Jersey Patch Brands for Michigan Athletics

Ohio State just took $17 million from Chase. Michigan hasn't announced anything. Here's who they should call.

In the modern age of college football, programs are adopting jersey patches yet Michigan is still behind. For many fans, this will mark a final nail in the coffin for the old age of college sports. For others, they'll see it as a new possibility for NIL and facilities to improve in Ann Arbor. In this article, we'll cover the brands I believe make the most sense for the Wolverines.

Ford

Already having a major downtown sports arena in Detroit (whatever team that is), Ford has long been a symbol of not just Michigan but all of America. Headquartered in Dearborn, putting this patch on a Michigan jersey would feel more like an extension to both brands rather than an advertisement.

Unless you aren't too acquainted with the University's history, you know that former US President Gerald Ford also played for the Wolverines, although he actually had no connection to Ford Motor Company. The good news for Michigan in pursuing this deal would be that Ford already invests heavily in sports in the State, with a patch simply making this relationship more visual. The bad news may be that Ford may not want to choose "sides" between other programs in the state.

Visual: 10/10

"Michigan-ness": 9/10

Probability: 7/10

Meijer

I don't think you'll meet a single Michigan fan who would disagree with this one. In all honesty, I don't live in an area with a Meijer, so I don't truly understand Michiganders' fascination with this store, but I've definitely been made aware of it.

Founded in Michigan and still headquartered in the Grand Rapids area, the Meijer chain is woven into the daily life of people across the state. The chain is already a proud sponsor of many youth sports, community facilities, and regional athletics. The pros of this adaptation would be that it, like Ford, would feel like a personal connection rather than strictly business.

The biggest issue with this deal would be the aesthetics. Meijer would either need to adopt a blue or maize logo for the patch or Michigan would have to accept a tad bit of red on their jersey, something I'm not sure either side would be willing to agree to.

Visual: 5/10

"Michigan-ness": 10/10

Probability: 7.5/10

Domino's

This one is definitely the more humorous and impractical of the three. Not for Domino's being unreachable or anything like that, but could you imagine the flak Michigan would get for just the existence of this patch?

The relatability is there, as Domino's was founded in Ypsilanti, basically Ann Arbor's back yard, by Tom Monaghan. There's also the fact that former Domino's CEO David Brandon served as Michigan's Athletic Director (although, that did not last long.)

The overall vibe and look just doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't seem to fit with any way you picture it and unless it was a maize and blue Domino (which in all honesty may be cool) this would never work.

Visual: 2/10

"Michigan-ness": 7/10

Probability: 3/10

Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage, formerly Quicken Loans, would bring a lot of financial capability as well as another household name. It would be a modern, high-profile financial partner that may check all of the boxes for the University.

Other than my own personal preference, I really can't think of a negative here for this deal. It also seems to match recent transactions as most deals thus far have gone to financial institutions like the Chase Bank deal with OSU. If I did have to find a negative, it would be the Cavs and the Cavs alone.

Visual: 7/10

"Michigan-ness": 9/10

Probability: 8.5/10

Honorable Mentions

Chevrolet

Carhartt

Kellogg's

Absolutely Not

Little Caesar's (I don't like eating cardboard)