July 26, 2000
Corporate America underwrites a lot of professional sports, but for the first time ever, a national sponsor has signed a Utah high school team.
The Mountain View High School Girls' basketball team landed a deal with Adidas that could pave the way for other schools.
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer has the story.
There's Michael Jordan and Gatorade.
Track star Marion Jones and GMC.
And now the latest corporate partnership with a sports franchise:
The Mountain View Bruins
and Adidas.
Part of what landed the lucrative contract is their
impressive record, five of the last six state titles.
Danielle Cheesman/Mountain View High School: "OUR PRACTICES, WE TRY TO BE AS INTENSE AS WE CAN."
The other factor was their impressive coach,
just inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame as the winningest coach in America.
Forty-nine state championships in all.
Dave Houle/Head Coach, Mountain View H.S.: "I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO COACH FIVE TEAMS TO A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SAME YEAR."
Nadine Wimmer, Education Specialist: "THE SPONSORSHIP COVERS EVERYTHING THESE GIRLS NEED TO PLAY THEIR SPORT-- THE BAG, SHOES, SOCKS, SWEATS, JERSEYS, EVEN THE NYLON WARMUPS. WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP, IT PROBABLY SAVES THE GIRLS, THEIR PARENTS AND THE DISTRICT $1,000 A PLAYER."
Rebecca Roberts/Mountain View High School: "I THINK IT HELPS US A LOT BECAUSE WE WALK A LITTLE TALLER, WE FEEL LIKE WE REPRESENT SOMETHING."
The coach's concerns about student athletes turning into corporate billboards don't overshadow the benefits to students and their parents.
"NOWADAYS, EVERYTHING THAT KIDS WEAR IS A NAMEBRAND. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT IS. I SAY, WHY PAY FOR IT IF YOU CAN GET IT FREE."
The coach hopes other strong high school teams can benefit from a contract that was once reserved
for the pros.
Neither players nor coaches get actual payment for this sponsorship.
Incidentally, the coach is now reviewing an offer from Nike.
