I completely agree, but was under the impression that a licensed NCAA dealer can personalize the jersey with your name. I say rumor... mainly b/c that's what the 'mom and pop shop' gave "my friend" as their reason.
According to LSUShop, you can put ANY number and Any name on Any jersey as long as the name and number (both at the same time) does not belong to an actual player. So,,,,,put your own name and any number or any players name with a number that he isn't assigned and you're good.
Contractual obligations? I can promise you I can put any name on any shirt at three of four different vendors (mom & pop) with a simple visit and the hell will/can the NCAA do about it? I'll never tell, they'll never know.
as red pointed out, adding it to a jersey you already own is perfectly fine. but you cannot buy them already made like that. so any mom and pop shop that sell LSU gear cannot slap a name on the jersey, THEN sell it. However, once they sell it to you, you can pay them to write whatever the hell you want on it. NCAA has the legal team to shut them down.
Did anybody notice that LSU put a small "LSU" on the jersey this year. Before that it was just a white jersey with purple and gold shoulder stripes and arm ringers, and purple numbers. Dozens of high schools have the same jersey, it just doesn't have the "LSU" on it. Before this year, a merchant could just say that he was making an South Memphis High School Jersey #20 with CANNON on it. Now people will want the LSU and merchants will have to pay the merchandizing fee to sell them.