Tom-Jurich-label

Tom Jurich couldn’t be there, he’s attending the ACC Kickoff gathering in Greensboro, N.C. But the latest Maker’s Mark label was unveiled in his honor Tuesday on the University of Louisville campus.

Not surprising that Jurich would be at an ACC meeting, having engineered UofL entry into that prestigious conference. Nor that he would not be on hand for the unveiling of a special product honoring him for everything his athletic program has accomplished since 1997.

As Rick Pitino said during the press conference, “Tom once told me, ‘It’s all about the University, it’s not about me.'”

The label is the fourth in a series designed to help raise fund for the UofL Academic of Excellence, a $14 million center that will be built adjacent to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Maker’s Mark bottles have generated $2.8 million toward the project.

Mark Jurich, who is in charge of fundraising for the academic facility project, said the University has raised a total of $8.2 million for the building and expects to reach the $14 million goal by the end of the year, presumably breaking ground in 2015.

The bottles. 8,500 of them, have a suggested retail price of $50 each, according to Maker’s Mark Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels, and will go on sale at local retail outlets this Friday.

A signing event will be held August 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center where 700 bottles will be signed. Tickets for the signing event will go on sale for $1 each on July 30, starting at 10 a.m. at http://tinyurl.com/pshteqv.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.