Fans and collectors loyal to a certain school have plenty of memorabilia to collect. Here are some ideas for building a collection of items from a favorite school.
Autographed College Helmets, Footballs, and More
Ohio State fans have been known to wait hours just for a chance to snare an autograph from popular coach Urban Meyer. Collectors who love Auburn will hustle to acquire items signed by Bo Jackson, Cam Newton or other well-known Tiger alumni. Fans of Ole Miss may want to add an Archie Manning-Eli Manning signed item to their collection.
Among the most popular and widely available merchandise associated with your favorite major college football program are signed helmets. Just as NFL team collectors will use regular and mini-size helmets to gather autographs or purchase those already signed, college collectors will display them for their favorite school. Entire teams, star players or award winners can be collected.
Signed jerseys or uniforms, while a little more elusive, are very popular for those looking to display them on the wall of a fan cave or office. Whether you’re talking football, basketball, or baseball, most of those in the market will be of the replica variety rather than game-worn.
It’s always best to buy any autograph with authentication from one of the major authentication companies (PSA/DNA, James Spence, and Beckett are three of the best known) unless you trust the source or the company offers visual proof and/or a guarantee the autograph is authentic.
Autographed Photos
Collectors can also opt to collect signed photos from their favorite school as part of an NCAA sports memorabilia collection. Photos are typically cheaper than helmets, jerseys, or balls. While photos may at times be more elusive, they also serve to give your collection a little more variety and can take you back to a specific moment in time: Ara Parseghian coaching Notre Dame against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Jim Harbaugh talking with Bo Schembechler on the sideline during his playing days. Army’s sensational 1940s duo of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis.
You can collect photos of players during their college career or grab the more readily available MLB, NBA, or NFL photos featuring alumni of a certain college program.
Photos are also a solid option for those who are concerned over space issues. While they can be framed and hung on a wall, they can also be stored in one-pocket sheets and put into a three-ring binder or stored easily in a box.
Trading Cards
A large number of collectors focus their efforts on collecting football, basketball, or baseball cards of
players who attended their favorite college. Whether you collect pro cards of famous alumni or look for special cards of players in their college uniform, cards are generally very accessible in the market. Some collect signed cards while others are content to simply add unsigned versions to their collection.
Panini America currently has the license to produce cards for most major schools (Notre Dame is one exception) and has created products featuring former greats with autographs randomly inserted. Some are devoted to one school while others are college-focused products. eBay offers the chance to buy individual cards pulled from those packs without springing for an entire box if desired.
Other Options
Other popular items for college collectors include signed or unsigned programs from key games, championship events, and etc., media guides, and souvenir-type memorabilia.