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Georgia Tech News: Tech to move on from Russell Athletics following 2018

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Oct 15, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets mascot Buzz photobombs a shot during the second half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets mascot Buzz photobombs a shot during the second half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports /
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The long relationship between Georgia Tech and Russell Athletics appears to be coming to an end according to Ken Sugiura of myAJC.com.

Russell Athletic is losing one of their last remaining schools that they supply gear too. According to AJC’s Georgia Tech beat writer Ken Sugiura, the school is looking to move on from the apparel company following the end of their contract in 2018.

The school has been in contact with Addidas, Nike, and Under Armour about potential future contracts according to Sugiura’s article. That being said, the must needed change should only be a boost to the atmosphere surrounding Georgia Tech for recruits.

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In the modern day recruiting age, recruits are “obsessed” with the look of uniforms and a change to one of three should result in much needed recruiting boost. While each school independently comes up with the decisions to create new uniform ideas, the ideas are endless when it comes to Georgia Tech.

A look at Oregon and Maryland are just two examples of how far uniform combinations can go. That being said, Georgia Tech will most likely elect for a potential “special” uniform once or twice per year and not go overboard as Oregon and Maryland seem to do.

Both Oregon and Maryland, however, have seen recruiting boosts since their extravagant uniform combinations made their debuts.

Here’s a great piece from 2013 on how uniforms have such an effect on recruiting and how much they truly matter. For some schools like Alabama and Penn State, going with their classic looks is what fits best for each program. That is a decision Tech AD Todd Stansbury will have to make a decision, go with the classic look or look to add a new flare to Tech’s uniforms.

Outside of Georgia Tech, one has to question how much longer Russell Athletics may be around. The apparel company formed in 1902 in Bowling Green, Kentucky has lost a majority of the college programs they use to supply too and only have a handful remaining. Earlier this year, it was announced that Russell Athletic would no longer be sponsoring a bowl game. The company used to be the apparel supplier of two-thirds of all NFL

teams, all MLB teams, as well as Auburn, Coastal Carolina, and Washington State.

Once the Jackets leave for a new company, Russell Athletic will be down to eight colleges (one FBS – Southern Miss), the Harlem Globetrotters, the Arena Football League, and the Little League World Series. Time may be ticking for the 115-year old company.