A Marc Mueller T-shirt is not available in stores.
In fact, Mueller wishes it wasn’t available at all.
“Hopefully the original is burned,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Offensive Co-ordinator said, “and there’s no option for another one.”
The idea of a customized T-shirt began as a quarterback option.
“I would say I spearheaded it,” star signal-caller Trevor Harris said. “It’s a classic.”
When Harris floated the idea, he quickly got a buy-in from quarterbacking cohorts Shea Patterson, Jack Coan and Eric Barriere.
“I’ve been making T-shirts — receivers, the O-line, those sorts of things,” Harris recalled. “We said, ‘We should make one of Mueller.’ Jack said, ‘Yes,’ so I called the (manufacturer) and sent him some pictures.
“He sent me back a design and I said, ‘Print ’em!’ ”
The new look was unveiled in grand style on Monday, when Corey Mace was so impressed that he wore one of the T-shirts at practice.
“We had an Ugliest Coaches competition and Marc won,” the Roughriders’ Head Coach said after the Day 1 workout. “No … the quarterbacks got it made.
“I had to make sure I got one. It looks outstanding. He’s a handsome gentleman.”
A handsome profit will not be derived from the production of T-shirts, which put the limited in limited-edition.
“I was surprised by it,” Mueller said. “It probably happened because I always bug guys for walking around with their own shirt on.
“This is kind of different. It’s not professional wrestling.”
Nothing against professional wrestling, mind you.
Mueller is an ardent fan of the grappling game.
And, deep down, he even appreciates the T-shirts.
“It shows that we know we have fun,” he said. “I think that’s the Number 1 thing.
“We understand each other and we understand that when it’s time to work, it’s time to work. You’re away from your own family for too long, so you want to make sure that when you’re out here and you’re working with guys who you now consider your football family, you can at least have fun and have some laughs.
“That’s the best part of it.”
That, along with the (ahem) clamour for the T-shirts.
“There’s my mom and my wife and maybe one or two friends,” he said. “That’s the extent of it.
“If we had to make any more, there would be lots that would have to be on the re-sale rack by November.
“If we sold Corey shirts, I think those would do well. I think we’re at the maximum number of people who would want a Mueller shirt.”
We might also be at the maximum number of references to the latest in Roughriders football-operations fashion.
“It was funny for a while, but get over it,” Mueller concluded.
“No more shirts.”
