If you're a fan of pickleball, the Clemson Tigers, and clothes featuring pickleball puns, today is a great day.
Clemson has announced the launch of its pickleball initiative, which will create a new line of official pickleball gear.
The school already has a great pickleball-playing community and recently announced a partnership with the City of Clemson to build eight new pickleball courts near Nettles Park.
In October of last year, Clemson reported that their pickleball club more than doubled in size from the previous year, going from 500 members to almost 1,000.
While the NCAA doesn't yet recognize pickleball as a varsity sport, that hasn't stopped colleges across the country from creating ways for their students to scratch their pickleball itch.
What Gear Will Be Available?
The pickleball gear, which will feature a Tiger Pickleball logo, includes:
- Paddles
- Shirts
- Jerseys
- Hats
- Water bottles
Merchandise will be available in local stores and through the Official Clemson/Fanatics online store. Licensees for the Clemson gear include The Print House, Prosphere, Boundless Pickleball, Champion, ’47 Brand, Blue 84, Tervis, Team Golf, and more.
What Does This Mean for Other Universities?
Pickleball is a big business, and you have to expect other schools to take this direction soon.
Basically, what we're saying is this is kind of a big dill.