KU basketball merchandise sales out score football
Jerseys ten and five still adorn Lawrence.
The same way they did in 2008.
The year Orange Bowl football players Kerry Meier and Todd Reesing left KU. In a current 1-3 season, KU grads still remember those football days.
"I wouldn't say days, I would say years, and then the year after that we won the insight bowl. But ever since then, I'd say it's been mediocre at best."
Tom Wilkerson opened Jayhawk Spirit in 1981. He moved from Oklahoma, what he calls the “football state.”
In Kansas, Wilkerson expected steady sales for such merchandise. Over time, he decided to avoid purchasing solely football gear, to keep a larger audience.
"We don't put ourselves in a situation where we buy a garment, if we're buying something from Adidas and it has football on it. We'll ask them if we can get it without football, not because we're against football. It allows the basketball people to like it as well... and the every day person who’s not a sports person, but a KU person can buy it."
Wilkerson says KU gear is selling slower than normal.
At Jocks Nitch Stores, K-State apparel sales are up, in the midst of an undefeated season.
"They are definitely proud right now, so they are definitely buying some purple for sure. I would say a little bit of a spike."
But the Jocks Nitch manager says he's not worried about Jayhawk loyalty, regardless of the score.
"The thing about Kansas and Jayhawk fans is we're really proud and we follow our team no matter what, so people still come out and still support the team. They're still going to be there, and that's what's great about being a Jayhawk."