Ole miss suing former players

[Dawgzilla2]

If LSU had a lick of sense... they would put these players on every news outlet they can with frowning faces and someone on a microphone going on about "these kids are being sued for trying to pick themselves up out of poverty and helping their poor disadvantaged families out of poverty... and .... and.... and... and.....".

More likely this all goes away quietly. The case is just about money, so its not going to speed through the court system. A confidential settlement will be reached at some point and we'll never know what happened.

 

[GloryDawg]

Honestly I don’t think it will be settled for less. Any appeals would be in Mississippi courts anyway. And I think it’s probably a slam dunk case for UMiss anyway. You sign a contract, take the money & then walk away to go work for the competition 2 weeks later. It is kind of funny that now UMiss has an issue with it. It’s ok if a players leave Clemson under very similar circumstances.

On one hand it needs to be done but on the other hand it's Ole Miss. I think LSU is going to look at this as them being targeted over Lane and will retaliate against Ole Miss as soon as they can plus, I think OLe MIss has done it to other schools and they might get hammered themselves. I hope that does happen and when the dust settles this crap will stop. Personally, I hope a nationwide war breaks out over it.

 

[Drebin]

LSU convinced the players to leave UMiss, and at least has an interest in the financial impact to them in making the jump. They want their players to be happy with their decision.

LSU says they aren't paying, but maybe the Collective could just slide them a bump in their NIL deal. A move like that might technically violate the revenue sharing rules, but I'm starting to think I don't know how any of this works.

Until these NIL deals are locked down with non competes, I don't see how another school can be at fault here. Ultimately it's open season. At the end of the day the player signs on the dotted line and makes a commitment, they are the responsible party.

If there was non-competes tied to this and LSU violated that, I agree with you. But I think if that were the case, Ole Miss would be suing LSU and not the players.

 

[dog99walker]

Kinda sad that Pittsburgh didn’t sue us when Johnny Long transferred to play baseball. I’m just sayin’…

 

[615dawg]

Ole Miss sues LSU's Umanmielen, Harper for breach of contract

Ole Miss is seeking close to $1 million in penalties from former players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper, who signed revenue sharing contracts to return to the Rebels this season before joining former coach Lane Kiffin at LSU.

www.espn.com

Like Patdog, conflicted because its Ole Miss.

But if they lose this case, the dominoes that would fall in college football would be incredible.

Nothing good coming out of college sports anymore.

 

[615dawg]

Question:

Does this mean they’re inviting Clemson to sue one of their players?

The guy from Clemson had not signed an NIL contract at Clemson. Sure they were tampering and that has to be dealt with, but this is a different animal. These two players at LSU signed a contract, and the contract said they had to pay back the money if they transferred. They ignored Ole Miss when they were given a chance to pay it back, and Ole Miss even reached out to LSU to give them a chance.

 

[patdog]

Until these NIL deals are locked down with non competes, I don't see how another school can be at fault here. Ultimately it's open season. At the end of the day the player signs on the dotted line and makes a commitment, they are the responsible party.

If there was non-competes tied to this and LSU violated that, I agree with you. But I think if that were the case, Ole Miss would be suing LSU and not the players.

Pretty sure you can't sue the next employer for violating a non-compete agreement they were never a part of. You can sue the employee and the next employer can either agree to pay it for him as additional compensation or stay out of it. Which appears to be the case here.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

Until these NIL deals are locked down with non competes, I don't see how another school can be at fault here. Ultimately it's open season. At the end of the day the player signs on the dotted line and makes a commitment, they are the responsible party.

If there was non-competes tied to this and LSU violated that, I agree with you. But I think if that were the case, Ole Miss would be suing LSU and not the players.

I didnt say LSU did anything wrong, just that they have an interest in their players being happy with their decision to transfer.

There could be a claim for tortious interference, but only if LSU was aware the players had signed their deals with UM.

 

[GloryDawg]

Question for you legal dogs. So, if OLe mIss wins and the LSU guys appeal to Miss Supreme Court and they lose. What then. It's not federal so they can't appeal any further, correct? If that's the case what options would OLe MIss have if the two LSU guys say, "**** you. Come and get the money." How could Ole MIss retrieve what is owed to them? It's state court not federal court.

 

[goindhoo]

This case could get removed to federal court. If not, yes, MS SC is last stop. Ole Miss would take their judgment and try to collect. Garnishments, etc.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

The guy from Clemson had not signed an NIL contract at Clemson. Sure they were tampering and that has to be dealt with, but this is a different animal. These two players at LSU signed a contract, and the contract said they had to pay back the money if they transferred. They ignored Ole Miss when they were given a chance to pay it back, and Ole Miss even reached out to LSU to give them a chance.

