GOOD KNIGHT

Backed by Nike owner’s millions

T. Boone Pickens subsidizes Oklahoma State’s athletic program to the tune of hundreds of millions. At Maryland, Under Armour owner Kevin Plank recently gave $25 million to go toward a redo of Cole Field House.

It may not come as a coincidence that Under Armour is also taking nibbles out of Nike’s dominance in the collegesponsorship apparel market. Two years ago, Nike sponsored 48 of the 68 teams in March Madness, according to Sports Business Daily. This year, it’s 40. Under Armour is also making a debut of sorts at the Final Four, as apparel maker for South Carolina, which has both its men’s and women’s team in the title hunt.

But Nike has been in this business since it began, and has been pumping money into Oregon’s programs throughout the 2000s.

In 2001, Oregon reset the template on how to market a Heisman Trophy candidate, while also increasing its national profile, by spending $250,000 to splash quarterback Joey Harrington’s likeness on a 10-story billboard in Times Square. “Joey Heisman,” the sign read. From there, things only got bigger.

Among Knight’s investments were $30 million toward renovating the scoreboard at Autzen Stadium, $41.7 million for an academic center for athletes and $68 million toward a new football training facility.

“For the most part, the scholarships at these schools are all the same, they cover the same elements of someone’s life,” said Dan Rascher, director of academic programs for the Sport Management Program at University of San Francisco. “It can be hard to differentiate. So all these little things end up becoming important.”

They add up to big things, and the arena is one of the best-outfitted in the country. Opened in 2011, it cost $227 million and stood as the most expensive on-campus arena in the United States. The details are painstaking: The lettering on the marquee spells out “Matt” — “in a Japanese-inspired Torii gate shape,” according to the arena website.

There’s artwork outside the arena and fan-tribute displays on the concourse.

The floor, emblazoned with the “Matt” logo set above the words “Deep in the Woods” is designed with the silhouette of a Pacific Coast tree line, in honor of Oregon’s 1939 title team, known as The Tall Firs .

A few years ago at a basketball game, Oregon held “Uncle Phil Appreciation Night” for Knight’s 76th birthday.

Maybe they can hold another one at the Final Four, too. −AP

AP Nike owner Phil Knight has donated hundreds of millions to Oregon’s athletic department across all sports, including the $227 million basketball arena named after his son, Matt, who died in 2004.