UNC follows trend and regulates autograph policy

(This story originally appeared on www.tarheelblue.cstv.com)

University of North Carolina student-athletes and coaches are pleased to sign autographs for Carolina fans of all ages. However, due to several factors, including NCAA legislation and compliance issues, the increased unauthorized use and sale of autographed items, and the volume of requests, the athletic department has followed suit of many other universities across the country and instituted guidelines for obtaining autographs.

• Coaches and student-athletes will continue to sign autographs at games, team events, Meet the Tar Heels events, Fan Appreciation Days, etc. Items signed on these occasions should be personalized (signed specifically to the name of the person requesting the autograph or the name of the person for whom the requestor is getting the autograph).

• Several teams have an additional limited number of autographed items available for personal use or for a charitable organization. They may be obtained by filling out the following form (link). Please note that these are the only items available through these respective teams.

• The funds raised through autographs from the men's and women's basketball and football teams, including those items signed by coaches Roy Williams, Sylvia Hatchell and Butch Davis, will be donated after expenses to local charities chosen by the respective teams. Past recipients of the funds include the North Carolina Children's Hospital, the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center, the Ronald McDonald House, the Inter-Faith Community Center and the UNC General Scholarship Fund.

• UNC's baseball and women's soccer teams also have a limited number of autographed balls available. The funds raised supplement the baseball and women's soccer team's operating budgets.

• These items are limited in number and available on a first-come, first-served basis. One autograph request per sport per year is permitted (except where specifically noted); receipt of an item for a charitable purpose in no way guarantees subsequent donations by UNC Athletics.

• All requests - for personal use and for charitable organizations - will be screened by the Department of Athletics Compliance staff. Requests not permitted by NCAA legislation will be returned.

• Autographed items cannot be sold or used for fundraising efforts that directly or indirectly benefit students in grades 6-12, prep school or 2-year college prospective student-athletes. Autographed items cannot be provided to a high school, high school coach or staff member. Autographed items cannot be provided to a high school student-athlete or the parents/relatives of a high school student-athlete. Autographed items cannot be provided to a high school booster club.

• UNC Athletics will not fulfill requests for autographs of individual student-athletes for personal or charitable use.

• Because of NCAA compliance issues, we ask that fans please do not send items to UNC Athletics to be autographed by either coaches or student-athletes. Items to be autographed may no longer be accepted by the respective coaches' offices, the Rams Club, ticket office, etc.

• UNC Athletics reserves the right to request the return of any item that may appear for sale or is being used in any way that may be considered an NCAA violation.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING AUTOGRAPH REQUESTS

• If you wish to obtain an autographed item, you may do so by using the order form that is available at the bottom of this page. A complete list of items and the specific charitable amounts for which these items are available are included on the form. These items include:

Baseball
• Baseball autographed by the coaches and student-athletes

Men's Basketball
• team photo with pre-printed signatures
• Roy Williams autographed photo
• Roy Williams autographed basketball (charitable organizations only) (sold out for 2009-10)
• Basketball autographed by the coaches and student-athletes

Women's Basketball
• team photo with pre-printed signatures
• Sylvia Hatchell autographed photo
• Basketball autographed by the coaches and student-athletes

Football
• football with pre-printed signatures
• Butch Davis autographed photo
• Butch Davis autographed football
• Butch Davis autographed mini helmet

Women's Soccer
• Soccer ball autographed by the coaches and student-athletes

MORE RESOURCES FOR SPORTS COLLECTORS