Could it be the shoes?

[shakes3858]

I'm reaching at straws here to explain the injuries over the last few years. Could it be the Under Armour shoes? In 2012 a Nike shoe designer made the argument that Derrick Rose's knee issues were a result of him not signing with Nike and wearing Adidas shoes instead. He later apologized for his comments and Nike did too.

The switch to Under Armour occurred in 2012 which was an extremely healthy year, but what gear were players using the entire offseason? Lots of injuries seem to be occurring in spring and summer practices when the team members could still have been using the old Adidas equipment. Then in comes the Under Armour when the team wasn't doing their heavy lifting, strength and conditioning... and they stayed healthy. Next offseason, the team was using Under Armour and injuries started happening.

Could it be the shoes?

Disclaimer: Not saying it is or it isn't a cause or a contributing factor. This is only a theory presented to me by a coworker that says he dislikes Under Armour shoes and says they increase the chances of injuries based on, I'm sure, no scientific data. Thought I'd bring it up for the board for the usual food for thought combined with mocking and ridiculing people that bring up crazy ideas like this. So bring it on.

 

[Deeringfish]

I'm reaching at straws here to explain the injuries over the last few years. Could it be the Under Armour shoes? In 2012 a Nike shoe designer made the argument that Derrick Rose's knee issues were a result of him not signing with Nike and wearing Adidas shoes instead. He later apologized for his comments and Nike did too.

The switch to Under Armour occurred in 2012 which was an extremely healthy year, but what gear were players using the entire offseason? Lots of injuries seem to be occurring in spring and summer practices when the team members could still have been using the old Adidas equipment. Then in comes the Under Armour when the team wasn't doing their heavy lifting, strength and conditioning... and they stayed healthy. Next offseason, the team was using Under Armour and injuries started happening.

Could it be the shoes?

Disclaimer: Not saying it is or it isn't a cause or a contributing factor. This is only a theory presented to me by a coworker that says he dislikes Under Armour shoes and says they increase the chances of injuries based on, I'm sure, no scientific data. Thought I'd bring it up for the board for the usual food for thought combined with mocking and ridiculing people that bring up crazy ideas like this. So bring it on.

I have been a runner from age 30-60 and the shoes are everything for injury. When I find a shoe I like I buy multiple pairs and when I buy the wrong shoe I have various kinds of pain and throw them out after only 20 or 30 miles. Every player probably needs a different design of shoe but it would take a real expert to direct them to the best shoe. The idea that the whole team would wear the same design is idiotic except for the fact that they are young and resilient.

 

[SciCat]

I'm reaching at straws here to explain the injuries over the last few years. Could it be the Under Armour shoes? In 2012 a Nike shoe designer made the argument that Derrick Rose's knee issues were a result of him not signing with Nike and wearing Adidas shoes instead. He later apologized for his comments and Nike did too.

The switch to Under Armour occurred in 2012 which was an extremely healthy year, but what gear were players using the entire offseason? Lots of injuries seem to be occurring in spring and summer practices when the team members could still have been using the old Adidas equipment. Then in comes the Under Armour when the team wasn't doing their heavy lifting, strength and conditioning... and they stayed healthy. Next offseason, the team was using Under Armour and injuries started happening.

Could it be the shoes?

Disclaimer: Not saying it is or it isn't a cause or a contributing factor. This is only a theory presented to me by a coworker that says he dislikes Under Armour shoes and says they increase the chances of injuries based on, I'm sure, no scientific data. Thought I'd bring it up for the board for the usual food for thought combined with mocking and ridiculing people that bring up crazy ideas like this. So bring it on.

I was actually wondering if they started wearing Tommy Copper jock straps. If they did that they'd get laid more, and the ensuing decreased testosterone levels would lead to increased cortisol, which would lead to a greater number of serious injuries.

 

[Pulmocat]

I was actually wondering if they started wearing Tommy Copper jock straps. If they did that they'd get laid more, and the ensuing decreased testosterone levels would lead to increased cortisol, which would lead to a greater number of serious injuries.

You need an endocrinology refresher.

 

[SciCat]

You need an endocrinology refresher.

Probably, but it sounds good

 

[TheC]

I don't think I'd ever buy UnderArmor shoes myself. They seem pretty crappy. I've also had sales reps at stores say the same thing... now, those guys may have had an agenda, but perhaps not. I always assumed (hoped) they made a better quality product for the athletic teams they support then what they send out to the chain sports stores.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

Shakes, that's actually a more interesting hypothesis than you probably realize.

Does anybody here remember all the whining that ND fans were doing about how injury-destroyed they were last year, calling it the worst injury year any of them could remember?

It was as constant and annoying as the buzz from the cicadas on an August twilight.

ND switched to Under Armour last year....

Now, the truth is that they're annoying ND fans to start with, so they're always whining about something and listening to ANYTHING they say is painful to start with. So that's surely a factor.

But is there anything more than that? Any of it not a coincidence? I dunno....

 

[SmellyCat]

I'm not saying the theory is correct, but it is intriguing.

If it IS correct, however, how devastating would it be to a company as big as Under Armour? Could a company that is known most for its shoes survive if the world's perception of them were "wear these shoes = get injured." They certainly wouldn't be getting anymore of those sweet college football contracts with whole teams.

 

[DaCat]

To test this theory, we should ask Maryland fans about their injury situation as they were early adapters of UA gear.

 

[shakes3858]

To test this theory, we should ask Maryland fans about their injury situation as they were early adapters of UA gear.

I was going to go around to the boards when I get some time and see what all the other under armour schools say. NU, Maryland, Texas Tech, Utah, Auburn, South Carolina, BC, ND

 

[Alaskawildkat]

I think everyone is underestimating Under Armour. To heck with steel toes, these steel soled shoes help explain why the current practices are going forth under a cloak of secrecy:

 

[Cat In The Cradle]

This is exactly what devastated le Grande Armée in the retreat from Moscow. The protagonists in Cormac McCarthy's The Road spent as much time looking for good shoes as food while eluding degenerate cannibals in a cold, bleak, dysutopian world. They were not alone; practically all the dead they came across had their shoes already removed from other scavengers. Shoes are everything.