SMU Athletics announced its multi-year partnership with Unequal Technologies on Aug. 26. SMU is the first Division I football team in the NCAA to partner with Unequal.
“There is no question Unequal is the right partner for us,” SMU Head Coach June Jones said. “You can’t win if your players are in the training room, and as a coach or administrator, you’re not doing everything you can to keep your student-athletes healthy unless you’re using the most advanced protection avaliable.”
Unequal Technologies is the leading provider of supplemental protection technology, providing thousands of professional, collegiate and youth athletes of all sports and even soldiers.
“Unequal is the best thing that has come along for contact sports,” Jones said.
Unequal offers the Gyro, a helmet liner with Kevlar and Accelleron, putting athletes at a lower risk for concussions. The Kevlar and Accelleron in the padding goes above and beyond by absorbing and dispensing impact better than any other protection of its kind. Kevlar and Accellleron are layers within the protection.
Unequal describes Kevlar as a patented fiber, often used in law enforcement and the military, when woven into is a strength, compared to steel, fighting back. Unequal describes the strength as virtually unmatched. Accelleron is described as a durable cushion, with shock absorption capability.
“We admire SMU’s commitment to keeping their student-athletes safe on the field of play and are excited to have them as a partner,” Unequal CEO Rob Vito said.
Unequal is also providing body protection gear featuring the Invincible top, Viper girdle, along with custom padding for shoulders, hips, thighs, knees and ribs.
“The Mustangs and Coach Jones are thought leaders in college athletics and recognize the need for the best protective gear available to their players,” Vito said.
They have captured the attention and contributed to protecting athletes in the NFL, NHL, MLB and the X Games. Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive back, signed a multi-year endorsement agreement with Unequal Technologies on July 15 and chose to wear Unequal’s gear through training camp, preseason and the 2014 NFL regular season.
“I’m very selective in the products I associate with and am always looking out for the latest innovations in technology,” Haden told the Business Journals. “Concussions are a serious issue in football today.”
Haden chose Unequal for its light weight and flexibility, but the main reason was to protect himself from serious injury now and serious consequences in the future.
“Concussions are a serious issue in football today. With Unequal in my helmet and on my body, I’m wearing the best protective gear available and have the confidence to go out and compete at the highest level with less fear of injury,” Haden said. I want to do everything I can to be healthy when I leave the game, so I put Unequal in my helmet. No question.”
Unequal seems to provide the best of both worlds and Coach Jones is confident in his decision.
“Unequal is the best thing that has come along for contact sports,” Jones said. “We look forward to not only using Unequal’s protective sports gear but to working with the team at Unequal to continue to make their products better and to spread awareness to every college and league across the country.”
You can watch some of the Mustangs in full action in their Unequal Technologies gear in their season opener against Baylor on Sunday.
“We see Unequal giving the Mustangs an added edge in competition this fall,” Vito said. “And look forward to working with the athletic department, student-athletes, alumni and Mustang fans for many years.”
