Sister Jean bobblehead returns soon
The success of the LoyolaChicago men’s basketball team in the NCAA Tournament has led the school to bring back a bobblehead of its team chaplain.
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, 98, had bobblehead nights in February 2011 and February 2015. Now her bobblehead will be available for Ramblers fans for a third time.
“We’re looking at doing another run very soon,” Tom Sorboro, senior associate athletic director for external operations, told the Chicago Tribune. “At this point, everything Sister Jeanrelated is of tremendous interest. She essentially has become her own brand.
“When people hear about the bobbleheads the first question they ask is, ‘Where can I buy one?’ … We’re hoping to be able to answer that question with something other than ‘Nowhere, right now,’ very soon.”
Sorboro didn’t specify a timeline, the Tribune reported.
Meanwhile, Ramblers merchandise has seen a 500 percent spike in sales on Fanatics.com over the past week, outpacing the other 15 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, the company announced. Fanatics is one of the NCAA’s licensed apparel and product retailers and operates on-site retail for nearly 50 pro and college partners.
After Loyola-Chicago upset Tennessee on a buzzer-beater in the second round last Saturday, Fanatics sold more gear in the next 48 hours than the previous two weeks combined, according to a spokesman.
A Ramblers-themed “Bracket Buster” T-shirt has been the topselling item on the site, and a “Sweet Sixteen” shirt has been seeing gains in the past few days.
Loyola-Chicago, which defeated Nevada 69-68 in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, takes on Kansas State in the regional final today in Atlanta.