State of Ohio vs. State of Nike: The recruiting foundations for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks
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on January 07, 2015 at 7:00 AM, updated January 07, 2015 at 12:30 PM
national championship game
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio State football player from the state of Ohio scoffed at the idea that innovative uniform combinations or Nike apparel could ever play a major part in a prospect's recruiting decision.
But when he stood up from behind the table at which he was sitting, he was wearing Nike "jogger" sweatpants and a pair of retro Air Jordan XII Breds, the shoe Michael Jordan wore in the famous flu game in the 1997 NBA Finals.
Sick J's, Bro.
Those shoes – ones that cost $250 or more because they can only be found on the aftermarket – explained perfectly why Oregon is what it is today, how the Ducks, despite being at a 40-8 disadvantage to Ohio State in terms of in-state scholarship players on its roster, are set to face the Buckeyes in the National Championship.
"I think in our generation, they love uniforms," said Ohio State receiver Devin Smith, not the player from above. "I think with Oregon having so many combinations, that's the catch to want to go to Oregon."
Ohio State and Oregon have built national title-caliber rosters differently.
View full sizeMarcus Mariota and Oregon have won consistently. And they've looked good doing it.
The Buckeyes recruit nationally, but only after loading every class with elite prospects from the state of Ohio. That gives Urban Meyer, who signed 33 in-state prospects the last three years, a healthy foundation, and thus more freedom for risk. And reward.
Oregon has signed seven total prospects from its home state the last three years, which means their entire roster is built with prospects the Ducks had to recruit nationally. That doesn't mean Oregon doesn't have an in-state foundation, it just happens to be that Nike Swoosh every kid wants to have on their shoes.
"Every school has their niche, and God bless Oregon for finding their niche," Meyer said. "That's a huge part of it, man, their new uniforms, the stuff."
Let's not pretend the only reason Oregon can recruit is because of Nike apparel. The Ducks run one of the most exciting offenses in the country, have perhaps the best facilities in the country and have taken over as the premier program in the Pac 12. They win.
But that Swoosh, Bro. It works.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's Buckeyes wore alternate uniforms in their College Football Playoff semifinal win over Alabama. They'll wear alternates again vs. Oregon in the title game.
Why else would Meyer mimic it? Ohio State wore alternate uniforms in the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Alabama, and it'll wear other alternates again vs. the Ducks. Meyer has actually been a proponent of bending tradition in favor of recruiting.
"A proponent?" Meyer asked back. That word didn't sit well with him, so he clarified that he isn't trying to push Ohio State into a new world of flashy alternate uniforms.
So fine, Meyer isn't a proponent of alternate uniforms like the ones Ohio State will wear vs. Oregon. But obviously he's just fine with wearing them.
"That's a big difference," Meyer joked.
The reason Meyer was so eager to make sure the question didn't just slide is because tradition means everything at Ohio State, spanning from everything to pregame ritual to the colors of the sleeves on the Buckeyes' jerseys. It's that tradition that in-state prospects grow up loving and part of the reason Ohio State is borderline unbeatable for those desirable Ohio prospects.
Make no mistake, though. When it comes to recruiting, Meyer will sell what he knows prospects want to hear. And that means talking Nike gear, cool uniforms and the chance to look good while winning.
"We listen. We're big Nike people here, as well and when they bring something to the table," Meyer said. "It's hard to say no."
Of course Oregon uses it to its advantage. It's a way to overcome being forced to recruit nationally without a stable of in-state prospects. Meyer knows how much of a challenge that is because of his experience at Utah, a state that had talented players, "but not enough" to survive on.
The Ducks, situated in the shadow of Nike headquarters in Beaverton, host visitors from California, Texas, Arizona and everywhere else and rolls out the red carpet of gear. Need an example? That's what helped land former four-star wide receiver Dwayne Stanford of Cincinnati Taft over Ohio State. His close friend and former teammate, Adolphus Washington, didn't take an official visit to Oregon.
"I didn't want to cloud my mind," Washington said. "I already knew what I was going to do. They were going to bring out all this gear and all this stuff. (I said), 'Naw, I'm good.' I knew where I wanted to go."
The Swoosh, Bro. It works.
