UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Friday, March 15, 1996 5A EQUIPMENT: Companies fight for contracts Continued from Page 1A "What they think is. Where are the most amount of people going to see my shoes?" he said. "Why buy advertising on Seinfeld, which costs about $900,000 for a thirty-second spot, when they can invest a smaller amount of money into a team and watch their product get advertised up and down the court?" The advertising results linger long after the sporting event. "Somebody takes a shot of somebody crossing the finishing line and that goes into Sports Illustrated. Well there's their advertising. There's their promotion," Grimm said. Bush said the promotion, advertising and investments did pay off. "When we took over Bobby Knight at Indiana, stores would be coming to us asking for more of our shoes. They wanted what was hot, what would sell," he said. "If we pulled out of Kansas, we would see a dramatic decrease in sales in Kansas." Will Walburn, manager of Jock's Nitch, 840 Mass., agreed with that assessment. "We do carry more Converse models because the basketball team wears them," he said. "The kids mostly will come in and want what the team wears." Walburn said Nike dominated sales but. Converse would probably be cut back if Kansas were to disassociate themselves with Converse. Kansas men's basketball has had a contract with Converse since Roy Williams came to Kansas in 1988. Once a coach since, he did it. "Ifsomeone else If someone else was going to offer me, say, $20,000 to wear their equipment, I can't say I'd turn it down." Once a coach signs a deal, the Lorl Walker Lori Walker Kansas women's soccer coach whole team must be outfitted with what that corporation is contracted to give, even if a certain athlete doesn't want to wear that particular product. product. That's not an uncommon occurrence, Levins said. "A player would be allowed to wear a different brand, provided that brand's trademark is blackened out so you couldn't tell." she said. The National Collegiate Athletic Association washes its hands of any coaches' deals. Steve Mallone, the director of legislative services for the NCAA, said that there were certain guidelines teams must follow. "Athletes aren't allowed to get anything directly," he said. "The corporations can provide the goods only to an institution that's necessary for purposes of competition." coach and the institutions' CEO. Mallone said coaches' contracts with corporations were between the "That is an issue of institutional control," he said. "They have to have in their contract approval with their CEO." University General Counsel Victoria Thomas said any member of the University who had any contract outside the institution had to inform the council. "We probably review athletic contracts a couple of times a month," she said. Washington said the contracts did more than supplement income or clothe the athletes. They save money on the team's budget. "Whenever we get the chance, we need to do anything we can to help sports budgets," she said. "That money can be used to purchase new equipment or balls. It helps for travel expenses." Nike's deals allow their coaches to go elsewhere to purchase anything that Nike isn't contracted to give the team. Washington doesn't see a problem with the commercialization that has invaded sports. "When we start identifying with beer or something that may be a conflict with what we promote — that will be a problem," she said. Walker does have a deal with Adidas, but she Athletic teams at Kansas constantly are courted by athletic shoe and equipment manufacturers, who provide them with uniforms, shoes and other supplies. But not all coaches at Kansas can swing such a sweet deal. Lori Walker, the coach of Kansas' first women's soccer team, said the opportunities afforded to high-profile sports weren't available to upstart or non-revenue sports such as soccer. receives no financial compensation and all the equipment must be returned at the end of the season. "There is an agreement between them and myself where we'll wear only their equipment at get it at a discounted rate," Walker said. "Addidas is a major supporter of college soccer. But they don't financially support programs. Everybody else is in a similar situation." A little something for everybody But Walker, who has been using Adidas' equipment throughout her collegiate career, said she would consider jumping companies if a better offer came along. "if someone else was going to offer me, say. $20,000 to wear the equi- Noah Musser/KANSAN ment, I can't say I'd turn it down," she said. "But soccer's not at that level yet. It's not quite basketball." Grimm said the competi-
TeamCorporation Itemsfree or discountCoachStipend
Men's BasketballConverseapparel/ equipmentfreeRoy Williamsyes
Women's BasketballNikeapparel/ equipmentfreeMarian Washingtonyes
BaseballConverse/Eastonapparel/ equipmentdiscountBobby Randall(Converse) no(Easton) yes
TennisWilsonrackets depending on rankingfreeMichael CenterChuck Merzbacherno
FootballNikeapparel/ equipmentfreeGlen Masonyes
VolleyballMizzonuBadenapparel/ equipmentdiscountKaren Schonewise(Mizzonu) no(Baden) yes
SwimmingSpeedowarmups/suitsdiscountGary Kempfno
TrackEtonictraining flatsdiscountGary Schwartzno
Crewno affiliation--Rob Catloth-
SoccerAdidasapparel/ equipmentdiscountLori Walkerno
That is a problem for Felix Moos, KU professor of anthropology. Gunn said the competition was so fierce between the corporations that money, more than the quality of the equipment, became the most important factor. "The two highest paid people are the football coach and the basketball coach," he said. "Then they get all this extra money and nobody questions this. Shouldn't somebody ask the question why this goes on?" "The coaches don't have a loyalty," he said. "It's a money deal. Do you think if Nike said to Roy Williams, 'We're going to double what Converse is giving you,' that he would stay with Converse?" While Moos may oppose the finances of the contract, Washington, Williams and Mason aren't the highest salaried faculty members at the University. Moos said he was not against the coaches or any faculty supplementing their income. He has been paid for his work as an expert witness and overseas consultant. But it is the amount of money the coaches receive with which he has a problem. Coaches like Washington, Williams and Glen Mason already make a six-figure salary. Throw in the shoe contracts and these coaches quickly become some of the highest paid people at the University. "I'm all for sports, I like sports," he said. "But it's just another example f placing them on a higher pedestal. I mean, the top professors make,what, $60,000 or so. Something's not right about that." According to the University budget for fiscal year 1995, however, at least 10 professors make more than $100,000 in salary. Joseph Reitz, KU professor in business ethics, said he didn't see an ethical problem for the coaches to take the money. It was not a fair argument to say the coaches got everything while the players got nothing. "The players get the benefit of being coached by people like Roy Williams and Glen Mason," he said. "If they couldn't supplement their pay, they'd probably be in the pros by now." "When we start identifying with beer or something that may be a conflict with what we promote that will be a problem." Marlain Washington Kansas women's basketball coach Reitz said opponents of coaches' contracts shouldn't be angry them. "That's not the school's fault and it isn't the coaches fault," he said. "Their problem should lie with the NCAA. They're the ones who make it difficult for the student to prosper financially while they're in school. Coaches are just doing what they have every right to do." Washington has resigned herself to knowing that collegiate sports is more than just the competition on the court. "It's gotten to be a business," she said. "I think sometimes there's more competition between the companies than on the court." NATH DAI WAV *820-822 MASS. *841-0100* ● NATURAL FIBER CLOTHING Co-Sponsored by the KU Western Civilization program A made-to-order, oven-baked Quizno's classic sub is a culinary masterpiece that just might be the best sandwich you'll ever eat. And now there's a Quizno's near you. So, whether you want to dine-in or take-out, hurry in and join our Grand Opening celebration - and be the first to try the best Quiznos Eat. Be Happy. ©1995 The Quizno's Corporation