PABLO, Mont. – The autographed football that arrived at the offices of the Salish Kootenai College Foundation last fall was one of a few items donated by professional sports teams for the school's annual scholarship auction.
But as the National Football League season went on, the ball became more and more valuable. By Feb. 4 the ball, signed by the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, became the centerpiece of this spring's auction for the college on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
The Colts also sent along documents authenticating that the blue and silver football was personally signed by team members, from Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning to Adam Vinatieri, said foundation director Lois Slater.
The only thing missing, she says, is the signature of head coach Tony Dungy.
The suggestion to contact professional teams for donations came from former foundation director Mike O'Donnell.
"We laughed at him," said Slater, who replaced O'Donnell when he took a job at the University of Hawaii-Hilo.
But Slater and associate director Selina Kenmille sent out 105 letters to NFL, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball teams, asking them to donate an item.
The majority didn't respond. Of the 50 that did, 43 said no.
It won't be the first piece of sports memorabilia to be auctioned at the SKC dinner, which last year raised $39,000 after expenses for the college's general scholarship fund available to all students. A basketball signed by the University of Montana women's team once brought in $700.
And it won't be the most unusual item. Last year, SKC auctioned a walk with Gov. Brian Schweitzer and his dog Jag for $1,700.
But Slater and Kenmille are hopeful the Colts-signed football will lure some sports fans to the May auction who might not otherwise attend.
The auction will also include a football signed by the 2005 Green Bay Packers, a Pittsburgh Steelers license plate cover and a laser-signed photo of the Buffalo Bills. The Washington Nationals donated a baseball signed by relief pitcher Chad Cordero.
The auction is May 19 at the Kwa-Taq-Nuk Resort in Polson.
Pro Sports
Football autographed by Super Bowl champs auction centerpiece
- Pro Sports
-
-
Photo tribute: 100 years of baseball at Fenway Park
This year Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, celebrates its 100th anniversary as America's oldest Major League stadium -- and the setting for some of baseball's greatest players, historic wins and crushing losses. That sacred magic is captured in two exhibits at the 20-year-old Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, a Boston suburb.
-
IN THE FAST LANE: Latest ITFL ruffled lots of feathers
My email inbox took a beating a couple of weeks ago after writing my latest ITFL.
-
IN THE FAST LANE: The real season starts at Phoenix
Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway will start a stretch where drivers try to win races, collect bonus points and solidify their spot in the Chase for the Cup.
-
COLTS: Indy must build to new defensive scheme
Add another name to the relatively short list of prospective National Football League players who have a big impression on team owners, coaches, scouts and player personnel executives during the National Football Scouting Combine.
-
SPORTS IN BRIEF: Feb. 19, 2012
In his debut as the primary driver for his family’s race team, Clarksville-based Kimmel Racing, Sellersburg resident Will Kimmel finished third in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. It was the season opener for the ARCA Racing Series.
-
SLIDESHOW: Week-long Super Bowl celebration begins
Football fans descend on Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis in advance of Super Bowl XLVI between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.
-
PRO FOOTBALL: Giants’ Manning emerging from brother’s shadow
This year, Eli has a golden opportunity to get a leg up on his celebrated sibling. The “baby” of the Manning family has a chance to move to the front of the class by annexing a second Super Bowl title.
-
PRO FOOTBALL: Super-high prices for NFL’s super event
The price tag of a prime seat in Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI is officially $1,000, but cash-rich fans will shell out multiples of that to see the NFL championship game.
-
SCOTT'S LOCKS: Look for New York-New England rematch
Scott Whitock predicts this Sunday's AFC and NFC championship games.
-
Colts fire coach Jim Caldwell after 3 seasons
Caldwell won his first 14 games, an NFL record for a rookie head coach, and became only the fifth first-year coach to take his team to the Super Bowl.
But with fans complaining about game management and clamoring for a change since midseason, Irsay didn't have much choice. - More Pro Sports Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
