Our new Collegiate Play Collection celebrates the bond between college basketball and the pros. It’s a tribute to long nights on empty courts, last shots at glory, and the players who gave everything to make the leap.
It also honors the spirit of Boston, a tribute to campus culture, historic courts, and the energy of a city where legacy and ambition run deep.
How College Hoops Built the Pros
Before NIL deals and before one-and-done prospects, greatness started in college gyms, and P.F. Flyers was there. We weren’t just a sneaker brand. We were a performance innovator.
Our Posture Foundation rigid wedge, born from mid-century B.F. Goodrich tire technology, transformed the way athletes moved. By distributing weight toward the outside of the foot, our sneakers reduced strain, helping players run faster, jump higher, and last longer on the hardwood.
This innovation carried college players through grueling seasons and into the pros. It even led to a historic partnership with Bob Cousy, who went from campus standout at the College of the Holy Cross to the first-ever NBA player to endorse a sneaker: our sneaker.
When Basketball Greatness Wore Canvas
In the late 1940s, Bob Cousy was just a lanky kid from Manhattan, flashing a style of play most scouts called “too showy” for the era. The game was slow and deliberate, but Cousy was fast, fluid, and fearless.
As a freshman, Cousy helped Holy Cross win its first NCAA Championship in 1947, making history as the first New England team to win the tournament. By the time he graduated, Cousy was a three-time All-American and the face of a faster, flashier brand of basketball.
Even then, NBA scouts doubted him. Here’s what one NBA scout famously said about Bob Cousy before his draft:
"The first time he tries that fancy Dan stuff in this league, they’ll cram the ball down his throat."
The Celtics passed on Cousy with the number one pick. Fate, however, had other plans. After a short detour through the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Chicago Stags, a post-bankruptcy dispersal lottery caused Cousy to land in Boston, where he became an NBA legend and cemented his bond with P.F. Flyers.
The Story Behind Collegiate Play
P.F. Flyers sneakers have always bridged performance and design. Players wore them for the game, then laced them up across campus. That seamless transition, from court to campus, is what inspired The Collegiate Play Collection.
This collection captures the feeling of stepping out of the gym into fall air, sneakers squeaking on waxed hardwood one moment, and crunching over crisp leaves the next. We wanted it to feel lived-in and real, like the college experience itself.
A tribute to the campuses that created legends, our All-American High-Top and Low-Top sneakers return in two throwback colorways, Spice/Wheat and White/Eggplant.
- Soft, Washed Canvas Uppers: Vintage look, broken-in feel.
- Premium Suede Overlays: Elevating the heritage silhouette.
- Posture Foundation Comfort: Our signature cushioning and support.
- Throwback Colorways: Spice/Wheat and White/Eggplant, reminiscent of a retro college varsity jacket.
- Woven Tongue Label: A hidden nod to Cousy’s nickname, “Houdini of the Hardwood.”
- Cousy’s #14: Featured on the high-tops in tribute to his legendary career.
"The colors are inspired by the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where Bob Cousy attended and played basketball from 1946 - 1950. In 1947, the Holy Cross Crusaders won the NCAA championship - the first in the school's history. Cousy played with speed and creativity that were rare at the time. His style was unconventional and elevated the entertainment value of the game."
—Caitlin Bendiak, VP of Footwear, P.F. Flyers
Our Collegiate Play Collection is a tribute to the players who turned college gyms into proving grounds. It’s for players like Bob Cousy who dared to reinvent the game.
Walking Through History in Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill was the perfect stage for our Collegiate Play Collection. It’s a neighborhood where history lives in every brick and cobblestone.
"Beacon Hill is one of the key neighborhoods in Boston, particularly for its historic nature and visual appeal. The cobblestones are a recognizable feature, and overall, it just captures the essence of Boston."
—Lisa Lewis, Chief Marketing Officer, P.F. Flyers
We laced up our All-Americans and took to the narrow, winding streets once walked by Boston icons like John Hancock and Louisa May Alcott. The neighborhood’s timeless charm and storied past set the scene for our heritage sneakers.
Timeless sneakers on timeless streets. We figured it was the perfect fit.
