This university announced a 10-year contract extension with Under Armour on Tuesday morning that will keep the apparel company as the outfitter for Terrapins athletics through the 2023-24 school year.
Under Armour, owned by alumnus Kevin Plank, has generated national headlines over the past several seasons by providing the Terps with bold, flashy uniforms. And the company continued that trend by unveiling new ensembles Tuesday.
“The University of Maryland is an integral part of Under Armour’s history, culture and identity,” Matt Mirchin, Under Armour’s executive vice president said through the release. “We look forward to continuing this remarkable partnership over the next decade and beyond, outfitting the Terrapin student-athletes and fans in the most innovative performance gear in the market.”
The Terps will wear Under Armour’s latest creation, a Star Spangled Banner-inspired uniform that has the lyrics to this country’s national anthem emblazoned on the gold helmets and white and gold jerseys, during Saturday’s game against West Virginia at Byrd Stadium.
The release of the getups and news of the contract extension come on the heels of a busy summer for the Terrapins athletic department. After officially moving from the ACC to the Big Ten on July 1, the Terps announced a unique degree guarantee program in August.
Kevin Plank has been a visible supporter of the university through each move and Tuesday’s news ensures that he’ll maintain significant ties with the athletic department for the foreseeable future.
“We are excited to continue our outstanding partnership with Under Armour as we usher in a new era of Maryland athletics,” Athletic Director Kevin Anderson said in the release. “Kevin Plank and his entire team have been strong supporters of our athletic programs and our student-athletes who proudly don the Under Armour brand.”
The Washington Post reported that the contract extension is worth roughly $33 million, an expansion from the original contract between the school and athletic apparel giant signed in 2008 that was worth $17.5 million.
“To have Under Armour here being a staple, I think it’s a good fit,” Terps quarterback C.J. Brown said. “Kevin Plank’s done a wonderful job growing the brand. To have a staple institution like the University of Maryland, it’s huge for us and it’s huge for the company.”
The Star Bangled Banner uniforms Under Armour created for the Terps bout with the Mountaineers serve as a nod to 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry. The image on the side of the gold helmet on the uniforms is in the shape of Fort McHenry and coated with America-flag styled stars and stripes.
Terps football coach Randy Edsall mentioned Tuesday it was fitting that the unique jerseys were released the same day the partnership with Under Armour was extended.
The Star Spangled Banner jerseys, Edsall claimed, epitomize how Under Armour’s presence helps attract attention to his program.
“To have them being a partner with us and helping us with our branding and with the things we want to do to market and to develop our program is very, very special,” Edsall said.
Many pundits also see the Terps’ relationship with Under Armour, which is headquartered in Baltimore, as a potential recruiting tool. Brown said the apparel company’s proximity to and involvement with the Terps athletic programs helps draw interest from top-tier high school prospects.
Tight end Andrew Issacs disagreed, though he did mentioned Tuesday that the Terps’ uniforms for Saturday “look sweet.”
“It’s a plus, but it’s not necessarily what you come to school for,” Issacs said of the Terps’ contract with Under Armour. “Anybody that tells you they come to school for the jerseys is lying to you. You come to a school to a place where you feel you can grow academically and can grow on the field.”
Inisde linebacker L.A. Goree touched on both points while speaking with the media Tuesday in the Tyser Tower press area at Byrd Stadium. In the end, after showering praise on the Star Spangled Banner outfits, the senior couldn’t help but point out that Under Armour’s role at this university makes the Terps football team enticing for young athletes.
“It’s like something you see at a candy store that you always wanted,” Goree said while eyeing a mannequin in the corner of the room that showcased the Terps’ latest uniforms. “It definitely sparks interest.”
