UT #1 For 3rd Year In A Row In Merchandise Sales

Now I understand why I pay for bottled water in monthly installments at DKR Memorial Taco Bell Death Star Happy Super Cool Fun Times Stadium and Litigious Ego Freak Field. We need the money.

That being said, there’s no amount of money I wouldn’t pay for an official Johnny Walker jersey. Seriously.

The indispensable UT merchandise items-

1. The talking pen that plays Craig Way’s Rose Bowl TD call. This picks me up when I’m blue.
2. A burnt orange knit shirt made of material that wicks out moisture (Nike dri-fit, or Cutter&Buck’s version), because about 15% of our home games are played in sub-85 degree temperatures.
3. The classic Texas baseball cap- white, with orange bill, and orange block “T”. This 90 year old cap design was good enough for Billy Disch, Bibb Falk, Bobby Layne, Burt Hooten, Roger Clemens, James Street, every Street man-child, Gus, Augie, and it’s good nough for you.

Not needed-
1. The bottle opener that plays “The Eyes of Texas”. Thanks, but three of them is enough. Please stop giving them.

All I need is a cool buzz, some tasty waves, and I’m fine.

Some minor sociological observations on teamwear:

1. One day at Disney World would be enough to convince an anthropologist that the US middle class now defines itself largely through its college football affiliations. Compared to twenty years ago, the number of Americans wearing team jerseys, t-shirts, and caps is somewhat amazing.
2. One day in any European city, summer of 2008, would be enough to convince any Red Sox fan that Bostonians had dispersed across the Globe, en masse.
3. One simple “¿Qué?” from any of the Chowd-geared Europeans quickly disabuses one of the notion that these folks have strong feelings about baseball.
4. Good travel advice: refrain from flashing the horns at someone abroad until you’re certain they understand the Texas gear they’re wearing. A tip: cough the name “Mackovic” repeatedly until you get a response.
5. If you fail to heed this travel advice, prepare to be pummeled by gangs of angry cuckolds who support Real Madrid.

The talking pen that plays Craig Way’s Rose Bowl TD call. This picks me up when I’m blue.

I prefer the bottle opener that plays that Rose Ball call.

How about the fact that the University Co-op is #1 local liscensee in the country? Wow.

When we went down to LA for the Michigan Rose Bowl game, the Rose Bowl vendors told us they had never seen anything like the Texas fans, that we bought everything not nailed down. Wisconsin fans were a distant, distant second. As I negotiated for his stained-but-authentic official Rose Bowl smock, I reminded him that Texas playing in the Rose Bowl was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. Some dude strolling by in an authentic #10 Nike Dri-Fit Teamwear Texas jersey disagreed.

Chooky nails it, except that I’m not big on the Johnny Walker jersey. I have my own Bret Stafford No. 10, though (a gift).

Be thankful you don’t have to spin it like Bill Byrne:

“Officially licensed collegiate branded merchandise generates a lot of income to colleges and universities across the nation. Did you know the third most licensing revenue nationally is being generated from sales of Victoria’s Secret and their sales of an exclusive Pink Collegiate Collection?”

http://www.aggieathletics.com/genrel/091008aaa.html

I thought you were joking, but no…

Never a shortage of Texas guys needing an oil-change shirt, or a shirt for wipin’ off the pole before your sister uses it (‘cause dad taught you to), or a back-up for ridin’ on back of the trash truck.

I’m sorry BFS, but did you just insinuate that UT fans are low class? A Sooner fan just insulted UT fans for being low class? Next thing I know the USSR is going to laugh at the US for it’s economic downfall in the 80’s and NSYNC (you know the one BFS) is going to make fun of my choreographed dancing in their comeback tour.

Luckily my Dad grew up in a trailer park, so I have some sympathy from where you are coming from. Still, what a world we live in.