Tulane to Unveil Special Jersey for LSU Game this Saturday on ESPN2
Sep 26, 2007 | Football
Sept. 26, 2007
New Orleans - The Tulane Green Wave football team will unveil a special road "white" jersey for this Saturday's home game against second-ranked LSU as part of a partnership with LSU and Nike in an effort to assist the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in New Orleans. The nationally-televised contest from the Louisiana Superdome will kick-off at 11 a.m. ESPN2.
Both the Tulane and LSU football programs are sponsored by Nike, and the uniforms will feature a special pelican emblem designed by Nike. The Pelican emblem is a tribute to the state bird and stylistically resembles the Phoenix, a symbol of the City's rebirth. The emblem will be one of several new additions to Nike's Tulane and LSU products, which will be on sale at the game and in select retail locations throughout the U.S. Proceeds from the sale of this product will go towards The Greater New Orleans Foundation to support Nike's Let Me Play initiative and help rebuild New Orleans through sport.
"Tulane is pleased to collaborate with LSU in this effort with Nike," Tulane Director of Athletics Rick Dickson said. "The significance of both teams competing in road uniforms serves as a reminder to all of that time of disruption in so many lives, and the pelican logo shows the continued efforts to rise above it. Tulane and LSU have been catalysts in leading our communities to overcome the significant challenges to date, and we're thankful to Nike in joining with both universities in their recognition and participation."
Tulane will wear the limited-edition jerseys for all road games for the remainder of this season as a show of support for the City of New Orleans and continued Katrina Relief. An auction site has been established by Tulane Athletics (www.TulaneGreenWave.com) and this special set of jerseys will be auctioned off with a portion of the proceeds being donate to the recovery effort.
The limited-edition Tulane products will be sold on game day, select retail locations, the Green Wave Sports Shop in the Wilson Athletic Center and online at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
The Tulane-LSU game will also feature an athletic shoe recycling event co-sponsored by New Orleans Department of Sanitation and NIKE. Fans can bring their athletic shoes of any brand (No sandals, thongs, pumps, dress shoes, or boots. No metal pieces on shoes such as eyelets, zippers, cleats, or spikes) and drop them in special bins at the Superdome entrances for recycling. Shoes collected during this large-scale recycling effort will go towards the refurbishment of courts at four New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) facilities: Sam Bonart, Taylor playground, Stallings-Gentilly and the St. Bernard Center. Nike will expand its collection sites to include Niketowns, Nike Factory stores and several retail partners in 36 US cities beginning October 1, 2007.
"Through the donation of old, worn-out sneakers, children and families across the country can do a simple thing to help rebuild the devastated Gulf Coast region," said Chad Boettcher, Nike corporate responsibility director. "Nike is part of this community, and this is just one of many projects we're implementing across the country to help the citizens of New Orleans rebuild."
"We know there is still much work to be done to help bring sport back to New Orleans," said Sandy Pressley, general manager of Nike's southern region. "We hope the community here in New Orleans, and across the country will help come out and support us through this ReUse-a-Shoe collection."
About Let Me Play
Let Me Play - Nike's new signature community effort - will expand the company's commitment to sports and physical fitness for youth through the recognition that by playing sports, young people can make themselves, their communities and their world better. In additional to building surfaces for play, Let Me Play provides grants and product donations to support young people in their quest for sport; and it brings volunteers, organizations and decision-makers together to improve opportunities that help youth grow up healthy and active
About Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) is a non-profit organization serving the Southeast Louisiana community for more than 20 years through programs that provide education, health, community revitalization and regional economic and workforce development. Today, GNOF administers total assets of $170 million in more than 700 charitable funds with the support of innovative leaders. Most recently, GNOF launched the `Rebuild New Orleans Fund' as a response to the needs of Katrina victims with contributions totaling more than $30 million. This five-year initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of New Orleans' nonprofit sector, encourage the creation of new, responsive institutions and create community infrastructures that are racially and socially inclusive.
About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based in Beaverton, Oregon is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse, Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Bauer NIKE Hockey Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan®, which designs, markets and distributes fine dress and casual shoes and accessories; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories.
