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January 17, 201 1
www.usedcarnews.com
Dealers Walk Fine Line With NCAA Players By David Piestrzynski
A routine traffic stop earlier this year has thrown an Ohio used-car dealership into the middle of a media frenzy. Auto Direct, an independent used-car store in Columbus, Ohio, gained some unwanted media attention recently when the Columbus Dispatch reported that Terrell Pryor, quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, was pulled over twice in 2010 in vehicles registered to Auto Direct. Pryor has been prominent in the national media recently after being suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of 2011, along with several teammates, for selling championship rings, jerseys and awards, as well as receiving other improper benefits. Within days the story involving Auto Direct gained national attention. The university has since investigated the matter and concluded that nothing
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improper occurred. The use of dealership vehicles was excused because Pryor’s legally owned vehicle was being repaired. He was driving loaner vehicles from the dealership when he was pulled over. Jason Goff, owner of Auto Direct, said his store does sell vehicles to some studentathletes, but he has been upfront about this activity with the university. “We are certainly big Buckeye fans,” Goff said. According to the Dispatch article, Auto Direct is decorated with several autographed Ohio State jerseys. However, the university’s investigation found no violations by the dealership or Pryor in this matter. “It was a pointless article,” Goff said. “But it hasn’t hurt us at all.” In the past, other dealers have not been as lucky. In 2006, David Hudiburg, owner of the Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Hudiburg Auto Group, purchased Big Red Sports and Imports in Norman, Okla. Soon after, it was found that the store’s previous owners had been investigated by the University of Oklahoma for allegedly paying some football players for hours they hadn’t worked. These players, among them Rhett Bomar, the team’s quarterback, were later dismissed from the football team after the investigation. Despite these alleged activities taking place under the store’s previous owners, Hudiburg faced backlash
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press USED CAR CUSTOMER: Ohio State University quarterback Terrell Pryor is excited after his team defeated Arkansas in the SugarBowl. He was less thrilled when allegations arose that he had an improper relationship with a local used-car dealer.
from the community through angry phone calls and continued accusations. Bomar later played football at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He is currently a reserve quarterback in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings. Not all relationships between auto dealers and college athletic programs are touched by controversy. Ron Haus, owner of Ron Haus Auto Group in Canfield, Ohio, has maintained relationships with the athletic programs of both Ohio State and nearby Youngstown State. The important thing, Haus
said, is to avoid any gray areas. In 2007, Haus loaned a vehicle to Troy Smith, an Ohio State quarterback who had just completed a Heisman Trophy-winning season for the Buckeyes. Smith did several commercials for the dealership also, but Haus said no attempt was made to contact Smith until his college career was over and he was legally represented by an agent. “You don’t ever want to try this while they’re in school,” Haus said. He said the one way to build a relationship with a college athletic program
legally is through its coaches. Haus has loaned vehicles to coaches at Youngstown State, as well as to Bob Stoops, an Ohio native who currently coaches the Oklahoma Sooners football team. “You want to support the community,” he said. “But you have to make sure you do it the right way. “They’re watching closely these days.” Goff said despite the bad publicity, business at Auto Direct is strong, with nearly 1,000 cars sold in 2010. “We’re doing well in a bad economy,” he said. “Maybe that’s the story they should be doing.”
IN THIS ISSUE • Analysts expect improved performance this year. – Page 3
• Transporters face the challenge of more cars than haulers. – Page 8
• A finance company teams with a payment protection firm. – Page 5
• The new Congress wants to hear from trade groups. – Page 20