SPOKANE, Wash. — A Spokane Valley company is joining the fight to prove to late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel that Gonzaga University does in fact exist.
Zome Design in Spokane Valley has created a #GonzagaExists T-shirt and sweatshirt. On Wednesday, Gonzaga asked people to use the hashtag and tweet at Kimmel to prove the school’s existence.
Prices for T-shirts range from $16 to $21, while sweatshirt prices range from $26 to $30.
Last Monday, Kimmel joked about the existence of Gonzaga during his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
"I have a theory, and I know this might be controversial, but here it is," Kimmel said. "I don't believe Gonzaga exists."
The comedian went on to joke about the Bulldogs bringing attention to the school.
"I've never heard the word 'Gonzaga' outside of college basketball," Kimmel joked. "I don't know where it is. I don't know anyone who went there. I don't even know anyone who knows anyone who went there."
The monologue prompted responses from the Gonzaga men's basketball team, the City of Spokane and many alumni on Twitter.
Gonzaga student Jacob Schmidt even created a change.org petition to have Kimmel speak at the school's 2019 Commencement Ceremony in May. It has received more than 2,000 signatures.
On Wednesday night, Kimmel reaffirmed his beliefs and highlighted responses to his first monologue from local media outlets, including KREM 2.
“I think it’s very possible that Gonzaga is a hoax, probably cooked up by the Canadians to screw up our basketball brackets, and that made some people mad," Kimmel said.
"All I know is that, in March, I hear the word 60 times a day," he added.
During the monologue, Kimmel played a KREM 2 clip showing a tweet from Visit Spokane.
Regardless of his belief that Gonzaga is a mythical place, Kimmel said he filled out his bracket and picked the Zags to win the NCAA Tournament.
"My thinking is, if these guys are so good that they can concoct an imaginary university and get almost everyone to go along with it, they can easily win a basketball tournament," Kimmel said.
