Hello and welcome to FOIAball. I’m so glad you are here, because this newsletter is for you. 

FOIAball shows you what’s really going on behind the scenes, how money, power, and influence really work. Which is your right to know. 

That’s because college sports are a multi-billion-dollar industry built on the backs of public institutions. Institutions that report to you. FOIAball uses Freedom of Information Acts (pronounced FOY-uh) in all 50 states to break weird, wild, and massive stories: how much schools spend on private jets, how they track and surveil fans, how they court Saudi investments, and how they dodge taxes on NIL money. 

And we have an absolute blast while doing it. Because FOIAball believes—in this day and age—journalism needs to be both impactful and fun.

Come find out yourself! Subscribe today.

We publish two stories every week. A free subscription gets you our flagship Thursday newsletter. To read our Wednesday column and get other great FOIAball perks, you need to become a paid subscriber. 

Your paid subscription not only gets you more FOIAball, it helps ensure we get to bring all our readers deeper insight, greater accountability, and a lot more absurdity.

What’s up with the seal?

Every program has a mascot; why shouldn’t we? 

FOIAball’s Sleuthy the Seal was born of a fortuitous misunderstanding. While working on a logo for the site, a designer suggested a “retro watchdog seal,” a suggestion met with great enthusiasm. When they returned a circular, government agency-style badge, the crushing disappointment proved FOIAball needed a real seal.

A righteous, muckraking mascot.

Sleuthy feeds on scoops. Help him eat by upgrading now.

Who is FOIAball?

FOIAball is just one person. 

I’m David Covucci, a longtime journalist who has spent years prying records loose from some of the nation’s most difficult offices, successfully suing states and government agencies to cough up documents. 

I’ve broken stories on cops lying about fentanyl overdoses; police departments secretly hiring rapists and murderers; the U.S. nuclear arsenal lacking proper security; public universities contracting cheap prison labor; and, most importantly, the race to save Fat Bear Week from a vote-hacking campaign.

I spent eight years teaching college students how to obtain and report on public records. I’m also the author of the most famous FOIA request of all time.

Now, I’m thrilled to let these skills loose on the college football world.

So give it a try today.

Editorial Policy

FOIAball takes concerns over accuracy seriously and strives to correct any errors.

If you believe a story merits a correction or additional information, please contact us at [email protected].

If you have feedback on stories unrelated to errors or corrections, please reach out to [email protected].

If you have any tips on material you’d like to see FOIAed, don’t hesitate to hit us up at [email protected].

FOIAball, all content and stories, and all social media posts by employees are the sole property of FOIAball, LLC.