Anybody else find this inflammatory?

[akmarq]

I know this will seem blasphemous to some of you, but while I fully honor, celebrate and respect our '77 championship, I do think that there is such a thing as dwelling on it too much.

Our championship was 36 years ago.  In a lot of ways, constantly referring to it in promotions (which is all a T-shirt is, really) can be counterproductive.  It's hard to look backward and forward at the same time. 

Agree. I know that Al was one of the all time greats, but how many teams have their coach from 30 years ago emblazoned in two different places on their jersey in 2013 (The 'AL' logo on the front and the cut out in the back has a sublimated image of Al).

[MarsupialMadness]

I know this will seem blasphemous to some of you, but while I fully honor, celebrate and respect our '77 championship, I do think that there is such a thing as dwelling on it too much.

Our championship was 36 years ago.  In a lot of ways, constantly referring to it in promotions (which is all a T-shirt is, really) can be counterproductive.  It's hard to look backward and forward at the same time. 

I might be wrong, but I don't think a lot of other teams with single championships won decades ago are still putting it on merchandise.  If Loyola printed hoodies that said "National Champs 1963", it would be considered sarcastic.  We aren't quite there yet, but we are getting close.

I think doing a reproduction a vintage championship tee that was actually sold in 1977 would be really cool, and I would buy one.  But mentioning our '77 championship on new stuff is right up there with Bears merchandise that mentions the 1986 Superbowl.  That's nice, but what have you done for me lately?

I, for one, am saving space in my closet for the T-shirt that says "Marquette National Champs 201_".

I don't think anyone here is upset about celebrating our championship from '77.  The blasphemus part is the printing of the golden eagle logo on the '77 championship shirt.  This isn't a problem if the Bears do it because they haven't changed their name.  When the Cubs print 1901 gear, they don't use their current logo, they use the logo with th little cub holding th bat... the logo from back then.  When the White Sox celebrate their 1983 central division championship, they use their 1983 logo and colors.


This t-shirt just doesn't make any sense.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

How about the '69 Cubs? Not only did they not win it, they choked it away in spectacular fashion. Three members of that team have statues outside the stadium and four (Banks, Williams, Jenkins, Santo) have their numbers retired. It's absurd.

My point is in posting this was that our current logo was included, which is unbelievable to me. Who would buy that?

[klyrish]

$35? Has the school hired touring band merch guys to run the show now?

[MerrittsMustache]

How about the '69 Cubs? Not only did they not win it, they choked it away in spectacular fashion. Three members of that team have statues outside the stadium and four (Banks, Williams, Jenkins, Santo) have their numbers retired. It's absurd.

My point is in posting this was that our current logo was included, which is unbelievable to me. Who would buy that?

Agree 100%. I have no problem with the numbers being retired but, other than having one for Banks, the statues are a little much. Honestly, it says a lot about an organization when it celebrates the "achievement" of a team that got really close to achieving something.

Anyway, as for the MU shirt, I have a feeling that current students or recent grads would buy it. I mean, there are current students whose parents were in grade school in 1977. They don't know much about that team or the old nickname/logo...and they probably don't care either.

[MU82]

I know this will seem blasphemous to some of you, but while I fully honor, celebrate and respect our '77 championship, I do think that there is such a thing as dwelling on it too much.

Our championship was 36 years ago.  In a lot of ways, constantly referring to it in promotions (which is all a T-shirt is, really) can be counterproductive.  It's hard to look backward and forward at the same time. 

I might be wrong, but I don't think a lot of other teams with single championships won decades ago are still putting it on merchandise.  If Loyola printed hoodies that said "National Champs 1963", it would be considered sarcastic.  We aren't quite there yet, but we are getting close.

I think doing a reproduction a vintage championship tee that was actually sold in 1977 would be really cool, and I would buy one.  But mentioning our '77 championship on new stuff is right up there with Bears merchandise that mentions the 1986 Superbowl.  That's nice, but what have you done for me lately?

I, for one, am saving space in my closet for the T-shirt that says "Marquette National Champs 201_".

Is it a "geezers living in the past" thing?

Or a "nostalgia is cool" thing?

When I go to concerts, I usually wear either my Minnesota North Stars jersey (game worn by Link Gaetz -- "The Missing Link") or my Miami Dolphins No. 39 Csonka jersey. Every time I do, my wife gives me crap but invariably several people make a point to tell me how cool my jersey is. I used to have a really great wool Brooklyn Dodgers jacket; believe it or not, Ernie Banks actually offered to buy it off my back. (Sorry about being a name-dropper, but it's essential to the point.)

Anyway, I agree with many posters here that if you just jettison the bird (a symbol Marquette itself has de-emphasized in recent years) and make the price less than ridiculous (what? $25 wouldn't have been enough of a rip-off?), it would have been a cool, nostalgic thing worth buying ... even for those who weren't alive in 1977.

