We Discover in Nashville the Top 5 Items NCAA Umpires Want

NCAA umpires attend 1 of 4 umpire clinics each year throughout the country. This year's southeastern US clinic was held in Nashville. It included umpires from several conferences including the ACC, SEC, Sun Belt and more.

We scored a great location at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville just outside the doors to the main meeting area. With too many umpire products to attempt to bring and/or sell, we brought and showed off new and exclusive products - as well as our new fresh-off-the-press banners.

We thought you'd be interested in knowing which new and/or exclusive products NCAA umpires were interested in. Here are the top 5:

1. New Balance MU950 v2 Umpire Base Shoes
   We think these are going to be a runaway hit this year based on the feedback we are receiving. Available only here in all styles and all widths (standard D width, wide 2E and extra wide 4E). The highest interest of the 4 styles was in the low-cut base shoes with white.
2. Smitty Black Convertible Umpire Jackets
   The word is that umpires like these better than Majestic's discontinued verison due to an improved fabric feel and shorter arms that translate to a less-bunched, more fit look in the lower arms.
3. Wilson Black/Grey Pads Umpire Masks with Black Frame
   These exclusives really caught the attention of many with a near auction-type atmosphere for someone to take home each sample we brought.
4. Wilson Silver Aluminum Umpire Mask with Memory Foam Pads
   Another exclusive and new last year.
5. Manzella Gloves
   With college starting earlier than high school and recreational leagues, gloves are an important part of the college umpire uniform.

Was also great to see Dan Welke (Div II Coordinator) and Major Greg Wilson (r) of the Wounded Warrior Umpire Association (photo below) as well as Chris Elliott (bottommost photo).

It was also great to see AJ Costaglio (great conversation on differences of metals in umpire masks), Tony Maners (wish we had more time to catch up), Brandon Cooper (former rep and blog writer for us who is rocking it in Zija and in umpiring), Jim Jackson (who I did not recognize out of his umpire uniform), Brad Polk, Hoss Matherson (thank you so much for your extra kind words), Ralph Diaz (enjoy those gloves), Roger Fulks (who is the smoothest plate umpire around), Keith Shartzer, Cedric Coleman, Kenneth Fitts (thanks always for your insights on umpire clothing and gear), Morgan Day (nice meeting and talking with you for the first time), Terrence Mobley (who was also there with Calling for Christ), Billy Williams (my favorite all-time customer) and others I can't think of at the moment. Thanks to all of you who stopped by, Sheraton staff (who were great) and the NCAA for allowing us to attend.

Next stop: Chicago!

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