Covering the Intersection of Sports and the Law
The new NCAA rule allowing colleges and universities to offer multi-year scholarships to student-athletes survived an override effort by schools which opposed the rule change. Steve Wieberg of USA Today reports that an override of the legislation was passed by the narrowest of margins: Opponents needed 207 of 330 votes by schools and conferences – a five-eighths [...]
Last week in my sports law class at Quinnipiac Law School, we discussed the state of collegiate coaching contracts. I began the class by sharing one of my favorite quotes on the topic. In 2009, Jim Harbaugh, then coach of Stanford University, discussed his new contract extension with the university. When asked if the contract [...]
I was recently interviewed by Steve Silver of The Legal Blitz, on the topic of agents and advisors in amateur hockey. Here is an except from the interview: It is my understanding that the NCAA has a flat-out agent ban in that student athletes or soon-to-be student athletes can not sign with or have any contact with an [...]
Big East, West Virginia Settle Lawsuits The Big East Conference and West Virginia University settled their lawsuit over West Virginia’s attempted departure from the Conference. Steve Berkowitz of USA Today has the story on the settlement, under which the Big East will receive $20 million and West Virginia can join the Big 12 later this year. [...]
NCAA rules allow for coaches to deny student-athletes the opportunity to explore transfers. Phil Martelli of St. Joseph’s and Charlie Weis of Kansas have become the poster boys for such actions (see Todd O’Brien and Brock Berglund). But not all coaches have the same perspective on transfers. ESPN Dallas’ Jean-Jacques Taylor has an interesting piece on SMU [...]
Last month, the NCAA expanded the definition of an agent to include those people, including parents, who market student-athletes’ athletic ability for financial gain. This measure closed the so-called “Cam Newton Loophole,” referring to the allegations that Cam Newton’s father sought payment in exchange for his son’s enrollment in college. Because Newton himself was not [...]
Connecticut Considers Reporting Requirements for Youth Coaches In the wake of recent events at Penn State University, the Connecticut General Assembly is considering requiring youth coaches to report child abuse when they see or suspect it. Josh Kovner of the Hartford Courant has the story. NCAA’s Proposal on Multiyear Scholarships Ron Morris of The State (South Carolina) has written [...]
ESPN is reporting that Todd O’Brien’s final appeal in his waiver request was denied by the NCAA. Andy Katz writes, “Saint Joseph’s has finally won. It’s over. Todd O’Brien won’t play college basketball this season for UAB.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with O’Brien’s story, see my post Todd O’Brien Denied Release By St. Joseph’s. [...]
