T-shirt Exchange to assist tornado relief efforts

Bobcat Athletics is hosting its second annual T-shirt Exchange in hopes of garnering school spirit and giving students a chance to adorn themselves in Bobcat colors.

The Sept. 1 event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon by the Arts & Sciences Fountain proceeding the NCAA’s official College Colors Day held on Sept. 2, where students and faculty alike are encouraged to proudly display Georgia College school colors on campus.

“Last year was the first year of the T-shirt Exchange to promote school colors,” Sports Information Director Al Weston said. “Not everyone on campus has blue and green to wear, but we are looking to change that.”

To participate in the Exchange, students must swap a T-shirt from any other college or university for a free, brand new GC spirit logo shirt.

“I love my old college T-shirts,” sophomore marketing major Whitney Schwartz said. “But let’s face it, college kids will do anything for a new T-shirt in exchange for their old beat up one.”

The T-shirt Exchange is designed to engage students and boost school spirit on campus throughout the week, even when sporting events are not going on.

“The cool part of this event is seeing all of the different college shirts we receive,” Weston said.  “Georgia College students were so eager to swap shirts that many exchanged the shirt off of their own back.”

School spirit and morale are vital for any college campus, and Thunder Crew president Pat Gamble knows this very well.

“Bobcat pride is what makes this school so special,” Gamble said. “The whole point of the T-shirt Exchange, or any other Bobcat-promoted event, is to rid this campus of UGA shirts, GT shirts, Auburn shirts and every other college that isn’t Georgia College.”

After the success of last year’s exchange, Bobcat Athletics is aiming to reach a wider audience with its event this year.

“Well over 100 students participated in last year’s exchange, and we are hoping to do the same or more this year,” Weston said. “We will take any shirt you have. The one you work out in, the torn-up one with mud or paint stains all over it; just bring it to the fountain for a brand new Bobcat Athletics shirt.”

The donated shirts received by Bobcat Athletics will not go to waste. This year’s “other college” shirts will be sent to Alabama to contribute to the relief efforts following the state’s April tornado destruction.

“Last year we sent the shirts we received to a Goodwill in Florida, but this year we are wanting to help those affected by the storms in Alabama, no matter the condition of the shirt,” Weston said.

For students who may not have another college or university shirt to swap, GC logo T-shirts will be available to purchase for $10 while supplies last.

All GC students are encouraged to attend this event to boost school morale, interact with the coaches behind Bobcat sports, and remember why school spirit is important.

“This isn’t UGA, it’s Georgia College. Who needs a bulldog?” Gamble said. “The Bobcats are the best mascot out there.”

Posted by Lindsay Shoemake on Aug 25 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.