An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of four-game suspension.

This is how an athletic director takes proactive steps to avoid having a season derailed.

Due to the recent increase in autograph demands of Louisville star quarterback Lamar Jackson and other student-athletes, the Cardinals will no longer be allowed to autograph items because of NCAA eligibility concerns.

“We decided to take this measure as more of a proactive approach to protect the eligibility of our student-athletes,” a Louisville spokesperson said in a statement provided to ESPN. “Furthermore, certain steps needed to be taken to insure that third parties were not benefitting commercially on the signatures of the student-athletes.”

There is no indication that Jackson or any other Louisville player violated NCAA rules regarding autographs or has been compensated for autographs, the spokesperson said. The decision was made because the autograph demand of players had increased after the recent success of the football team.

Gee, I wonder what might have inspired that call?

Louisville’s autograph ban decision was to ensure none of the Cardinals commit any NCAA violations — specifically in regard to NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1, which has sidelined two of college football’s biggest stars in recent years.

In 2014, Georgia running back Todd Gurley received a four-game suspension from the NCAA for “accepting more than $3,000 from multiple individuals for autograph memorabilia and other items over a two-year period.”

Yeah, that’s what I thought.  Rocket science, for the win!