Even though Penn Staters know their sports teams will be competing in the Big 10 within the next few years they are not making any demands yet for T-shirts, hats or other merchandise with a new logo.

"We haven't had any requests that I know of," said Donna Adams, assistant manager of the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave. "(The decision) hasn't affected our business, and if it does, it's going to be a long way down the road."

"We've had a few requests from people checking the campus out -- mostly new students accepted here and touring the campus, but that's all," said Marilyne Baltosser, a sales clerk for the Penn State Bookstore on campus.

The limited demand could be due to the Penn State teams not knowing when their Big 10 schedules begin. The football and basketball teams will not play Big 10 games until the mid-1990s.

"I think that is certainly a factor to consider," said Don Gilbert, a buyer for the Penn State Bookstore. "Right now we are starting out with T-shirts and later on, closer to football season, we will move on to other merchandise," he said in reference to the new Big 10 "slogan" the store has ready for printing.

Happy Valley Promotions, 315 S. Allen St., designed the new graphic which includes both Penn State and Big 10 words, possibly with a lion graphic.

Local businesses plan to sell Big 10 merchandise, but will not be stocking the shelves with the products anytime soon.

All Big 10 merchandise must be licensed with and approved by the Big 10 Conference, a process that could take anywhere from four to six weeks, said a spokeswoman from the Big 10 information center in Chicago.

"We are going through all the proper channels but its taking time," said John Marsden, manager of Lion's Pride, 112 E. College Ave. "This is a new venture for us and we aren't sure of the formalities."

Consumers will find Big 10 merchandise priced slightly higher than regular Penn State merchandise, said Sue Dandrea, supply manager of the University Book Centre, 206 E. College Ave.

Stores will now have to pay a percentage of wholesale profit to Penn State and a percentage will also go to the Big 10 conference, she explained.

Even though the prices may be higher, merchants are optimistic about the sales of Big 10 products.

"I think the people will be interested in getting new merchandise," Marsden said. ''They are always looking for something different."

But the sale of Penn State merchandise should not decline, Gilbert said.

"We've always had a real strong market for Penn State merchandise," he said. "That's not going to change."