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Jay Pritchett and Matthew Molony pose with a hat prototype from their startup business Heisman Gear on Monday. They plan to expand their line to include other schools.

Students launch 'Knowshon for Heisman' merchandise site

By: KEVIN COPP

Posted: 4/22/08

Senior Jay Pritchett is hardly the first person to make a comparison between Herschel Walker and Knowshon Moreno.

But the senior has taken it to the next level by launching a Web site that sells merchandise dedicated to the 2008 Heisman trophy hopefuls, including "Knowshon for Heisman" hats styled after the "Herschel for Heisman" hats of the early '80s.

The Web site address is www.heismangear.com and will be launched within a month, according to Pritchett.

Neither Pritchett nor his friend and co-founder, senior Matthew Molony, are the typical business majors.

In fact, for the genetics and English majors, respectively, the Web site was born out of a love for Georgia football and later turned into a business venture.

"It came about one day when one of our good friends had the old school Herschel hat, and we're both huge Dog fans, so to get the backing for Knowshon, we decided to get the Knowshon hats." Pritchett said.

"We really want Knowshon to win the Heisman, so that's was our main point to get people rallying around Knowshon at Georgia."

After a SEC Freshman of the Year season in which he amassed 1,334 yards, Moreno is considered one of the early candidates for the 2008 Heisman. Pritchett said that he isn't worried about a sophomore slump.

"I'm not worried about putting a jinx on him," Pritchett said. "I think he's going to come out firing, and all we're trying to do is get the sport started early. I watched the spring game, and I think he's going to have a great year."

Though the idea began with Moreno, Pritchett and Molony turned to the other schools in the nation as a way to make more money.

"We decided to make a business out of an idea that nobody has taken advantage of," Pritchett said. "The [official] Heisman Web site sells gear with the trophy or congratulating [Tim] Tebow, but there's nobody that makes anything that a college fan could wear."

As for Tebow, the Florida Gators' quarterback and 2007 Heisman trophy winner, Pritchett wrestled with the moral dilemma surrounded supporting a rival's campaign for Heisman.

"It's going to be hard to make those hats," Pritchett said.

"Knowshon's our man, but if we're going to make this a business, we've got to put [Tebow] in there, for the money. The first Tebow hat we get is going to be tough."

Pritchett and Molony will keep on top of the ever-changing Heisman watch by creating a blog through their Web site where users can voice their favorites for the Heisman trophy and custom order hats for their team.

The Web site is going through several legal processes and is set to launch within a month. Until that time, orders for "Knowshon for Heisman" hats are being taken at HeismanGear@gmail.com.

This may seem like the work of a lifelong fan, but Pritchett, from Fairhope, Ala., was raised a Crimson Tide fan and didn't attend his first Georgia game until his freshman year of college in 2004.

"I absolutely loved it and fell in love with the team," Pritchett said of his first game. "This all came out of us wanting to support Knowshon and Georgia and this year we're going to have, which is going to be incredible."