Kornacki: Jordan-Michigan the Perfect Marriage
8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 3, 2016
• Visit GoBlueHailMichigan.com for more on Nike and Jumpman
By Steve Kornacki
DETROIT, Mich. -- Charles Woodson couldn't stop smiling at the unveiling of the University of Michigan's Jordan Brand and Jumpman uniforms, football cleats and what seemed like an endless array of training apparel.
Woodson won the 1997 Heisman Trophy and national championship wearing Nike and wore it during an 18-year NFL career that will surely land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also was one of a handful of NFL players wearing Jumpman.
So, seeing Wolverine players such as All-America cornerback Jourdan Lewis wearing Nike and Jordan T-shirts, headbands and more Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 2) at the historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant did his heart good.
"It's like we've got our swagger back," he said of the maize and blue swag.
Some ask how the brand of Michael Jordan, considered the greatest player in NBA history by many, and the winningest program in college football history go together. Woodson's theory -- that it's simply a perfect marriage -- hit the nail on the head.
"Jordan is not a basketball brand," Woodson told me. "It's an excellence brand. Jordan was a phenomenal athlete, and his whole thing was about hard work and dedication. To me, that's what the Jumpman is all about.
"Then you think about the history of Michigan and what Michigan represents, and those things marry up together. That's what it's about. So, forget about basketball. Of course, that's what Mike did; he was a champion doing it. But it's about what Mike did to be the champion that marries us up to the Jumpman."
Michigan's and Jordan's passions for hard work and success match up side by side.
Woodson, who said his favorite college game will always be the Rose Bowl victory that clinched the Associated Press national championship and an undefeated season, noted that Nike was all he ever wore as a college or pro defensive back.
"My whole career was Nike," he said. "I was proud to put on the Swoosh, and I'm glad to be a part of it again."
Woodson retired after last season, but his visibility will continue growing after his playing career. He's joining ESPN's "Sunday Countdown" panel and will work the sidelines for "Monday Night Football."
He walked through rows of Model T and other vintage Ford automobiles -- including one he particularly liked painted blue with yellow hubcaps -- after doing a radio interview with another former Michigan All-America and NFL standout, LaMarr Woodley. Then he went up one floor and walked across more wooden plank floors for the press conference that began in the same spot where Henry Ford created his signature auto.
"You are actually standing in the place where a legend was born," said emcee Dana Jacobson, the Michigan graduate who has moved on from ESPN to CBS Sports Radio and also Spike. "I'm talking about the Model T. This is the exact spot where, in 1907, we saw the convergence of ambition and innovation.
"So, it seems very appropriate that we would come back here today and be in the same place to once again see the convergence of ambition and innovation...Michigan strives forever for excellence. It's why we call ourselves 'the leaders and best.' Similarly, the Jordan Brand and the Jumpman logo have come to symbolize greatness. Their athletes around the world are united in their quest to push themselves to their limits to become the best. So, when you put those two icons together, it's no surprise you have a partnership that is forged for greatness."
Larry Miller, president of the Jordan Brand, said the combination of school and brand have "created something really, really powerful" and "ground-shaking."
He told me the project exceeded his own expectations.
"To see this come to reality and how exciting it is with this partnership moving forward, well, it's just hard to find the words for it," Miller said. "I know the greatness Jordan stands for and the greatness Michigan stands for, and to see those two brands together, it just doesn't get any better.
"It's important to know that our logo isn't just about basketball. It's about greatness and overcoming obstacles to accomplish what you want in and out of sports, whether it's football or basketball or whatever the sport happens to be, that desire for greatness doesn't change. That's what the logo represents."
Miller said the brand's experience in creating football gear for "eight to 10" NFL stars such as Woodson, Oakland receiver Michael Crabtree and Seattle free safety Earl Thomas "allowed us to learn how to build a great football cleat" and design football apparel.
Wolverine athletic director Warde Manuel, a teammate of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh 30 years ago, said, "The Jordan Brand represents the best in the business -- the leader in innovation, enabling our student-athletes to perform at the highest level. The Jordan Brand continues the legacy of Michael Jordan, and Michael builds his legacy on the same qualities that we have here at the University of Michigan. The legacy transcends sports, and we are excited to be the first football team in the country to wear Jumpman."
A video showing some of Michigan's greatest players in action -- including Woodson's one-handed interception against Michigan State, punt return touchdown against Ohio State followed by a postgame clenching of a rose in his teeth and Rose Bowl interception against Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf -- was played before the media group made its way to the rows of glass-encased Michigan Jordan Brand gear on mannequin busts and torsos.
Harbaugh was interviewed by Jacobson before the group went through one more door and down another wooden floor passage way to where game uniforms were displayed. "The Victors" played over the sound system, and Harbaugh walked toward them.
His eyes lit up at the sight of them, and I asked for his opinion on the look.
"A-plus-plus-plus!" Harbaugh said with a huge smile creasing his face.
The Jumpman -- a silhouette of Jordan soaring with a ball held high in one hand -- and Swoosh were to the liking of Lewis and teammates Anthony Dalimonte, David Dawson, Khalid Hill, Channing Stribling, Jack Wangler and Michael Wroblewski.
"It's a great feeling to know we're together with an iconic figure like Michael Jordan," said Lewis. "It's a brand not only known in basketball but for how stylish and trendy it is. It's good to see we've kept the tradition in the uniforms while also catering to some things we really like.
"It's a new beginning and a new legacy that Michigan can build up to create legendary moments like we've always had."
