Jake Delhomme and Bank of America: A Tale of Two Falling Stocks

The Carolina Panthers and Bank Of America are inexorably linked.  Since the Panthers' inception, BofA has been a major sponsor of the franchise. Panthers president and owner, Jerry Richardson, and former BofA chairman, Hugh McColl had maintained a close relationship for years.  When Richardson was awarded the new franchise, McColl was instrumental in helping bring the franchise to Charlotte. When McColl retired, current CEO Ken Lewis maintained that relationship with the organization, and the team and the bank prospered. BofA became the nation's largest consumer bank, and the Panthers were one of the best run organizations in football.  The Panthers and BofA strengthened their bond when the bank purchased naming rights for the Panthers' stadium. All good things, however, come to an end, and trouble was brewing just around the corner for the bank and the franchise. BofA's problems started with the collapse of the mortgage industry.  Turns out that...