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As the Texas Longhorns now enter their fourth football season since appearing in the 2009 national championship game, there have been questions about whether the demand for Texas football would remain inelastic in the light of recent failures on the field. The release of the Collegiate Licensing Company's top sellers on Monday answered that question with a resounding negative, as the 'Horns topped the list for the eighth straight season.
There are only four major football programs that don't use CLC to represent their merchandizing interests, including schools in Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon that could have similar sales to Texas, but even mighty Alabama can't match the clout of Texas in terms of sales.
In 2011-2012, Texas outpaced Michigan by close to $20 million dollars as the athletic department with the most revenue.
But ticket sales are down this season (and down every year since 2010) as a sign that there is some elasticity within the Texas fanbase. Given the general malaise afflicting Texas fans, the drop in sales hardly comes as surprise. With Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds entrenched in his Ivory Tower and seemingly unwilling to make changes throughout his department during his tenure, perhaps drops in the only thing that seems to get onto his radar -- profits -- could end up forcing him to rethink his stance on his incumbent coaches, especially head football coach Mack Brown.
If Longhorn fans really want to get rid of Brown, the best thing they can do is speak with their wallets. Or hope for chaos this season.
More from Burnt Orange Nation:
- Jordan Hicks ready to lead resurgent Texas linebackers
- Reports: Texas WR Marcus Johnson injured in practice
- Texas Longhorns football: Day 6 practice report
- Texas Longhorns football: Day 5 practice report
- Daily Roundup: 8/12/13
Want to know more about why the Texas defense fell apart last season and how Manny Diaz can fix it? What about insight into Major Applewhite's influences and how they will impact the new Texas offense? Or why you should believe in David Ash making the jump this season? Get all the answers in 2013 In the Huddle: Texas.