(Bloomberg) -- LSU quarterback Joe Burrow clutched the football in his left arm long after the game had ended, holding tight to a piece of memorabilia that’s also worth a whole lot of money.
The football used for the final play of Louisiana State University’s win over Clemson in college football’s national championship game is worth at least $100,000, said Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions in New Jersey.
Goldin said the ball’s would be double that amount if LSU hadn’t had so much success recently. The 42-25 victory gave the team its first national title since 2007 and fourth overall. Burrow, a senior who won the Heisman Trophy last month, threw five touchdown passes and ran for another, breaking several championship game records. He ended his collegiate career being named as the game’s Most Valuable Player on offense.
A spokesman for the LSU athletic department didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment on whether the football belongs to the university and whether Burrow would be allowed to keep it. Since 1999, Heisman winners have had to agree not to sell their trophies.
Goldin said he wasn’t surprised that Burrow held onto the ball so tightly. Increasingly, athletes are recognizing the of such big-game keepsakes.
“Players of all sports are making efforts to not only save their key items, but to save memorabilia from historic events,” Goldin said in an email after the game. “And, yes, I believe knowledge of future is a part of it.”
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