adidas to supply footwear and apparel for 20 varsity teams
adidas and Texas A&M University have entered into a 7-year partnership in which adidas will supply footwear and apparel for all 20 of the university’s varsity athletic teams. The agreement begins with the upcoming 2007 academic year and extends through the 2014 season.
“Our athletics mission at Texas A&M is ‘Building Champions’,” said Bill Byrne, Director of Athletics. “My experience with adidas has been extremely positive and I firmly believe that adidas’ dedication to performance will be an integral part of accomplishing our mission. Their philosophy is much like ours: student-athletes first.”
Byrne elaborated: “Just as we strive to provide our student-athletes with every possible resource to be successful both on and off the field, adidas focuses their product development around the physical needs and demands of the student-athlete, from lighter, cooler fabrics to compression banding and added traction in their shoes and performance gear.”
Beginning in the fall of 2007, Texas A&M intercollegiate teams and coaches will be outfitted in adidas footwear, uniforms, training apparel, sideline gear and accessories. Texas A&M joins a select group of universities that have similar all-school agreements with adidas, including fellow Big 12 conference members Nebraska and Kansas. Other adidas schools include Michigan (2008 season), Notre Dame, UCLA, Tennessee, Indiana, Louisville, Pittsburgh,
Arkansas and Wisconsin. adidas also has marketing agreements with the NFL, MLS and an 11-year exclusive all-league partnership with the NBA.
“Texas A&M is a school that is steeped in history and unrivaled in tradition,” said Martyn Brewer, Head of US Sports Marketing for adidas. “The university’s strong commitment to performance and excellence is a great match for adidas and our mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. We are honored to welcome the Aggies to the adidas family of schools.”
“adidas clearly understands the importance we place on the Texas A&M brand,” added Drew Martin, Texas A&M Assistant Athletics Director for Branding and Creative Development. “Their entire management team has taken the time to come to Aggieland to listen and learn about Texas A&M University and all of our athletics programs. It’s clear that this will be a great partnership between two brands that understand and value the competitive world of collegiate athletics.”
Texas A&M-adidas gear will arrive in stores in time for the 2007 season kick off. A full range of products will be available nationwide for the Aggies’ legendary “12th Man” fans including sideline gear, coaches’ polo shirts, hats, jerseys, performance apparel and outerwear.
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About adidas
adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport. |