Used equipment sales at big-time colleges aren’t all that new a phenomenon….unless you are the University of North Carolina and holding your first ever “yard sale” apparently.
After years of figuring out the details behind the scenes, Saturday was the big day in Chapel Hill and while the athletic department was new at this, consulting with places like East Carolina and N.C. State helped them avoid the chaos that could’ve reigned supreme on the day.
It all started with unofficial lines forming well before the 4am announced time for lines to begin to form, with the staff struggling to keep things organized with wristbands for those already “in line.” According to ESPN.com’s reporting, nearly 3,000 people had wristbands before the 7am opening of the yard sale.
However, it wasn’t until the doors opened that the real chaos could’ve happened. It was a virtual stampede for individuals to get their hands on used equipment like jerseys, gloves, apparel and shoes, but the Tar Heels had a plan in place to allow everyone a chance at the items they really wanted.
As one track coach who drove two hours for the event described it — it was like Black Friday shopping.
“This was like Black Friday madness, and I don’t do Black Friday, so this was overwhelming for me,” Camilla Edwards said. “It freaked me out, in all honesty; it was like too much going on at once.”
Shoes for the kids on his track time were in the offing for Edwards, but it was the Jordan brand shoes that organizers were most afraid of being stampeded on. That meant a limit of one pair of shoes per person, with the Jordan brand and the argyle pattern so famous at UNC getting top priority.
All was not lost in the event though, as one former player was actually able to find his football jersey that was worn all the way back in the spring game of 2000 thanks to a very specific picture and a very specific rip in the jersey in said picture.
While this event was a rare opportunity for fans, it was also a chaotic one that may not happen any time soon for the Tar Heels athletic staff. In total, the event raised over $100,000 for the athletic department and that meant much needed upgrades to things like washing machines and the “athlete fueling station” too.
[ESPN/Photo: ESPN]
