Dear NCAA Compliance,albetarsigningday

I must say that I am really impressed with your recent change to allow college football players to help promote local businesses. You have certainly heeded the call of many fans, players, coaches, and athletic departments and revised the stringent, overly-detailed rulebook that has caused more strife and panic than maintained a fair level of competition. While the past few decades have had a few rough spots in terms of NCAA-university relations, I can tell that the future is bright for a spirited relationship that fosters competition and more importantly helps stimulate the economy of the local cities that support these fine young men.

I know that the official changes haven’t been made public yet, so I do not expect you to formally recognize my gratitude. However, it’s obvious that when the new rulebook is written (which as I’ve heard on my local radio shows is most definitely on its way!), the rules will no longer prohibit college players from promoting and supporting local business. I’m not certain if the players will be rewarded for their services, but I do have an inkling of hope that they will be.

That hope comes from the players already doing a service for local businesses and receiving minor gifts like a few products or a nice dinner. Nothing over the top, which would not be in the spirit of competition but just a few nice perks for being a famous college athlete that can generate lots of money for the businesses they graciously serve. Although, I’m sure the relationships they establish with these business men will no doubt lead to a long term friendship and bigger rewards down the line once they leave school.

I cannot say what players at other schools have done to serve their local business, but I thought it would brighten your day to hear about a few specific examples of the good your new rule changes will bring to the community.

  • A local men’s store that sells fine suits has benefited greatly over the past few years as our Alabama football players have held autograph events and been part of promotional material for T-Town Menswear. The store was already doing well, but after receiving the boost in publicity from the Alabama players, the store has thrived to unprecedented levels.
  • Further south in Alabama, in the bay city of Mobile, a local car shop by the name of Hot Wheelz has also benefited from this kind of publicity. Many players from Alabama have obtained expensive rims from them and have conveyed their satisfaction with the store’s products by posting promotional pictures on social networks and even taken the time to have dinner with the owners at their houses.

Obviously the rulebook has not been changed yet, so I’m sure the business owners are waiting in eager anticipation for the new book to be voted on.

Those backdated cease and desist letters do allegedly slow business, but in just a few months, these merchants will be elated to see their businesses sell products at unprecedented levels.

Again, this is just a letter to say thank you for being considerate of local businesses and the value and worth of our college football superstars.

Richard Head
Jacksonville State Class of ’96!