National outlet attempts to point out a downside on Tennessee Vols' new deal with Adidas, but it's completely misplaced

"If you're a fan, you know Nike is better than Adidas," Wasserman said. "And now you have to go to your bookstore or your team shop or go online and all your Tennessee gear is gonna be Adidas. That's the biggest drawback of this whole thing. And there might be some people who say 'you're crazy, Nike sucks' or whatever. I don't know if there's a political reason to hate Nike right now. I'm sure there is. But Nike's stuff has just been the best, period."

"Adidas has a checkered history with the apparel and the uniforms," Staples added. "I guess pun intended - checkered, checkerboard end zones, Tennessee. But Adidas has put some historically vaunted programs in some hideous uniforms. Let's take a look at Nebraska, the ones they made them wear a few years ago. That is an abomination. Whoever approved that uniform design should be fired."

"It's not even the design - they don't even fit right," Wasserman responded. "It looks like someone had a bad day learning photoshop (regarding a prior Michigan uniform)."

First, both points are off base. The issue with the fan reaction to buying inferior products is misplaced because Adidas isn't going to be the only game in town selling Tennessee Volunteers apparel. The university has licensing agreements with many companies outside of Adidas and Nike, so fans can still shop in person or online to their hearts' content to find a design or fit that they like.

Next, Tennessee isn't going to have to face that same issue of wearing some of the absolute clown suits that other schools have because they will retain control over the design and look of the uniforms they wear on the field. So, while Adidas will be producing them, they will be made in connection with parameters and discussions from the university, which will only be a good thing for uniforms down the road as compared to the sins of the past at other schools.

As such, it's hard to see the switch over to Adidas as pretty much anything but a benefit for the university and its sports programs - and therefore Vol fans - down the line.