Crab Frenzy
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: January 14, 2009
Now that Michael Crabtree has made it official he's entering the NFL draft, local Tech merchandise stores are seeing a 'Crabtree Frenzy' as folks get the last of one of Tech football's biggest stars. Items like the crab claws and the crab hats were the big-ticket items this year, and now that we know there won't be a 'next season' for Crabtree at Texas Tech, those items could become big collector's items.
All season long, we saw stores near campus booming with business as the football team won game after game. Of course -- the big sellers were Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Well -- we knew Harrell wouldn't be returning, but now that Crabtree's moving on, his 'Crab' memorabilia is moving fast.
Stores are trying to move the number 5 specific merch. At Red and Black bookstore, there isn't much left, and it's the same story at Red Raider Outfitter. Of course -- most of the stuff is on sale right now, especially those Heisman promotionals. But Red and Black owner Chris Toelle says his sales this season weren't all about Crabtree.
"He's been good business, I think the main thing is the team. I don't think it's just him, the team winning is good business. And whenever the team wins, people are coming in and buying the stars' jerseys."
Toelle says this isn't the end of Crabtree merchandise, now that he's left Tech, his name can be printed on the back of jerseys. That wasn't allowed before because of rules against promoting single players. Also -- Toelle says his performance in the NFL could be a big boost for years to come.
