Sports teams' success boosts sales of Illinois merchandise

Big wins translate to bigger profits for the University of Illinois.

Sales of all things Illini climbed last year, setting another record for the university.

The UI's royalty income from merchandise sales, from Rose Bowl hoodies to Juice Williams jerseys, came in at $2.18 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, up from $1.93 million in fiscal year 2007 and $1.8 million in 2006. Back in 2000, the income was $435,000.

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