Proposal would place all sports apparel under one company

For the fan looking to receive the most authentic replica jersey of their favorite player, a new all-sports apparel deal might put the possibility on the shelves.

By having separate deals in place with separate companies, The University of Memphis is unable to sell jerseys with nothing more than "Memphis" across the front.

U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson announced last week that The University would be sending out requests for proposals to various sports apparel companies - including adidas/Taylomade, Nike and Under Armour - to unite every sports program under one company.

This deal would allow fans to buy an exact replica of Tigers jerseys - both basketball and football.

In addition to putting better merchandise on the shelves, creating a deal with a single company to outfit all of the teams eliminates several problems the athletic department currently has to face with a recent $500,000 budget cut due to cuts in spending in higher education.

Now smaller teams without lucrative contracts to big-name companies can afford uniforms without having to take money from elsewhere in their program.

Currently the men's basketball team is outfitted by Adidas and the football team by Nike, but a deal with a single company would unite them under a "blanket" apparel sponsorship, Johnson said.

A deal with a single company for apparel, would make outfitting each team easier and more cost-efficient, Johnson said.

With the proposals sent, Johnson said he hopes to receive a bid by mid-August. Even though some teams have already sent their orders for apparel from various companies, a deal unifying each team would take effect immediately.

The success of the men's basketball team last year brought about much publicity for The U of M, which Johnson said he hopes will attract big-name companies to offer better bids.

"We're a hot item right now," Johnson said. "We're winning in a lot of our sports and we're on TV a lot."

Head basketball coach John Calipari, whose deal with Adidas is expiring soon, said he's on board for any all-sports bids The U of M might receive.

"This is a great opportunity because all of the money goes to the athletic department," Calipari said. "What we're hoping for is to build up our athletic program, and this is a way to start."

By securing an all-sports apparel deal, The U of M will be the first non-Bowl Campionship Series school to have a contract of that magnitude. That kind of deal would improve both The University and the athletic department, Calipari said.

Calipari's deal with adidas pays him about $225,000 annually, but he isn't worried about taking a hit in pay with an all-sports deal.

"At the end of the day, I know I'll be taken care of. I'm not worried about that," Calipari said. "What I am worried about is making sure the deal we get works for everybody."

Calipari said he hopes this deal will create more opportunities for all of the various U of M sports teams to stand on their own, not just be under the shadow of the basketball team.

"We're hoping these companies will be aggressive with this," Johnson said. Even if they're not, Johnson said he'd be willing to look at any bid that comes his way.

"The way I look at it, if somebody wants to give you a free car, you won't argue with it," Johnson said.