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.
