NCAA Upholds Penalties Against Mizzou, Including Postseason Bans

An NCAA appeals committee upheld a series of penalties against the University of Missouri (Mizzou), including postseason bans, after a tutor was found to be completing coursework for several student-athletes.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions initially penalized Mizzou in January 2019. The tutor was employed by the university from 2010 to 2016 and began to complete student coursework in the summer of 2015. The tutor interpreted a pay raise as school approval of her behavior. She completed assignments, quizzes, exams, and even an entire course …

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All in the Family: Father of NCAA Corruption Convict Allegedly Fired for Soliciting $25,000 from Student-Athlete

Cleveland State University (CSU) has fired Lou Dawkins, the father of aspiring sports agent and convicted NCAA bribery conspirator Christian Dawkins, from his assistant basketball coach position for soliciting $25,000 from a student-athlete.

As we previously reported, Christian Dawkins and Adidas consultant, Merl Code, were convicted by a federal jury in October 2018 on fraud charges. Then, in May 2019, Dawkins and Code were convicted by another federal jury on conspiracy to bribe assistant college basketball coaches.

Dawkins is currently arguing for leniency in …

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On Appeal, Former USC Linebacker Tackles Judge’s Ruling with Misapplication of Law Claims

In September 2016, Lamar Dawson, a former USC linebacker, filed a class-action suit against both the NCAA and Pac-12 Conference alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and California Labor Law. Dawson claimed the NCAA and Pac-12 failed to pay athletes minimum wage, failed to pay overtime, and failed to make timely compensation to athletes. He argued that he, among other student athletes, were without a doubt employees.

The NCAA and Pac-12 moved to dismiss the suit in January 2017, and in April, Judge …

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Former USC Football Player Urges California Court Not to Dismiss FLSA Class Action Suit

On Monday, February 27, 2017, former USC football player, Lamar Dawson, urged the Northern District of California court not to dismiss his proposed class action lawsuit, in which he seeks wages and overtime pay for Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players.

As background, Dawson filed suit against the NCAA and Pac-12, alleging that the organizations violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and California State labor law by underpaying athletes, not paying athletes minimum wages for all hours worked, not paying timely compensation, not …

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“No Subs Allowed” — NCAA Responds to Former Footballer’s Proposed Intervention Bid

On Monday, February 9, 2016, the NCAA responded to a former college football player’s bid to intervene as a proposed class representative in an antitrust lawsuit against the association, stating such intervention is unjustified in the pending Indiana federal court action. The response comes nearly two weeks after ex-Weber State University cornerback Devin Pugh filed a motion to replace former Gardner-Webb University quarterback John Rock in the event Rock was found to be an inadequate class member. Rock had filed suit to challenge the number …

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Former Cornerback Seeks Intervention in NCAA Scholarship Suit

On January 22, 2016, Devin Pugh, former Weber State University cornerback and named plaintiff in a punitive class action suit against the NCAA, filed a motion to intervene into a similar suit brought against the NCAA over the leagues limits on scholarships for Division I athletes.

Pugh filed his motion to intervene and join the proposed antitrust suit brought by John Rock over the NCAA’s “artificial” limits on scholarships offered to athletes who compete in Division I football programs. Rock’s suit is grounded on …

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NCAA Council Loosens Grip on D-I Basketball, NBA Draft

Restrictions became a bit looser for NCAA basketball players hoping to become drafted to the NBA. On January 13, 2016, the NCAA D-I Council adopted a proposal “that, among other provisions, changes the date by which a student must remove his name from the NBA draft.”

Cody McDavis of the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee stated that the new rule “is a good idea because it provides men’s basketball student-athletes the opportunity to test their dream of going beyond the stage of amateurism into …

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Former Quarterback Seeks Additional Docs to Support Class Certification Against NCAA

John Rock, former Gardner-Webb University quarterback, has urged the NCAA to turn over information that he believes will help establish class certification.

Rock initiated an antitrust suit against the NCAA back in 2012, alleging that the organization’s “artificial” scholarship cap and former prohibition on multi-year athletic-based scholarships represented illegal restraints on trade. The suit was later dismissed in 2013, based on the Indiana District Court’s finding that the plaintiff failed to identify a “cognizable market” that suffered from the “anti-competitive” effects of the NCAA’s regulations. …

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