By Colter Hettich, Features Editor

The ACU football team silenced critics and encouraged Wildcat fans on Nov. 8 with its win over Midwestern State. The win clinched the title of Lone Star Conference champions for the Wildcats and fueled school spirit on campus.

Fans and memorabilia collectors can purchase one of two, unique LSC champions T-shirts in The Campus Store. One design highlights the conference champions’ logo on purple; the other marquees the Wildcats’ 10-0 schedule, complete with scores, on white.

Scott Harsh, assistant Campus Store director, said the shirts arrived three days after the game.

Harsh called JanSport, the manufacturer and printer, after the game and told the company the score. JanSport printed the shirts Sunday and shipped them Monday, and The Campus Store placed them on the shelves Tuesday. Harsh said The Campus Store staff knew Jansport helped many Division I universities with similar projects, so they approached the company for ideas.

“We said, ‘Hey, we’ve never been in this position. What do you recommend?'” Harsh said.

JanSport recommended an investment in only a couple of different shirt designs, until further success by the football team.

“If we do go all the way to the national championship, we will offer more things, like sweatshirts or baby clothes,” Harsh said. “I think we’re working on designs right now.”

Although ACU merchandise sales remain relatively constant, victories on the field always boost sale numbers. Harsh said as the winning streak lengthened, more and more customers purchased apparel. Foot traffic through The Campus Store has increased, but so has Web traffic on www.campusstore.acu.edu.

“The Web site has been up for 10 years, but over the last three games, I have seen a spike in the number of hits,” Harsh said.

Traditional, purple and white merchandise still is available. The Campus Store also offers Wildcat accessories, including pompoms, scarves and beanies.