SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah is requiring retailers to sell only merchandise with generic numbers important to the university's history in order to avoid the appearance of profiting off a player's fame.
The Deseret News reported the arrangement in a larger story about the rising commercialization in college sports.
Across all sports, retailers will be able to sell University of Utah gear with these numbers:
- '11' - For 2011, the year Utah entered the Pac-12
- '15' - For 2015, the current year
- '50' - For 1850, the school's establishment date
- '96' - For 1996, the "Year of Swoop"
Additionally, in football, retailers will be able to sell jerseys and merchandise with these numbers:
- '04' or '4' - For 2004, the year of the Utes' first undefeated season
- '08' or '8' - For 2008, the year of the Utes' second undefeated season
In basketball, retailers will be able to sell jerseys and merchandise with these additions:
- '44' - For 1944, the year of the Utes' national championship.