2008 Woodie Awards
Playing in style
Christine Shollenberger ; Mass Communications Student
Issue date: 12/6/06 Section: Sports
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Every time you turn on the TV to watch your favorite college team, all of their uniforms and equipment include little sponsor symbols. Whether it is the Nike Swoosh or the Adidas pyramid strips, they are everywhere.
Why would Idaho State want to advertise for a corporation?
A corporate sponsorship works in two main ways. First, the school teams get good quality gear for a lower price. Second, the school promotes the gear by wearing it. If you see your favorite team wearing Nike shirts and shoes, then you might want to wear Nike shoes and shirts.
That is why the Big Sky Conference approached Nike two years ago about a conference-wide sponsorship. At that time, Nike was not interested because of the small size of most of the schools in the conference.
As some of the schools in the Big Sky Conference grew and gained more national attention, Nike became interested, and they began sponsoring schools like Portland State and Sacramento State.
Idaho State's football and basketball programs already had a minor arrangement with Nike for equipment like shoes and uniforms, but the athletic department was looking for a sponsorship for every sport the university offers.
In January of 2005, Nike Athletics became Idaho State's official sponsor, and now provides uniforms, gear, and equipment for all 14 Bengal athletic teams.
Nike's corporate sponsorship gives athletics ten percent below wholesale price; this price is even lower than it is for Nike employees. ISU is buying quality in quantity.
"Nike is probably the worldwide leader in sports gear," says ISU's athletic director Paul Bubb. Bubb was very enthusiastic about the sponsorship. "It was the best kind of deal we could get."
ISU's contract states that while athletes are competing, they must be head to toe in Nike gear, socks and so on. To achieve this, the athletes are provided with full uniforms, bags, traveling apparel, and equipment.
"I am more of an Adidas fan," says freshman athlete Kandace Clesson, "but I get this stuff for free."
Why would Idaho State want to advertise for a corporation?
A corporate sponsorship works in two main ways. First, the school teams get good quality gear for a lower price. Second, the school promotes the gear by wearing it. If you see your favorite team wearing Nike shirts and shoes, then you might want to wear Nike shoes and shirts.
That is why the Big Sky Conference approached Nike two years ago about a conference-wide sponsorship. At that time, Nike was not interested because of the small size of most of the schools in the conference.
As some of the schools in the Big Sky Conference grew and gained more national attention, Nike became interested, and they began sponsoring schools like Portland State and Sacramento State.
Idaho State's football and basketball programs already had a minor arrangement with Nike for equipment like shoes and uniforms, but the athletic department was looking for a sponsorship for every sport the university offers.
In January of 2005, Nike Athletics became Idaho State's official sponsor, and now provides uniforms, gear, and equipment for all 14 Bengal athletic teams.
Nike's corporate sponsorship gives athletics ten percent below wholesale price; this price is even lower than it is for Nike employees. ISU is buying quality in quantity.
"Nike is probably the worldwide leader in sports gear," says ISU's athletic director Paul Bubb. Bubb was very enthusiastic about the sponsorship. "It was the best kind of deal we could get."
ISU's contract states that while athletes are competing, they must be head to toe in Nike gear, socks and so on. To achieve this, the athletes are provided with full uniforms, bags, traveling apparel, and equipment.
"I am more of an Adidas fan," says freshman athlete Kandace Clesson, "but I get this stuff for free."
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