Reddit AMA with an NCAA Football Autograph Dealer

Submitted by Killewis on

I know there was just an AMA posted yesterday, but there's currently one going on at r/cfb with a verified autograph dealer that is pretty interesting. Basically, if you're a compliance officer at a division 1 school, it pretty much confirms your worst nightmares. Link is here

Some highlights...

Q. How do you work regarding paying players for their time and signatures? Is it directly in line with major NCAA violations or how do you circumvent these issues?

A. Its a direct NCAA violation. You are compensating them for a service or good.

 

Q. Without naming anyone, how many players do you think you could cause a serious NCAA investigation and/or violation off of the business you have conducted with them?

A. Dozens. Heisman winners, top 10 NFL picks, and current Heisman contenders and potentially number 1 overall picks. I did one with a player within the past week. He is probably the top player in the nation at his position and a 1st round pick for sure.

 

Q.Do you approach players or do players approach you?

In either scenario, how does it usually go down?

 

A. You always approach players. Usually by just asking them to sign a few things for you (the legal way). Then when they are done, you might say something like, "Hey, I have some pieces in the car....you interested in signing some more?" They usually know what that means....

 

More if you follow the link...

creelymonk10

March 27th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^

The last answer sounds incredibly creepy, like something that OSU pedophile would say.

EDIT: Since there's been several instances of OSU pervs caught on TV (Library jerker, To Catch a Predator chump) just clearing up that I was referring to the most recent one creeping on a recruit.

ericcarbs

March 27th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^

Read that whole thing

Love the part where he said "the most corrupt are the ones with Crystal."

 

Not a huge shock but nice to have it confirmed at least.

 

B Mo Glue

March 27th, 2014 at 6:29 PM ^

I think it's ridiculous that player's can't profit off their own likeness. Images of THEMSELVES or their OWN autographs.

 

I feel like if you let players sell their autographs and endorse products you'd solve the whole pay for play issue. Revenue sport athletes would get additional compensation and the schools wouldn't pay any more. Perhaps the schools would get less money from merchandise and licensing if the players get a cut, but I'm sure they'll still make bank.

taistreetsmyhero

March 28th, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^

on athletes does nothing to address the absurdity of not being able to profit off your own image or autograph.



If you wanna go with a simplified an impractical solution, why not take the money out of sports? Let me go to games for free, make jerseys way cheaper, etc. etc.

Huma

March 28th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

The whole premise of your "problem" is flawed. Other than the NCAA claims it is bad, why is it such a bad thing for a player to be given $$ for his likeness or exploiting his name? If the players are worth that amount to someone, why can't they be compensated for it? We don't have this problem in pro sports b/c the players are already paid, but in college, they are poor college kids. Don't give me the fairness to the shitty schools argument b/c on balance being fair to a bunch of bad athletic schools doesn't outweigh the unfairness to the kids of this. Unfortunately for the players the NCAA has framed this issue very well from their perspective, but I don't think it ignores the actual issue.

WolvinLA2

March 28th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^

But there's more to it than just the extremely unlevel playing field that would be created.  My concern is that you have big boosters who would be bringing these players to the school, and many of those wouldn't just be hands off from there.  If blue chip Player A comes to Michigan because Booster A told him he'd pay him X amount of dollars for his likeness, now Booster A has an financial interest in Player A's success.  What happens when Player A doesn't have immediate success?  Does Booster A cut him off?  And if so, does Player A start taking offers from other schools' boosters now that his salary is gone?  And what is Hoke just isn't playing Player A as much as Booster A wants - do the coaches now have boosters breathing down their necks about playing the guys they're paying for?   

Also - who is representing these athletes in these business deals?  Are we allowing them to have agents now?  Can of worms, my friend.