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| Updated: 12/27/2011 7:45 am |
Published: 12/26/2011 5:37 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR - The countdown to the Cotton Bowl is less than two weeks away and already fans are picking up all the souvenir accessories needed for the big game.
Hogman's Hog Pen on South University is the Razorback headquarters in Little Rock for game merchandise. Owner Terry Eustice has two Cotton Bowl shirt designs, and as soon as the shirts are hung up, Razorback fans grab up them off the racks.
"We have a cardinal red shirt we're selling and a black shirt. We sold a lot through the holidays."
Eustice says it's not hard to tell bootleg from officially licensed merchandise.
"The black shirt has the Razorback logo, and it also has versus Kansas State on the bottom as well as AT&T sponsorship. It has to have all three to be officially approved by the bowl and both teams."
It's not just Cotton Bowl gear, but anything Razorback is popular right now including hats, coffee mugs, glassware, and anything else you can imagine. This is the busiest time of year for Hogman's Hog Pen even though the store looks empty. Most people don't return Razorback gear.
Eustice has already sold 400 red Cotton Bowl shirts, and the last shipment of 200 black sweatshirts is all he'll get before the game.
"You need to come early. We'll be running out of sizes."
That's why Michael Mathias is gearing up now for the big game. He's actually going to the Cotton Bowl.
"We're hoping for a win, but if they don't win, well we're still hog fans."
Mathias definitely plans to dress to part.
"I really like the T-shirts. I'm probably going to end up getting one before they're all sold out."
The limited addition black Cotton Bowl sweatshirt sells for about $30.
