Business Insider, Forbes, Front Office Sports, it doesn't matter where you look, the list is the same. I'm here to drop theTop 5 Most Valuable College Apparel Deals for 2018 and offer some thoughts as well.
Let's go!
1. UCLA (Under Armour) contract spanning from 2017 to 2032
Annual Value: $12.76 million
$9 million in cash
$3.76 million in product allotments
2. Louisville (Adidas) contract spanning from 2018-2028
Annual Value: $10.96 million
$7.9 million n cash
$3.06 in product allotments
3. Texas (Nike): contract spanning from 2017-2032
Annual Value: $9.76 million
$7.5 million in cash
$2.26 million in product allotments
4. Michigan (Nike/Jordan): contract spanning from 2016-2031
Annual Value: $7.79 million
$5.12 million in cash
$2.67 million in product allotments
5. Notre Dame (Under Armour): contract terms unknown
Annual Value: $7.5 million
Because ND in a private school, the terms of the deal with UA is unknown.
So here are a few things I noticed...
Of the top 21 schools on the list, the top 10 are get more cash than product allotments. The bottom 11 schools are the opposite and receive more product allotments than cash. If this is the case - and it is - doesn't that seem a bit unfair? The top 10 schools get more cash to spend on coaches salaries, facilities, amenities for recruits and more while the bottom 11 schools get less cash for expenses and more gear that doesn't do anything to sell the recruits on.
Will we ever pay student-athletes? It's clear that despite it being called a scholarship, the schools are only interested in the students playing the sport (as long as it generates revenue). So with coaches saying things like, "You're not on scholarship for school," why is it that these students still receive nothing in terms of compensation? Their free education is useless with attitudes like that and they are often forced to miss classes/ exams/ studying for games/practice/weights and film. Isn't that a conflict of interest? Shouldn't it be?
Let me know what you think! Sorry my posts have been so scattered, I just started grad school and have much busier than anticipated!