The way I understand it, they aren't paying any money "back". The contracts were for the upcoming season. If they did get any 2026 money in advance, they should definitely give it back.

But their deals had an early termination fee around $500k each. IMO, thats excessive, and possibly unenforceable.

 

[patdog]

Question for you legal dogs. So, if OLe mIss wins and the LSU guys appeal to Miss Supreme Court and they lose. What then. It's not federal so they can't appeal any further, correct? If that's the case what options would OLe MIss have if the two LSU guys say, "**** you. Come and get the money." How could Ole MIss retrieve what is owed to them? It's state court not federal court.

Getting a judgment and collecting that judgment can be two different things. Told a UM fan at work their risk is these guys blow all their money before the case finishes and they have to try to get blood out of a turnip.

 

[patdog]

The way I understand it, they aren't paying any money "back". The contracts were for the upcoming season. If they did get any 2026 money in advance, they should definitely give it back.

But their deals had an early termination fee around $500k each. IMO, thats excessive, and possibly unenforceable.

How is it excessive? You just lost two key players you had signed and were counting on near the end of the transfer portal window. That's a pretty big deal when many (maybe most) of the comparable replacements have already signed with their new school. The hometown judge isn't going to rule it's excessive and the home state Supreme Court isn't going to overturn that.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

How is it excessive? You just lost two key players you had signed and were counting on near the end of the transfer portal window. That's a pretty big deal when many (maybe most) of the comparable replacements have already signed with their new school. The hometown judge isn't going to rule it's excessive and the home state Supreme Court isn't going to overturn that.

UM didnt lose any money. They lost a linebacker and a lineman. You lose football players all the time, for a variety of reasons.

If UM had known those two were transferring out, they might have sought replacements...but they weren't required to. And who knows if they would have signed anyone better than the current backups?

Plus, there was nothing preventing them from signing someone else even if those guys didn't transfer out. Who couldn't use another linebacker and lineman?

Its all speculative, and they have had 7 months to adjust. I dont see how their damages are that high just because those players changed their minds. Some financial penalty, sure, but not 100% of the value of the contract.

But they will settle, and we'll never know what happened.

 

[eckie1]

I don't blame them. They probably realized their window for relevance is potentially imminently closing. They will pull out all the stops.

FIFY

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

How do we know there was no nil deal with Clemson other than hearsay? Had Clemson come out and said it?
The coach leaving could have played a part however it's a MS Court so it'll fall in favor of UM
I hope we're doing contacts like this as well as it at least makes them hesitate a little transferring out.
Do we know for a fact this was a new 2026 contact as if not it could change things (it won't= MS Court)

 

[olblue]

 

[Msdeltareb]

LSU is trying to kick the can because the money comes out of rev share and they’ve already promised it to other players.

 

[patdog]

How do we know there was no nil deal with Clemson other than hearsay? Had Clemson come out and said it?
The coach leaving could have played a part however it's a MS Court so it'll fall in favor of UM
I hope we're doing contacts like this as well as it at least makes them hesitate a little transferring out.
Do we know for a fact this was a new 2026 contact as if not it could change things (it won't= MS Court)

We don’t. But if he did sign, I hope Clemson will sue too. Doesn’t matter really. Either way he’s playing for Mississippi this fall just like the other two are playing for LSU.

 

[patdog]

LSU is trying to kick the can because the money comes out of rev share and they’ve already promised it to other players.

LSU doesn’t have to pay a dime if they don’t want to.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

This looks good for the bow tie crowd.

 

[Villagedawg]

Yeah, let's let the lawyers and Congress fix college sports! Doesn't take Nastradamus to see how this will turn out. View attachment 1376746

Quasimodo predicted all this.

 

[olblue]

LSU is trying to kick the can because the money comes out of rev share and they’ve already promised it to other players.

Or perhaps they aren’t a party to the contract and are willing to challenge it in court.

Face it. If Chambliss can get a judge to get him a sixth year, LSU can probably find one to rule that they really don’t have a dog in the fight over contracts between Ole Miss and a couple of football players.

 

[Msdeltareb]

LSU doesn’t have to pay a dime if they don’t want to.

Correct, but that generally is how it has happened in these spots (the team the player transferred to pays the buyout) and they almost certainly told the two players that they would pay it for them.

 

[Msdeltareb]

Or perhaps they aren’t a party to the contract and are willing to challenge it in court.

