Northwestern's meteoric rise from perennial Big 10 doormat
to the top five in both the AP and CNN/USA Today polls has had a
resounding effect on the school's sale of licensed merchandise.
The school was ESPN's Cover Story last night. Gail Parsegian,
Northwestern Trademark Licensing Administrator, said the "urgency
is amazing" among fans and alumni desiring the Wildcats
merhcandise. Parsegian: "Our manufacturers who are licensed to
use our marks are receiving orders from stores and they want to
fill those orders immediately" ("SportsCenter," 11/8). In
Orlando, CompUSA Citrus Bowl officials are hopeful for the
"ideal" matchup of Northwestern and Tennessee. Exec Dir Chuck
Rohe: "It would be great from the standpoint where Northwestern
is a great story and Tennessee has a large following" (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 11/7). Meanwhile, NU RB Darnell Autry is on the cover
of this week's SI, marking just the second time the school has
had an athlete on the magazine's cover. The first? November 4,
1963 with John Cvercko. Even Michael Jordan is "giddy" about the
'Cats, according to Bob Verdi in this morning's CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
However, Verdi notes NU trails Jordan 34-2 in SI covers (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 11/9). ESPN's "College Gameday" broadcasts live from
Evanston Saturday (ESPN).
