Jan. 10, 2004

Press Conference Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland athletics department and Under Armour announced Saturday an agreement in which Under Armour will become the "Exclusive Official Outfitter of Maryland Football."

Under Armour was founded by former Terrapin football player Kevin Plank and is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. In 2003, the company ranked as the second fastest growing privately-held company in the United States on Inc. Magazine's Inc. 500 list and received Sporting Goods Business' "Apparel Supplier of the Year" award for the third consecutive year. Under Armour is the original microfiber, moisture-wicking apparel.

The five-year contract, which includes two one-year renewal options, is valued at $520,000 annually, including $200,000 in sponsorship payments, $195,000 in apparel and footwear allowance, and an average of $125,000 in marketing support for Maryland football. The football team will purchase its footwear from a third party, since Under Armour does not currently produce footwear.

"We have great respect for the Under Armour corporation," said Deborah A. Yow, the director of athletics at Maryland. "Their apparel is first-class in quality and we respect their determination to maximize every opportunity to succeed, which is a value shared by the Terrapin Football program. In addition, our partnership creates unique marketing opportunities for unprecedented national exposure for Maryland Football."

Terrapin fans will be able to enjoy Under Armour with a line of merchandise and fan accessories, including player jerseys, hats, team jackets and more. Fan merchandise will be available in a variety of on- and off-campus locations throughout the region, including the Terrapin Team Store at Comcast Center, which is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

"Kevin has been tremendously supportive of Maryland football and we appreciate his commitment to our program," said Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen. "We feel our program has grown in stature and national prominence, and Under Armour will enable us to provide our student-athletes and staff with the best equipment and apparel currently available on the market. We feel the new Under Armour uniforms will provide us with a competitive advantage on the field."

The University of Maryland football team, which finished 10-3 following a 41-7 victory over West Virginia in the 2004 Toyota Gator Bowl, is one of only five NCAA Division I-A football programs to have won 10 games over each of the past three seasons.

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Release by Under Armour

With the pending Atlantic Coast Conference expansion on the horizon, Under Armour Performance Apparel and the University of Maryland jointly announced Saturday that the performance apparel company will be the Division I-A football team's exclusive uniform provider, which will include fan apparel and accessories, beginning with the 2004-2005 season. The five-year contract, which includes two one-year renewal options, is the latest in a series of major successes for the eight-year-old, Baltimore-based company, and reemphasizes both organizations' commitment and dedication to improving performance for athletes.

Now ranked as the second fastest growing privately held company in the United States on the Inc. 500, Under Armour had its humble beginnings on the University of Maryland football field when the company's founder and president Kevin Plank, at the time the Terps' special teams captain, realized the need for a T-shirt that wouldn't retain moisture. Poised to enter the team uniform outfitting market, the decision of where Plank's company would make that debut was simple.

"Under Armour is returning to the field where performance apparel began, and with Maryland as a powerhouse team that has consistently proven its dedication to improving performance, we are confident that this is a winning match," commented Plank. "Coach Friedgen and Athletics Director Debbie Yow continue to take this team to new levels, and that commitment combined with Under Armour's ability to respond to each and every players' needs from here in Baltimore provides the extra advantage to Maryland players that will help them continue on this road to glory."

For the University of Maryland, this agreement is next in a series of notable achievements and is yet another example of the school's commitment, under the direction of athletic director Debbie Yow and coach Ralph Friedgen, to stay ahead of competitors by creating a program supported by the most innovative technology on the market. Coach Friedgen, a strong proponent of the new technologies available to football programs, is responsible for the school's growth from five digital video stations to its current 28 during the past three years.

"We are pleased to join forces with Under Armour to improve the performance of our football players," commented Yow. "We look forward to seeing first-hand the performance benefits that Under Armour at every layer will bring to our players next season and are confident that, as our program continues its ongoing success, this will serve to further propel us to the next level."

Composed of a more technical fabric than players have used in the past, Under Armour's uniform product will be lightweight and include technologically advanced stretch properties that add flexibility and maneuverability. In addition, the uniforms will feature Under Armour's signature compression factor, making it difficult for opponents to grab during attempted tackles. Terps fans will also be able to enjoy Under Armour on all layers with a line of fan accessories including player jerseys, hats, team jackets and more. Fan accessories will be available in a variety of on and off-campus locations throughout the region.

The deal means more national exposure for Under Armour with the imminent expansion of the ACC. As one of only five teams nationally, and the only team in the ACC, to have achieved 10-plus wins for each of the past three years, the outfitting contract comes at a time when the University of Maryland will enjoy more primetime television exposure against other football powerhouses now to include Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College. The deal translates to more visibility for Under Armour at a time when overall exposure will receive a boost given the conference expansion.

"This partnership gives Under Armour a new arena to showcase the fact that we have extensive capabilities well beyond the base layer," commented Bill Kraus, Under Armour's vice president of sports marketing. "Through the relationships that we have formed with top NFL and college football players, and from our own backgrounds as players, we realized a need for uniforms with improved technological components. We knew that we could meet this challenge and look forward to utilizing our unique product to deliver a lighter, more flexible uniform offering exceptional performance benefits."

About Under Armour (www.underarmour.com)

Founded in 1996, Under Armour is the originator of performance apparel, a line of moisture-wicking microfiber clothing that pulls perspiration away from the skin to keep athletes cool, dry and light throughout the course of a game, practice or workout. The official supplier of performance apparel to Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Hockey League, USA Baseball and the US Ski Team, Under Armour is also worn by players on 30 NFL teams and more than 100 Division I-A college football programs. Under Armour is available at more than 4,500 locations worldwide including most major sporting goods stores including Champs, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gart Sports, Galyan's Trading Company, Hibbett Sports, Modell's and The Sports Authority, and through its web site www.underarmour.com and Eastbay catalog.

In 2003, Under Armour was named the second-fastest growing privately held company by Inc. Magazine, was listed among Fast Company's "Fast 50", and received Sporting Goods Business' Apparel Supplier of the Year" award. Additionally, the company was ranked number 87 on ESPN's Top 100 List for 2003, which highlighted the year's most newsworthy sports personalities, moments, trends, games and stories. Under Armour has achieved average sales growth of 250 percent per year since its inception and exceeded $115 million in sales in 2003. Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Under Armour employs more than 250 people.

About the University of Maryland Football Program

The University of Maryland football team, which finished this past season 10-3 following a victory over West Virginia in the 2004 Toyota Gator Bowl, is one of only five schools to have won 10 games over each of the past three seasons. Under Friedgen, the Terrapins are 31-8 over the last three years and have played in the Orange, Peach and Gator Bowls.

The excitement surrounding Maryland football has hit fans and alumni throughout the region. In 2003, Maryland drew at least 50,000 fans to Byrd Stadium for all six of its home games, the first time in school history that many people have attended football games at Maryland.