But you're probably seeing more people wearing unlicensed merch stanning former president Donald Trump: hats or T-shirts that swap out the "U" in "Trump" for the university's stylized logo. Everywhere you look at Hard Rock Stadium, from the concourses to the skyboxes to the cheap seats, you're likely to spot someone wearing the bootleg duds.
Some fans and alumni are less than pleased and want the university to crack down on the unauthorized use of its trademark.
"UM, hey, hi alma mater @univmiami!" local journalist and gadfly Lesley Abravanel wrote in a November 2 tweet on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "While much of this merch are made in China fakes, we, as members of the UM community, want the university to make it clear that we do not endorse any candidate. Your trademark is sullied. We'll wait. But not for long. Big donors are NOT happy."
One of the people selling the bootleg goods is Steven Czyzewski, a recently retired Miami-Dade Police Department lieutenant who most recently worked at the airport operations bureau.UM, hey, hi alma mater @univmiami! While much of this merch are made in China fakes, we, as members of the UM community, want the university to make it clear that we do not endorse any candidate. Your trademark is sullied. We'll wait. But not for long.Big donors are NOT happy. pic.twitter.com/CCwPmbPJwV
— Lesley Abravanel 🪩 (@lesleyabravanel) November 2, 2024
In a series of Facebook posts, Czyzewski posted selfies modeling the Trump hats and T-shirts, saying a friend was offering them for sale at $20 a pop.
Retired Miami-Dade cop Steven Czyzewski modeling the Trump UM cap on Facebook
Screenshot via Facebook
"Not surprised but man these hats are a hit," he wrote. "My buddy is doing shirts as well on Monday. For those who want shirts or hats, please shoot me a text. Even if you already sent me a message please do so again so I can get an accurate count. Shirts are going to be $20 as well."
Reached by New Times, Czyzewski clarifies that he doesn't manufacture the shirts and hats. He says he got his hands on the merch from "a friend of a friend of a friend" and sold ten or 15 items after he posted about them on social media.
"I wish I was making them," Czyzewski quips.
Two days after her initial post, Abravanel followed up with a screenshot that appears to be a direct message from the university, thanking her for "reaching out and alerting us to the misuse of our branding."
"We take the integrity of our brand and its associated merchandise very seriously," the message continued. "Rest assured that we are working with our licensing partners to thoroughly investigate this issue and address any unauthorized use of our marks and brand.... Thank you once again for your vigilance and support."Oh Trump peeps, U in trouble. pic.twitter.com/LsQUG78Jio
— Lesley Abravanel 🪩 (@lesleyabravanel) November 4, 2024
The U reiterated the message when asked to comment for this story.
“The University of Miami takes the integrity of our brand and its associated merchandise very seriously," Jacqueline Menendez, vice president of university communications, writes in a statement to New Times. "We are working with our licensing partners to thoroughly investigate this issue and address unauthorized use of our marks and brand."
