From Garnet to Swoosh: Gamecocks’ Bold Apparel Pivot
South Carolina Athletics has inked a 10-year, $75 million deal with Nike—swapping out Under Armour after more than a decade. The arrangement includes $70 million in product and $5 million in cash, running through 2036. Early previews show jerseys nearly identical to the previous gear but with a noticeably brighter “garnet” hue and the iconic swoosh front and center. Football stars LaNorris Sellers, Nyck Harbor, and Dylan Stewart, along with women’s basketball standouts Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts, have already signed on. Merchy drops today at the campus store, with alternate jerseys and brand integrations (including WNBA champ A’ja Wilson’s line) set to debut this fall at Williams-Brice Stadium against Kent State.
Finally, South Carolina fans can stop squinting at “Under Amour” typos and bask in the glow of NASA-grade garnet. Rumor has it players spent more time picking which swoosh angle best accents their biceps than training. And don’t worry about the cash infusion—apparently $5 million is just pocket change in the world of sneaker royalties. Meanwhile, Jordan Kaye reports the new uniforms look lighter, presumably so referees can spot an errant Gamecock from half the stadium. As always, the real MVP is the merch table, where diehards will line up for a chance to pay top dollar to pretend they’re still in college.
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