Joe-College strikes again: will KU have a problem with this shirt too?
Memo from legendary KU basketball coach Phog Allen’s grandson John Allen to KU athletic director Lew Perkins, re the legal/financial war of attrition against tiny T-shirt vendor Joe-College.com: Lay off!
“You’d think (KU) had bigger fish to fry,” Allen says. “It’s pretty sad. And even if KU does win it’s going to be a hollow victory. I don’t think it enhances KU’s image any, and all the T-shirts you see at the games – it’s clearly a hit with the students.”
Perkins and KU’s athletics department have waged a two-year plus war against Joe-College owner Larry Sinks staking claim, to among other things, the color blue and word “Kansas.” And taking offense at other popular Joe-College’ shirts like Muck Fizzou and Our Coach Can Eat Your Coach.
Sinks has gone to the well for nearly $400,000 in legal fees and is struggling to keep family, home and business together under the tremendous financial and psychological strain of defending a lawsuit he thinks KU has plowed $1.5 million or more in legal fees into.
Allen’s advice to Perkins: “Why doesn’t he let it go? Get his pound of flesh somewhere else.”
