The Cowboys and “several dozen companies are courting Ohio State University with offers to supply its licensed apparel,” according to Marla Matzer Rose of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. OSU is "weighing the proposals, aimed at the school's lucrative logo-wear business," and most of the responses are from "current, smaller licensees that want to continue producing some OSU garb.” The Cowboys are “one of three respondents that propose to handle all or most of the college's apparel that is sold everywhere, from college-specialty stores to supermarkets to mass retailers.” OSU Dir of Trademark & Licensing Rick Van Brimmer “declined to name the other two major organizations that are competing with the Cowboys,” and said that a decision “could be made before the end of next month.” The Cowboys “declined requests for comment on their licensing plans.” Sources said that the Cowboys have “made their pitch to at least seven or eight other schools, which have decided to pass.” Sources said that USC “has signed a deal with the Cowboys, but the university declined to comment.” Rose noted an “unsolicited proposal from the Cowboys, along with offers from several other companies, prompted Ohio State to take a close look at whether it could maximize the millions of dollars of licensing revenue it makes each year” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 5/9).
