The Fresno State Bulldogs are teaming up with Nike’s research associates to redesign the university’s presentation on the basis of apparel. The purpose? To lure high school recruits.
Fresno State H.C. Tim DeRuyter on partnering with Nike and what it means to future recruits:
“They’re going to be designing and putting together new stuff for next year. They have a design team that kind of plans out for the year uniform combinations and who you play. That’s something way beyond my artistic scale, but they’ll be working with us and those are the kinds of things that are exciting for recruits.”
“It’s kind of like the Internet and social media. Everything is always moving forward and if you don’t keep up with it, you’re going to get left behind. And for kids these days, I think it’s because it’s such a visual generation and everything is on their phones, looking cool in a uniform has become important to guys. It may not be important to 50-year-old guys who coach, but if it’s important to the 17- and 18-year-old guys who you recruit, then it better be important to you.”
In 2014, Fresno State unveiled their new uniform kits, joining the chrome helmet trend and ditching the flat, alfredo-white colors from 2013 in lieu of a dimmer shade of blue and a blood orange tint of red.
Since the induction into the program in 2012, head coach Deruyter remains winless in bowl game appearances (two Hawaii Bowls, Las Vegas Bowl) and recorded just one slot in the AP Top 25 in 2013 (11-2).
During the 2013 season, Fresno State – a member of the Mountain West – relied on its field general Derek Carr (453 completions, 50 TD, 8 INT) and partner-in-crime, WR Davante Parker (131 receptions, 1,718 yards, 24 TD), to make up for a lackluster 2012 season.
Following 2013, on the other hand, proved a tumultuous campaign for the program after finishing the season at 6-8 and wrapping up their post-season with a 30-6 loss to Rice (yes, Rice) in the Hawaii Bowl.
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