Vick 'Em Shirts: Too Soon?

61. as an aggie student i find the shirt ridiculous...tech has such low class...that would be like atm making a shirt with a girl with a rash on her lower half..not to mention...tech didn't come up with that...rice university joked about vicks training rev at the rice vs texas halftime show...tech just decided to lower themselves by making it more repulsive...

Posted at 2:17PM on Oct 10th 2007 by aggie student

62. Tacky as hell, kinda disgusting, but still made me snicker. I have to admit it is at least a little creative.

That being said, BTTOtt! Whoop! Fightin' class of '96

Posted at 4:30PM on Oct 14th 2007 by Gene

63. LOL. Now this is funny stuff, the aggie's lost a lawsuit for something very similair to the very thing that they are throwing a fit over now. This is almost as funny as when the aggies were in Lubbock and they complained over Tech fans starting a fight with them, only to see an idiot in the aggie section start throwing punches on video the next day. Oops, guess he forgot they have a few video camera's at the game, even in Lubbock.

Now just watch the game on ABC this Saturday and you can see the #1 team in the Big12 South play Tech, and then they have to play Oklahoma & Texas for a real thrashing. Howdy aggies "BTHOO TTU" just like they 'beat the hell out of' Miami. Get real.

So why are the aggies in such a rage? Here is a pic of the mutilation of tu's mascot that Texas a&m lost a lawsuit over:
http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/3230/1483/1600/434335/SEO2.jpg

Posted at 2:25PM on Oct 10th 2007 by Big12

64. Lolinternet: There is a difference between your high school having a picture of bear being "bashed" and referencing a national legal case involving a famous athlete brutally killing innocent animals while running an illegal gambling dog fighting ring, a case that has disgusted millions and millions of Americans and people internationally. To answer your question, yes, I'm in college right now. I have been lucky enough to learn empathy towards nationally sensitive issues (Michael Vick's case/a picture of any person or animal being hung). But clearly, that is not something that school can teach you (you are proof of that). You somehow cannot see the difference between high school mascot rivalries and a real case of real animal abuse/torture/murder by a public person who was looked up to by children and respected for his athletic ability. This is not simply a picture of a mascot being hung, this picture references the real event of Michael Vick hanging a dog. This makes light of Vick's actions. It is sadistic humor. Obviously, the college officials, the creator of the t-shirt, other Tech students, and seemingly almost everyone else who has seen the shirt understands the difference between petty mascot rivalries and slogans like "Saw em' off" and this shirt's reference of Michael Vick.

Posted at 2:17PM on Oct 10th 2007 by Sara

65. As a professional graphic designer/art director, I understand the arguement for freedom of speech and the idea that some concepts will be 'edgy'. But this crosses the line in a big, big way. This concept plays both on hate crimes and animal cruelty. It shows the mentality of the artist very clearly. This is a dangerous person. I would never consider hiring someone that thought this was okay. It's SO NOT okay. Just because you can do something does NOT mean that you should. This is disgusting, and anyone who thinks it's cute just needs mental help, ASAP.

Posted at 2:20PM on Oct 10th 2007 by sandy 2

66. To the people who asked why everyone called Texas Tech classless, read the last sentence of this:
"In an official statement, Texas Tech President Jon Whitmore said: "Texas Tech University is an institution of higher learning where values such as respect for others and civility are both taught and practiced.

"We will not permit individual students or any student organization to profit from selling merchandise on campus that is derogatory, inflammatory, insensitive, or in such bad taste that it reflects negatively on this fine institution, its students, athletic teams, alumni or faculty."

All this comes during recently launched Texas Tech's "Raider Power" program, a sportsmanship campaign aimed at improving the school's image during sporting events."

http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/10/10/News/Texas.Tech.Bans.Sale.Of.Vick.em.Shirts-3022704.shtml

They had to launch a "Raider Power" Program to improve the school's image during sporting events. They have a terrible reputation, they are known for being classless and trashy. Obviously that doesn't include all of the students by any means, but that is what the students are known for.

Posted at 2:29PM on Oct 10th 2007 by Ali

67. It is amusing to hear from indignant Aggies. How many times over the years have the Aggies physically harmed the animal mascots of other schools (including Tech's black horse and Texas' longhorn) ?

Posted at 2:47PM on Oct 10th 2007 by Dan'l

68. Everyone is making such a big deal out of this. College kids are just having a good time. those shirts were all in fun. What happened happened and vick is dealing with it. GET OVER IT AND LEAVE THEM ALONE!!! GO TECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 2:33PM on Oct 10th 2007 by who cares

69. People from Texas Tech arent "college educated kids". Its Lubbock for christs sake.

Posted at 2:46PM on Oct 10th 2007 by jen

70. Good one Big12 and Art! I love the "we are holier than thou' responses from these aggies..... But, the sawed off horns or the gig em frogs don't count.... You guys would complain if you were hung with a new rope. How about the "classless clowns", come on, you can come up with something better than that, you came up with the mutilation of tu's bevo for goodness sake.

Posted at 2:35PM on Oct 10th 2007 by BoomerSooner

71. It's a joke people. Has everyone absolutely lost their sense of humor? The best healing comes through laughter. I've seen t-shirts that were much more offensive than this.

Freedom of speech and expression!!!!

Posted at 2:35PM on Oct 10th 2007 by That's Hilarious

72. I hate people.

Posted at 2:36PM on Oct 10th 2007 by orchid lilly

73. It's only a joke when it is not at the expense of a&m...

Posted at 2:41PM on Oct 10th 2007 by typical aggie

74. WOW CAN PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD BE ANY MORE PATHETIC?? ALL I KNOW IS THAT ONE DAY THESE PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEIR ACTIONS. MAY JESUS FORGIVE YOU...GOOD LUCK!!

Posted at 9:11PM on Oct 10th 2007 by Sherri

75. Hey Big 12:
1. How can you not see a difference between "Saw Em' Off" and referencing Michael Vick torturing and killing innocent animals? This t-shirt is so much worse.
2. The lawsuit involving the "Saw Em' Off" stickers and shirts involved an apparel company who sells them, NOT Texas A&M University. The fraternity was involved with Texas Tech University (hence their suspension).

"As of today, an apparel company in College Station can no longer sell merchandise featuring the original "Saw 'Em Off" logo.

Aggieland Outfitters, named for the Texas A&M University Aggies, had until today to sell all its merchandise featuring the original Longhorn design with sawed-off horns, according to a lawsuit settlement reached between the UT System Board of Regents and the owners of the store. The regents sued the Outfitters' owners last year because the "Saw 'Em Off" design infringed on the Longhorn trademark."

Texas A&M University had no control over the production/selling and they did not profit from those shirts or stickers. Nice try.

Posted at 2:40PM on Oct 10th 2007 by Ali