Fans dress for championship success

Tanith L. Balaban Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona fans wait patiently in front of the UA Associated Students Bookstore for shipments of T-shirts to arrive while Monica Pershall, a 1991 UA alumna, admires her purchases. Shipments of shirts, which began arriving at 7 a.m. yesterday, could not be kept in stock and lines formed throughout the day.

When Andy Mecklin, sales assistant for the UA Associated Students Bookstore, showed up to work yesterday at 7 a.m., he was greeted by a joyful gathering, impatiently waiting for the sales to begin.

The bookstore sold its first two shipments of University of Arizona officially licensed shirts - roughly 60 to 70 boxes full of at least 80 shirts each - by noon.

The Starter brand T-shirt worn by the team during the post-game celebration in Monday's game did not last more than an hour.

"Those were gone as soon as we got them," Mecklin said. "It's a lot of fun - crazy, but a lot of fun."

The McKale Sports Stop located in McKale Center was worse.

"If we even got to the box it was a surprise. Half the time it was such a frenzy that we just waited at our registers," said Sports Stop employee Charlie Brumbaugh.

Prices range from $18.95 for small through extra large shirts to $23.95 for an XXXXL. National championship polo shirts start at $48.95.

"This school has a great deal of spirit. I couldn't believe how many people were waiting in line even when we ran out of shirts," said Martha Holton, who works at the bookstore in data entry but will be an outdoor cashier all week due to the overflow.

Angela Rohne, the bookstore's sales specialist, said she was happy with the supply the bookstore received. Roughly 25 more boxes arrived in the afternoon, less than 12 hours from the time the first shipment was delivered from Phoenix.

"For them to be printing after midnight and having to transport them from all over the country, even through that weather, it's really great," Rohne said. "We have gotten calls from all over the world - everyone is so excited. I have had alumni from all over stop in to say hi."

Mecklin said he predicted the value of merchandise sold will be about $1 million. Rohne said the profits go to the university to fund clubs and organizations.

A total of more than 7,000 shirts were purchased on campus yesterday, Mecklin said.

"Some people bought one or two, others were grabbing them 10 or 11 at a time. As long as people want them, we will keep ordering them," Mecklin said.

Sales elsewhere in Tucson were no different.

J.C. Penney Co., the largest officially licensed products dealer in the country, sold nearly 3,000 shirts in its El Con Mall location, store manager Doug Caviniss said.

"My assistnat manager got started at 5 a.m. this morning," Caviniss said. "He drove to Phoenix and loaded his pickup truck and horse trailer. This is the biggest sale we've seen considering UA merchandise."

Rohne said the selection of national championship merchandise will include pennants, jackets, hats, stickers and ornaments. By next week, she said she figures six different T-shirt brands will be in stock.

"We have been working 10- or 12-hour days," said Pam Buser, the UA bookstore's cashier supervisor. "It's fun though. There has been very little complaining. A few people asked to close down so they could go to the rally, but everyone is still smiling."

Jeff Crutchfield, an undeclared freshman, got his T-shirt around 11 a.m. and plans on wearing it all week.

"I love U of A. I always have," he said. "It's all a matter of pride and showing a little school spirit."