The face of No. 11 Loyola-Chicago’s improbable run to the Final Four, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, is coming to a T-shirt near you.
With requests pouring in to Loyola’s athletic department during March for the permission to use Sister Jean’s name and likeness on merchandise, the school sought and received the nun’s OK to license them out, according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell.
“We weren’t going to do anything until she gave her blessing,” said Tom Sorboro, a senior associate athletic director.
Sister Jean, 98, did not ask for compensation.
The team chaplain became an overnight sensation and media darling when the Ramblers started winning games in upset fashion. They won their first three games of the NCAA Tournament, over No. 6 Miami, No. 3 Tennessee and No. 7 Nevada, respectively, on last-second shots that either beat the buzzer or put the game out of reach for the opponent.
The players and coaches are close with Sister Jean.
At least 25 different Sister Jean products have been approved and are in the works, including a parody of the brand “And1” that reads “AndNun.”
Loyola-Chicago faces Michigan in the Final Four on Saturday.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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