I remember hearing that story about the Boise guy. I didn't remember that he was a running back. Was he the same guy who scored the winning 2-pt-conversion against Oklahoma? Anyway, yeah - NCAA was worried people would buy the beanies because of who he was, not because they wanted beanies. I don't know how you prove that. I guess they're worried about precendents. If they let him get away with selling beanies, they need to let the next guy get away with selling clown noses. And the next guy gets away with selling hubcaps on the street. Who buys hubcaps on the street? The people who want to support starving athletes would buy hubcaps on the street.
That said, to hell with the NCAA - they wouldn't let that Utah or Utah State (I forget) basketball coach buy a pizza for a player whose father had just died, and he needed to talk to someone.
Edit - Excellent derailment.
Go Cardale!! I hope you and JT and Braxton each pass for 25 touchdowns and run for 10 more. Hell, I hope Collier, Gibson, and burrows combine for another 25 touchdowns throughout the year. Ha!!