Georgia Tech signs new athletic apparel deal with Adidas
The Associated Press ATLANTA
— Looking to boost recruiting and align with a hipper brand, Georgia Tech has teamed up with Adidas, which will serve as the exclusive apparel provider for its athletic programs.
The agreement announced Tuesday comes after Georgia Tech decided to end to its partnership with Russell Athletic when their contract expires in June.
The six-year arrangement with Adidas runs through 2024. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Georgia Tech is now in line with other major universities in a market dominated by Nike, Under Armour and Adidas.
The three-stripe brand will serve as Georgia Tech’s exclusive supplier for athletics uniforms, apparel, footwear and accessories in 17 varsity sports programs, as well as provide new marketing and branding opportunities.
It also could be an additional selling point for potential recruits.
“We look forward to collaborating with Adidas to provide our student-athletes and fans with the most cutting-edge athletic gear in the marketplace and to amplify the Georgia Tech athletics brand in Atlanta and beyond,” Todd Stansbury, the school’s athletic director, said in a statement.
Adidas North American President Mark King said the deal was vital to the company’s strategy of gaining a stronger foothold in the South. The company is plan- ning a new footwear production facility in Atlanta.
“If you want to be embedded in sport in America, you have to be embedded in sport in the South,” King said. “This partnership is collaboration at its core. We’re sharing new ideas, we’re learning from each other and we’re asking why, all with the shared ambition to shape the future of sport.”
Georgia Tech joins an Adidas roster that includes fellow Atlantic Coast Conference schools Miami and N.C. State, as well as Kansas, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Arizona State.
In other recent college football news:
Crumpton, Hardman making impact for No. 15 Bulldogs ATHENS
— With its Sept. 2 opener against Appalachian State only 10 days away, No. 15 Georgia is still establishing its depth chart at wide receiver.
Coach Kirby Smart says the battles at receiver are “real competitive,” thanks in part to the impacts being made by transfer Ahkil Crumpton and Mecole Hardman.
Smart said after Wednesday’s practice that Crumpton, who transferred from Los Angeles Valley Community College, “catches everything that’s thrown to him.”
Smart also had compliments for Hardman, the former cornerback, as well as Mark Webb and Jayson Stanley. Terry Godwin and Riley Ridley are among the top returning receivers for Georgia, which lost Isaiah McKenzie and Reggie Davis to the NFL.
UGA’s Parrish not ruled out for opener after surgery ATHENS
— Georgia coach Kirby Smart says there is still a chance cornerback Malkom Parrish could be ready for the start of the season following surgery last week to repair a broken bone in his foot.
Smart said after Saturday’s scrimmage that Parrish broke a “small bone” in his foot and will miss two to four weeks. Georgia plays Appalachian State on Sept. 2 in its opening game.
Parrish started 12 games in 2016 and ranked seventh on the team with 49 tackles.
Georgia is getting Aaron Davis ready to start at cornerback if Parrish is held out.
Alabama starts atop AP Poll for second straight year
No need to overthink it: Alabama is No. 1 in the AP preseason Top 25.
The Crimson Tide became the first program in 12 years to take the top spot in The Associated Press preseason media poll two straight years, and will start the season ranked in the top five for the ninth consecutive time.
Coach Nick Saban’s program has become the surest thing in sports these days. The Tide does not always win the national championship — just half the time over the last eight years — but is always in contention. Since 2008, only once has Alabama lost more than one game before bowl season.
The Crimson Tide received 52 of 61 first-place votes from media members in the poll released Monday. Ohio State was No. 2, edging No. 3 Florida State and preventing the first 1 vs. 2 opening game since the preseason poll began in 1950. Alabama opens the season against the Seminoles in Atlanta on Sept. 2, just the fourth opener involving top-five teams and the first pitting teams ranked in the preseason top three.
Southern California, which finished last season on a nine-game winning streak and No. 3 in the country, starts at No. 4. Defending national champion Clemson begins the post-Deshaun Watson era at No. 5. Florida State received four first- place votes, Ohio State got three and USC two.
The one bit of bad news for Alabama? The Tide has failed to win the national championship the three previous times it was preseason No. 1 under Saban.
The last team to start and finish No. 1 was USC in 2004, and the Trojans were ranked No. 1 the following season — the last team to do it before this year.