[warriorchick]

Is it a "geezers living in the past" thing?

Or a "nostalgia is cool" thing?

When I go to concerts, I usually wear either my Minnesota North Stars jersey (game worn by Link Gaetz -- "The Missing Link") or my Miami Dolphins No. 39 Csonka jersey. Every time I do, my wife gives me crap but invariably several people make a point to tell me how cool my jersey is. I used to have a really great wool Brooklyn Dodgers jacket; believe it or not, Ernie Banks actually offered to buy it off my back. (Sorry about being a name-dropper, but it's essential to the point.)

Anyway, I agree with many posters here that if you just jettison the bird (a symbol Marquette itself has de-emphasized in recent years) and make the price less than ridiculous (what? $25 wouldn't have been enough of a rip-off?), it would have been a cool, nostalgic thing worth buying ... even for those who weren't alive in 1977.

I think nostalgia is cool.  I would love nothing better, for example, for Marquette to have a Throwback Night where they wear some of those classic '70's jerseys for a game.  But I think the '77 championship is a disproportionately large part of the our brand, and it appears to be a deliberate choice on Marquette's part.  If I strolled through the Spirit Shop right now I bet I could easily find a couple of dozen examples.

[MerrittsMustache]

Is it a "geezers living in the past" thing?

Or a "nostalgia is cool" thing?

When I go to concerts, I usually wear either my Minnesota North Stars jersey (game worn by Link Gaetz -- "The Missing Link") or my Miami Dolphins No. 39 Csonka jersey. Every time I do, my wife gives me crap but invariably several people make a point to tell me how cool my jersey is. I used to have a really great wool Brooklyn Dodgers jacket; believe it or not, Ernie Banks actually offered to buy it off my back. (Sorry about being a name-dropper, but it's essential to the point.)

Anyway, I agree with many posters here that if you just jettison the bird (a symbol Marquette itself has de-emphasized in recent years) and make the price less than ridiculous (what? $25 wouldn't have been enough of a rip-off?), it would have been a cool, nostalgic thing worth buying ... even for those who weren't alive in 1977.

Your wife should give you crap for being a grown man who wears a jersey no matter where you're going in said jersey.

[Sunbelt15]

For the old-timers, or those that live in the pass. Take your pick?

[MU82]

I think nostalgia is cool.  I would love nothing better, for example, for Marquette to have a Throwback Night where they wear some of those classic '70's jerseys for a game.  But I think the '77 championship is a disproportionately large part of the our brand, and it appears to be a deliberate choice on Marquette's part.  If I strolled through the Spirit Shop right now I bet I could easily find a couple of dozen examples.

That's a reasonable argument, warriorchick.

[MU82]

Your wife should give you crap for being a grown man who wears a jersey no matter where you're going in said jersey.

Guilty as charged. I wouldn't wear a current athlete's jersey, but I do wear the jerseys I mentioned a couple times a year ... and, yes, I guess I'm a dope who deserves to be called out by his wife! 

[Pakuni]

Don't care.
It's just a T-shirt.
If you don't like it, don't buy it. If enough people don't like it and don't buy it, it will disappear.

[MerrittsMustache]

Guilty as charged. I wouldn't wear a current athlete's jersey, but I do wear the jerseys I mentioned a couple times a year ... and, yes, I guess I'm a dope who deserves to be called out by his wife! 

Aren't we all? 

[mu-rara]

I know this will seem blasphemous to some of you, but while I fully honor, celebrate and respect our '77 championship, I do think that there is such a thing as dwelling on it too much.

I think doing a reproduction a vintage championship tee that was actually sold in 1977 would be really cool, and I would buy one.  But mentioning our '77 championship on new stuff is right up there with Bears merchandise that mentions the 1986 Superbowl.  That's nice, but what have you done for me lately?

wc,  I was a HS junior when the Warriors won the NC.  Skipped out of school to attend the parade down Wisconsin Ave.  1977 is a part of why attended MU.   

Having that GD Smelly Chicken attached to the NC is an affront to all that is right in the world.  OK, I'm overstating my case, but you get the point.  Many who were students at the time feel the same.

I agree that nostalgia can go too far.  Had a blast in '82 while the Brewers were in the Series, and grew up with Henry Jordan's kids (60's Packer great), but no where near the connection to 1977.

[1990Warrior]

I was in the market for a MU baseball cap.  I will not be buying one from this company.

[Ari Gold]

See I partially disagree with this. Now I fully understand the argument that neither the MU logo nor the eagle were our emblems at the time, but I wish Marquette had its logo on more things.

The Brewers have learned that if you slap that ball and glove logo on something, people will pay $35 for it. Whether its yoga pants, shoes or wallets if it has space for a ball and glove or and M, it can be sold. Same is true for the badgers. Bucky badger sells chips and cheese curds.