Face it. If Chambliss can get a judge to get him a sixth year, LSU can probably find one to rule that they really don’t have a dog in the fight over contracts between Ole Miss and a couple of football players.

They don’t need a judge for that. They weren’t a party to the contracts.

 

[olblue]

They don’t need a judge for that. They weren’t a party to the contracts.

And because of that, I bet there is ultimately no impact to their revenue sharing total.

 

[olblue]

Correct, but that generally is how it has happened in these spots (the team the player transferred to pays the buyout) and they almost certainly told the two players that they would pay it for them.

What proof do you have that LSU “almost certainly told the two players that they would pay it for them”? Take off the red and blue glasses.

 

[Msdeltareb]

And because of that, I bet there is ultimately no impact to their revenue sharing total.

If they pay the buyout, it comes from revenue share.

 

[Msdeltareb]

What proof do you have that LSU “almost certainly told the two players that they would pay it for them”? Take off the red and blue glasses.

No proof, just common sense. They reneged on an contract within 15 days of signing it that would cost them each the majority of their paychecks for 2026 season. Common sense tells me that someone told them that A) Ole Miss wouldn't enforce the contract (which makes no sense, given the timing); or B) LSU or an LSU booster would pay the buyout.

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

No proof, just common sense. They reneged on an contract within 15 days of signing it that would cost them each the majority of their paychecks for 2026 season. Common sense tells me that someone told them that A) Ole Miss wouldn't enforce the contract (which makes no sense, given the timing); or B) LSU or an LSU booster would pay the buyout.

Of course you see it that way. Why wouldn't you.

How about. Hey. We have the better coach and can match/ give you more money plus better facilities along with better everything else really. The coach wants you to come over. What do you say.
You'd think common sense would be no one would have to tell them to pay back anything they got from yall. The fact that the players thought they could double dip is pretty shocking.

*should be shocking but I guess common sense really isn't that common especially when there is timing involved.

 

[patdog]

No proof, just common sense. They reneged on an contract within 15 days of signing it that would cost them each the majority of their paychecks for 2026 season. Common sense tells me that someone told them that A) Ole Miss wouldn't enforce the contract (which makes no sense, given the timing); or B) LSU or an LSU booster would pay the buyout.

Or they just really are that stupid. I'm leaning towards my answer.

 

[olblue]

If they pay the buyout, it comes from revenue share.

Again, if an Ole Miss QB can get a sixth year of eligibility, a school can get around a $1MM speeding ticket.

 

[olblue]

No proof, just common sense. They reneged on an contract within 15 days of signing it that would cost them each the majority of their paychecks for 2026 season. Common sense tells me that someone told them that A) Ole Miss wouldn't enforce the contract (which makes no sense, given the timing); or B) LSU or an LSU booster would pay the buyout.

Don’t confuse common sense and with fan bias because they are two very different things

 

[Msdeltareb]

Again, if an Ole Miss QB can get a sixth year of eligibility, a school can get around a $1MM speeding ticket.

NCAA rules are not the same as contract law.

 

[Msdeltareb]

Don’t confuse common sense and with fan bias because they are two very different things

I think your opinion is more reliant on fan bias than mine in this instance.

 

[Msdeltareb]

Or they just really are that stupid. I'm leaning towards my answer.

Also a possibility.

 

[NewTweederEndzoneDance]

LSU doesn’t have to pay a dime if they don’t want to.

Well, that depends on what they promised the players and whether any of that is in a contract/writing. LSU was not a party to the players' contracts with Ole Miss, but it does have its own contracts with the players I'm sure.

 

[patdog]

Well, that depends on what they promised the players and whether any of that is in a contract/writing. LSU was not a party to the players' contracts with Ole Miss, but it does have its own contracts with the players I'm sure.

Good point. I just assumed that wasn’t the case. But it wouldn’t be the 1st time they tried to not pay something they were contracted to pay.

 

[Perd Hapley]

no appeallate judge is going to make two kids pay $500K to ole miss for walking away from a 2 week old contract. It would be different if ole miss paid up front.

I think that would depend on how much money they took after signing the contract and then bolting. If each was paid $500k on January 10th or something, then they dipped out on January 22nd….they’re definitely going to have to pony up.

But if it was just a straight up agreement and no money had changed hands yet, or only a negligible amount, then it probably gets thrown out.

 

[Anon346850]

Matt Hayes checks in

Rules for thee, not me. Hypocritical Ole Miss in middle of NIL dispute | Opinion

Ole Miss football looks petty and hypocritical in suing former players, writes USA TODAY Sports columnist Matt Hayes.

www.usatoday.com