It looks like the day many people in the MEAC finally wished for is here. A source tells HBCU Gameday that the conference has decided to move away from a group apparel deal and will allow schools to negotiate their own deals for uniforms.
The MEAC, like their brethren in the SWAC, CIAA and SIAC have had a group deal with Russell Athletic Apparel for years, providing its schools with uniforms that many alumni and fans weren’t too fond of.
Last winter, the Durham Herald-Sun reported that North Carolina Central was one of the schools that fought to keep a group apparel deal even as Under Armour was thought to be in pursuit of some of the schools in the Maryland area.
“It seems to me there are too many issues within the [MEAC] where the best interests of the conference [are] not a paramount consideration,” NCCU trustee Harold Epps said. “This is just another of those where it doesn’t feel like the conference is taking the best interests of its constituent institutions into play.”
It looks like NCCU, as well as the other institutions are now on their own when it comes to securing deals. More marketable schools like Florida A&M or North Carolina A&T are thought to have an easier time getting deals than others than other schools. Time will tell whether or not that is the case.
But the switch from the group deal should mean that when football season rolls around next year, uniforms won’t look so…well, uniform.
Stay tuned to HBCU Gameday for uniform updates from the MEAC and across the HBCU football world.
This is great news. The teams will have better uniforms and hopefully fans will be able to purchase better apparel. Russell Athletic does a good job with Georgia Tech's uniforms. I am not sure why HBCUs had to wear the same template in different colors. Those baggy basketball jerseys are/were the worst.
HBCUs wore templated uniforms because of the group deal. Basically, Russell said…here are your choices…pick from these patterns. I like that our schools will finslly get a chance to test the waters and improve their own branding. However, without a group deal this may place more stress on our already cash strapped athletic departments.
THANK YOU BASED GOD!
FAMU, Howard, A&T, Central, and possibly Hampton should have no problem getting a good deal. Everyone else is probably in some trouble and will probably stay with Russell.
BCU is in good shape, they get new uniforms every year.
rumors say Hampton is going with UA
It is so time out for the SWAC and Russell. I agree the basketball uniforms are horrible and Russell has proven they cannot compete with Nike, UA and Addidas. Competition is the vein of our capitalism. So letting all the aforementioned apparel companies compete for our green dollars is the way to go. Wake up Duar Sharp Russell has been screwing you and the SWAC for too long.
Yeah the smaller programs an school that don't get as much tv time will find it difficult to get new deals
What you guys will find out is. Even with a UA, Adidas or Nike deal. I bet OUR uniforms won't be made at the same plant as the Big Boys. That will be the issue, QUALITY!!! I can't wait to see how this works out
Please check your win loss records and who plays on TV the most, that's where the deals come from
The SWAC is always behind…..