A ‘N’atural Alliance
13 comments so far
May 18, 2007 by
Full disclosure up front - this is one of those weird random off-season thoughts.
I went and bought a new pair of cross-training shoes the other day. Just as I had a couple of years ago, I settled on a low-end pair of New Balance shoes which I use for semi-regular running, basketball, and tennis. Aside from the quality and value (note: I’m not seeing a dime from New Balance), as a Husker fan, I was naturally drawn to the N logo that’s near and dear to my heart.
New Balance has become a strong brand for runners but they do offer athletic shoes and apparel (including football). In the past, they haven’t been known for celebrity endorsements or outbidding, Nike, Reebok, or Adidas for team sponsorships. But there’s also been a change in leadership at New Balance. Their longtime CEO has stepped down and a younger one hired, in part to help the company be more “progressive�. This tells me that they might be ready to make sponsorship of big-time college athletics a try.
Doesn’t Nebraska seem like the perfect place to start? The N on the helmet as well as the shoes and other gear seems like a match made in heaven. The timing seems good in that Nebraska seems poised for resurgence. New Balance might get a cheaper deal at Nebraska than it might at other “blue chip� programs, but then cash in as the bandwagon swells when the program becomes a BCS regular again. Not only that, New Balance’s focus on product excellence might produce a benefit on the field. That’s reason to take less money right there.
And can’t you just see the ads: Are You N?
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ANDREW May 18 07
As long as we can get some black jersey onto the field I am ok with anything!
darren May 18 07
This is a nice notion for a Friday. It got me thinking. Team brand loyalty is a real thing.
I've become quite partial to Adidas athletic apparel since they started working with NU. My running shoes, golf shoes, workout clothes, etc...all Adidas. I'd bet the same is true for fans of "Nike schools" (FSU, Oregon, others) and other school-apparel alliances.
And not to mix posts too much, but, remember when...NU was a Converse school, prior to the Adidas contract getting signed?
Mike May 18 07
I just want to know were you got those bad ass kicks.
Steve May 18 07
Google Images. =)
Gregory May 18 07
The first time I saw an "N" on somebody's glove, I naturally thought....
I thought I saw Dr. Tom, in a pair too.
With shoes, I'm sorta a purist. Shoes are good for two things: posing or "getting it done."
Not that I'm trying to sell shoes, but at my size, Asics have made, by far, the best running and cross training shoes.
Maybe I'm biased, (probably) but the sharpest shoes I've seen a team wear, was the '95 Nebraska team wearing the Addidas "Strong Side" style. The first year of that contract too, if I recall.
After that season, I saw an Addidas ad in "Sports Illustrated," with players who were seniors. It depicted a sort of "hydra-headed beast", with Tommie in the middle. (That's probably how the team looked to alot of people, that year.)
I bought a pair, but found them useless for
doing "work," because they were so heavy, underneath, with stretch material over the foot. But, they were sharp! I still wore 'em, till they wore out.
Michele May 19 07
Even with the new leadership at New Balance, I believe New Balance will never endorse celebrity athletes. That is a big N, for never. New Balance's key advertising phrase is "Endorsed by No One".
Scott May 20 07
Come on Darren....we all know you wear Adidas because you're a closet RUN D.M.C. Fan.
darren May 21 07
Scott - I don't hide my love for Run DMC in any way. In fact, it was one of the first and best cassette tapes I ever owned. :-)
Harry Husker Jun 20 07
Wow! I always thought the "N",on the helmet,stood for "Nowledge". Duh, uhuh,uhuh...
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