U. Wisconsin Sues U. Miami Over Claims it Induced One of its Football Players to Change Teams
“Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit”
Let’s start paying student athletes. What could go wrong? This. This is what will go wrong.
The Associated Press reports (via CNN):
University of Wisconsin sues University of Miami over claims it induced one of its football players to change teams
The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida school this upcoming season.
Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics.
The player in question in the filing is referred to only as “Student-Athlete A.” But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.
Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas’ name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall.
The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore.
“Indeed, student-athletes’ newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments,” a portion of the lawsuit reads.
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Comments
It is like there is no difference between living in Miami vs Madison in mid January.
It’s time to abandon the fiction of “student-athletes”. These are professional athletes and should be referred to as such.
That is absolute garbage. These kids are in school to earn a degree that will make them a productive member of society. Any trained seal or monkey can play with a ball. Paying these students to play sports is just absurd.
Read the article. They are _already_ being paid: “2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. “
I did read the article, and I still call garbage. If I pay the neighbor kid a few bucks to mow my lawn every week, does that make him a professional landscaper? I stand by my original statement. Those kids are there to earn a degree and learn life skills that will make them a productive member of society. Full stop.
How about if your town said it’s scenery depended on ‘amatuer’ lawn mowers so no home owner was allowed to pay for the service. That’s what the NCAA said for 70 years.
why arent they paying the academic students??
they bring in money and research and prestige
oh thats right…most of the athletes are poc and we must continue to do as they say as yet another socialist move is made
socialism demands that the workers own the company and that there are no rich wealthy wht people
etc etc