I think MU's marketing has improve greatly over the past few years and fanatics store has decent products, but its a long way from where it could be. player jersey Ts at the games? or some golf accessories (like the putter cover in the picture on the fanatics web page)? maybe a soccer jersey? some old school eagle gear?

and furthermore, the cool things MU sold have been discontinued. I so badly want a pair of MU chinos and a legal portfolio...

[Benny B]

Guilty as charged. I wouldn't wear a current athlete's jersey, but I do wear the jerseys I mentioned a couple times a year ... and, yes, I guess I'm a dope who deserves to be called out by his wife! 

My wife didn't even know who the North Stars were until after we were married, so she has no right to give me crap when I wear my 1991 Stanley Cup Finals t-shirt.  Though she does give me crap as to my method of storage (on a separate shelf in the closet away from all the other t-shirts) and my insistence that it only be washed on the gentle cycle or by hand and laid flat to dry.

[mu03eng]

I just wish they wouldn't put Golden Eagles or the chicken hawk on anything.  It drives my wife crazy when she is birthday/Christmas/Random Tuesday shopping because she knows I won't wear any MU gear with either thing on them. 

Apparently the 2003 fanatic t-shirt with holes every where is not something she wants to see me wearing all the time.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I used to have a really great wool Brooklyn Dodgers jacket; believe it or not, Ernie Banks actually offered to buy it off my back.

Probably because his ex-wife sold all his memorabilia

[Archie]

I know this will seem blasphemous to some of you, but while I fully honor, celebrate and respect our '77 championship, I do think that there is such a thing as dwelling on it too much.

Our championship was 36 years ago.  In a lot of ways, constantly referring to it in promotions (which is all a T-shirt is, really) can be counterproductive.  It's hard to look backward and forward at the same time. 

I might be wrong, but I don't think a lot of other teams with single championships won decades ago are still putting it on merchandise.  If Loyola printed hoodies that said "National Champs 1963", it would be considered sarcastic.  We aren't quite there yet, but we are getting close.

I think doing a reproduction a vintage championship tee that was actually sold in 1977 would be really cool, and I would buy one.  But mentioning our '77 championship on new stuff is right up there with Bears merchandise that mentions the 1986 Superbowl.  That's nice, but what have you done for me lately?

I, for one, am saving space in my closet for the T-shirt that says "Marquette National Champs 201_".

This

[ChicosBailBonds]

How about the '69 Cubs? Not only did they not win it, they choked it away in spectacular fashion. Three members of that team have statues outside the stadium and four (Banks, Williams, Jenkins, Santo) have their numbers retired. It's absurd.

They have statues based on their play as players, not whether they won the title...right?   Is a championship a requirement to be honored?  It's a team sport, lots of moving parts to win it all, I don't see an issue with honoring some of the key individuals, especially since they were members of other Cubs teams as well.

[MU82]

They have statues based on their play as players, not whether they won the title...right?   Is a championship a requirement to be honored?  It's a team sport, lots of moving parts to win it all, I don't see an issue with honoring some of the key individuals, especially since they were members of other Cubs teams as well.

All one needs to know about the Cubs is that their most popular team (to their longtime fans) since World War II is one that is synonymous with choking.

Ask a group of casual to ardent sports fans to name the 10 biggest chokers in sports history, and almost all would list the '69 Cubs, who in a matter of weeks went from a huge division lead to an enormous deficit. And yet Cubbie fans adore that team!

[ChicosBailBonds]

All one needs to know about the Cubs is that their most popular team (to their longtime fans) since World War II is one that is synonymous with choking.

Ask a group of casual to ardent sports fans to name the 10 biggest chokers in sports history, and almost all would list the '69 Cubs, who in a matter of weeks went from a huge division lead to an enormous deficit. And yet Cubbie fans adore that team!

I get what you are saying, I'm just trying to understand why having their number retired or a statue for these players is a bad thing, just because they didn't win a championship?  Williams is a Hall of Famer, as is Ernie Banks as is Fegie Jenkins.  Why wouldn't they be honored?

When I was with the Angels we retired Nolan Ryan's number, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson among others...none of them won a title with the Angels, but all three were Hall of Famers that made huge contributions to the franchise.

[keefe]

Our championship was 36 years ago. 

Yea, it was almost 230 years ago when we told the Brits to f#ck off. We should probably give the whole 4th of July thing a rest.

Chick, some things are ageless.

[MerrittsMustache]

I get what you are saying, I'm just trying to understand why having their number retired or a statue for these players is a bad thing, just because they didn't win a championship?  Williams is a Hall of Famer, as is Ernie Banks as is Fegie Jenkins.  Why wouldn't they be honored?

When I was with the Angels we retired Nolan Ryan's number, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson among others...none of them won a title with the Angels, but all three were Hall of Famers that made huge contributions to the franchise.

Reggie Jackson's number is not retired by the Angels.