Lee’s provided the meat in today’s postings. I’m here for the fluff. Back in February, Pitt filed a lawsuit to get out of a deal with Nike to supply football uniforms and football related merchandise. Here is a comment I made around time of the lawsuit.

Idle thought: wonder whether Addidas, Pitt’s b-ball outfitter, whispered
some numbers in AD Long’s ear.

Looks like I called that one.

One of America’s top collegiate athletic programs will team up with one of the world’s leading sports footwear and apparel companies with the announcement of a new partnership between the University of Pittsburgh and adidas.

Beginning this fall, each of the Panthers’ 19 intercollegiate sports teams will wear adidas footwear, uniforms and apparel, Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long announced today. The Panthers join an outstanding group of schools that have similar agreements with adidas, including Notre Dame, Tennessee, UCLA and Wisconsin. In addition, adidas has a multi-tiered marketing partnership with Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees.

The Panthers’ uniforms, practice gear and footwear will all be provided by adidas. In the
past, the Panthers have had as many as five different suppliers fill the needs that adidas will now exclusively meet. Whereas past Pittsburgh-adidas associations have focused on football and basketball, this new partnership will benefit the Panthers’ entire athletic program.

It’s a 5-year deal, that includes “sponsorship components, product and cash.” The new gear arrives in stores all this month.

UPDATE: The newspapers have the story now. They have a few extra details. It looks like it will be about $1 million in cash per year plus shoes and apparel for the 19 sports programs.

No real explanation, but apparently the Nike lawsuit was settled out of court. Also, there will be slight changes to the football uniforms. According to AD Long, ” there are some subtle changes and the numbers are easier to read from afar.” We’ll see.