Texas A&M Athletics is partnering with Maroon Out and C.C. Creations in a t-shirt sale to aid relief efforts for people throughout the Gulf Coast impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The #BTHOharvey t-shirt sale is part of an initiative originally developed from an idea by Texas A&M head football coach Kevin Sumlin, who sought to show support and solidarity with the people of the Gulf Coast.
The shirts mirror the helmet stickers the Aggie football team will wear Sunday in their season-opening game against UCLA, featuring the outline of the state of Texas over the universal symbol for a hurricane. A red heart is over the Gulf Coast region.
The sale supports BTHOharvey, a student-led relief initiative at Texas A&M University sponsored by Maroon Out and Class Councils that is supported by more than 150 student organizations on the A&M campus. All proceeds will go to BTHOharvey and will directly benefit the American Red Cross.
“I know the impact and power of the 12th Man,” Texas A&M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin said. “When Aggies come together in support of something close to our hearts, we can have a great impact. The circumstances along the Gulf Coast have touched the lives of many of our players, coaches and their families. Understanding what so many people are going through, we felt we needed to continue to do whatever we can to provide support.”
“The ability of the 12th Man to mobilize for the greater good continues to astound me,” said Scott Woodward, Texas A&M Director of Athletics. “We are so proud of this effort and very pleased to be a part of it.”
“Coach Sumlin called me Wednesday night to talk about an idea he had due to the overwhelming positive response we had received after announcing we would wear a decal on the back of our football helmets as a show of support to those affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said Matt Watson, Assistant Athletics Director for Equipment and Apparel. “While he was an assistant on (former A&M head football coach) R.C. Slocum’s staff in 2001, he and I both witnessed firsthand the power of the Texas A&M student body and their ability to rally behind a cause in a short amount of time with the organization and response to 9/11 that culminated in the ‘Red, White, and Blue Out’ game.
“He asked that I work on the logistical side to see if it were possible to pull off something again in a short amount of time and, thanks to the support of our Athletics Department, the University, student leaders, and C.C. Creations, the project has been set into motion with Coach Sumlin’s challenge to our students, former students and fans to rise to the occasion again and support a cause to help so many fellow Texans in need as a result of the hurricane’s devastation.
Maroon Out, through Class Councils, will make the shirts available during the BTHOharvey Supply Send-Off Rally at Reed Area on Saturday, September 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as during student football tickets pull this weekend. Maroon Out also will be selling shirts on campus from Monday, September 4, through Saturday, September 9. For specific on campus sales locations, access www.BTHOHarvey.org and www.maroonout.tamu.eduonline.
“Maroon Out has always been dedicated to uniting the 12th Man for a meaningful cause,” said Head Maroon Out Director Hannah Gallagher ’18. “Sponsoring #BTHOharvey is an amazing way for us to live that mission. It is truly a privilege to work with Texas A&M Athletics and C.C. Creations to unite all Aggies and support those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Maroon Out is ‘More than a Shirt’ and this message could not hold more true to the heart of the BTHOharvey effort. We encourage all Aggies to purchase their BTHOharvey shirts to show unified support at Kyle Field on September 9th.”
Texas A&M Athletics encourages people interested in assisting with the relief effort to support BTHO Harvey, www.BTHOHarvey.org.
The t-shirts are available for $10 in-store at The Warehouse at C.C. Creations in College Station and online at www.thewarehouseatcc.com.
Kenny Lawson, CEO of C.C. Creations and the family of companies said, “Our staff is equipped to handle this type of large-scale request and we are honored that through our longstanding relationship with Maroon Out, Texas A&M Athletics and Texas A&M University, that we are able to be the apparel provider for the #BTHOharvey disaster relief effort.” While it is unknown how many total shirts will be produced, this isn’t the first time Lawson and C.C. Creations have been asked to step up. “When the Aggie Network gets involved, the sky is the limit. Whether we print 10,000 shirts or 100,000 shirts, the C.C. Creations family is focusing our efforts to support those who have been directly affected by this historic natural disaster.
On-campus sales begin Saturday at the BTHOharvey Donation Rally in Lot 100 (south side of Reed Arena) from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. as well as Monday’s blood drive in the Hall of Champions at Kyle Field from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Purchases can also be made at the Coach Jackie Sherrill Lettermen’s Club from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the Koldus Building four hours prior to kickoff against Nicholls State on Sept. 9.
