires May 31, "includes $400,000 in apparel with no pure cash value." Boise State remains the Mountain West Conference "standard-bearer" for apparel deals, as its pact with Nike is valued at $1.275M annually. While Nike's contract "states it has 'first dealing and first refusal' before the expiration of its contract with Nevada," the school was "able to negotiate with third parties beginning March 1." Nevada AD Doug Knuth said, "We're probably two or so weeks away from making a decision and another week or so for contract stuff and within four weeks we'll have an announcement" (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 4/3).
