A Leflore County Chancellor served up some home cooking to the NCAA last year as he ordered the organization to provide another year of eligibility to two members of the Mississippi Valley State University's men's basketball team.
George Ivory, III and Lamont Sams the NCAA in Leflore County Chancery Court on March 2. The plaintiffs are graduate students at MVSU and members of the basketball team. The students asked the Court to enjoin the NCAA from declaring they were ineligible to play another year of college basketball.
Ivory argued he only played three actual years of college basketball:
2020-201: Covid-19 season at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
2021-2022: Redshirt season at MVSU. Appeared in three games at end of season due to intuitional emergency (The coach was fired and several players quit before season was over).
2022-2023: Full season at MVSU
2024-2025: Full season at MVSU
2025-2026: Denied opportunity to participate in part of season by NCAA.
Ivory claims he was not told hie would lose his eligibility if he played the three games in the 2021-2022 season.
Sams claims he only played three years as well and deserves another year of eligibility:
2019-2020: Lee College (JUCO)
2020-2021: Blanket waiver due to Covid-19
2021-2022: Denmark Technical College
2022-2023: No participation due to hardship
2023-2024: Talledega (NAIA)
2024-2025: Talladega (NAIA)
Sams claimed he did not play in the 2022-2023 season because:
the combined mental and physical toll of the pandemic, along with the pressure to remain academically eligible and manage family responsibilities, caused significant exhaustion. During this time, the additional stress due to the anticipation of the birth of a child further complicated the matters.
MVSU tried to obtain waivers for the two students but the NCAA denied the request.
The plaintiffs seek relief from the Court so they can play in the school's three final games on February 28, March 3, and March 5 as well as the conference tournament scheduled for March 9-14.
The complaint claims the NCAA "arbitrarily and unreasonable deprived plaintiffs of their property interests" in the ability to participate in college sports. It charges the organization with breach of contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing. The plaintiffs asked the Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the NCAA.
Attorneys Everett and Aisha Sanders represented the plaintiffs. The case was assigned to Circuit Judge Willie Perkins.
No notice was provided to the NCAA so it was unable to defend itself in Leflore County.
Judge Perkins wasted no time as he issued a TRO slapping down the NCAA the next day. The Court observed the plaintiffs did not notify the NCAA of the request for a TRO but it didn't matter since the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on the merits of the case. The NCAA's rejection of their waiver was "arbitrary" and ignored the "evidence" presented . The defendant breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing.
Both players participated in the SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
The NCAA can ask for a hearing within ten days of the issuance of the TRO. It has yet to do so.
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7 comments:
"Home Cooking" is a gross understatement when referring to Willie Perkins' "court".
The NCAA needs to put meaningful resources and effort into actually evaluating player eligibility, on a case-by-case basis.
Maybe then the courts will quit slapping it around.
Who cares? They are still going to suck.
Unlike the Ole Miss situation this business has no real financial repercussions. It's ridiculous home cooking but if they play or not it, it's small potatoes. In fact it's not even potatoes it's more like peanuts.
The judge in the Chambliss case: “I’m going to show you some home cooking and I’m gonna cry with tears of joy while I’m do it.” Judge Perkins: “Hold my beer.”
Every single decision on earch now has to be decided by a judge in court of law. This is the sinking ship USS America...a complete totalitarian state incoming.
no notice?
Star Chamber Proceedings.
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