Now there's a national title game that's going to feature two teams with alternate jerseys. Oregon's don't even have its team colors in the ones it'll wear.
Oregon is in its own world, but the power of Nike isn't lost on Meyer, especially when he takes recruiting trips.
"I bring pictures and all that – act like I like it," said Meyer, who said earlier this year that Ohio State could maybe wear black uniforms one day.
"I become a proponent of it."
Don't worry, Urban, everyone is coming
But when he stood up from behind the table at which he was sitting, he was wearing Nike "jogger" sweatpants and a pair of retro Air Jordan XII Breds, the shoe Michael Jordan wore in the famous flu game in the 1997 NBA Finals.
Sick J's, Bro.
Those shoes – ones that cost $250 or more because they can only be found on the aftermarket – explained perfectly why Oregon is what it is today, how the Ducks, despite being at a 40-8 disadvantage to Ohio State in terms of in-state scholarship players on its roster, are set to face the Buckeyes in the National Championship.
"I think in our generation, they love uniforms," said Ohio State receiver Devin Smith, not the player from above. "I think with Oregon having so many combinations, that's the catch to want to go to Oregon."
Ohio State and Oregon have built national title-caliber rosters differently.
View full sizeMarcus Mariota and Oregon have won consistently. And they've looked good doing it. Oregon has signed seven total prospects from its home state the last three years, which means their entire roster is built with prospects the Ducks had to recruit nationally. That doesn't mean Oregon doesn't have an in-state foundation, it just happens to be that Nike Swoosh every kid wants to have on their shoes.
"Every school has their niche, and God bless Oregon for finding their niche," Meyer said. "That's a huge part of it, man, their new uniforms, the stuff."
Let's not pretend the only reason Oregon can recruit is because of Nike apparel. The Ducks run one of the most exciting offenses in the country, have perhaps the best facilities in the country and have taken over as the premier program in the Pac 12. They win.
But that Swoosh, Bro. It works.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's Buckeyes wore alternate uniforms in their College Football Playoff semifinal win over Alabama. They'll wear alternates again vs. Oregon in the title game.
"A proponent?" Meyer asked back. That word didn't sit well with him, so he clarified that he isn't trying to push Ohio State into a new world of flashy alternate uniforms.
So fine, Meyer isn't a proponent of alternate uniforms like the ones Ohio State will wear vs. Oregon. But obviously he's just fine with wearing them.
"That's a big difference," Meyer joked.
The reason Meyer was so eager to make sure the question didn't just slide is because tradition means everything at Ohio State, spanning from everything to pregame ritual to the colors of the sleeves on the Buckeyes' jerseys. It's that tradition that in-state prospects grow up loving and part of the reason Ohio State is borderline unbeatable for those desirable Ohio prospects.
Make no mistake, though. When it comes to recruiting, Meyer will sell what he knows prospects want to hear. And that means talking Nike gear, cool uniforms and the chance to look good while winning.
"We listen. We're big Nike people here, as well and when they bring something to the table," Meyer said. "It's hard to say no."
Of course Oregon uses it to its advantage. It's a way to overcome being forced to recruit nationally without a stable of in-state prospects. Meyer knows how much of a challenge that is because of his experience at Utah, a state that had talented players, "but not enough" to survive on.
The Ducks, situated in the shadow of Nike headquarters in Beaverton, host visitors from California, Texas, Arizona and everywhere else and rolls out the red carpet of gear. Need an example? That's what helped land former four-star wide receiver Dwayne Stanford of Cincinnati Taft over Ohio State. His close friend and former teammate, Adolphus Washington, didn't take an official visit to Oregon.
"I didn't want to cloud my mind," Washington said. "I already knew what I was going to do. They were going to bring out all this gear and all this stuff. (I said), 'Naw, I'm good.' I knew where I wanted to go."
The Swoosh, Bro. It works.
Now there's a national title game that's going to feature two teams with alternate jerseys. Oregon's don't even have its team colors in the ones it'll wear.
Oregon is in its own world, but the power of Nike isn't lost on Meyer, especially when he takes recruiting trips.
"I bring pictures and all that – act like I like it," said Meyer, who said earlier this year that Ohio State could maybe wear black uniforms one day.
"I become a proponent of it."
Don't worry, Urban, everyone is coming
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