Wisconsin sues Miami for tampering with, poaching a college football player, per report
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Soon, we might actually have an enforceable definition for tampering.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the University of Wisconsin has filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami, alleging the Hurricanes tampered with and eventually poached a college football player who was under contract. The player in question is former UW cornerback Xavier Lucas, who transferred to Miami in January without entering the transfer portal.
The complaint, filed in state circuit court, accuses Miami of tortious interference while seeking unspecified damages, transparency, and accountability from Miami for allegedly interfering with a binding revenue-share contract between Wisconsin and Lucas. The lawsuit states that Miami communicated with Lucas despite knowing he had entered a contract with Wisconsin, something the school termed as “intentional” interference that “was not justified or privileged” and caused Lucas to “breach” his contract.
UW is not bringing legal action against Lucas, according to Dellenger. The Big Ten conference also supports Wisconsin’s decision to seek legal action, according to the report.
In a statement to Yahoo Sports, the Big Ten said “the principle of competitive equity” is “fundamental to college athletics” and that Miami’s actions are “irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework.”
Tampering, or claims of tampering, has long been an issue in college football. Every year, coaches complain to the media about this school or that school offering their star player lucrative deals to jump into the transfer portal. But, while the NCAA drowned in litigation, enforcement fell by the wayside.
The situation involving Lucas and the 2 schools became national news in January. Lucas signed a 2-year revenue-share agreement with the Badgers. Because of that agreement, Wisconsin refused to enter Lucas into the transfer portal when he requested a transfer during the winter window. According to Yahoo Sports, Lucas requested a transfer after learning that his father suffered a “serious, life-threatening illness.”
Lucas then withdrew from classes at the Madison campus and enrolled at Miami — less than an hour away from where Lucas played his high school ball. He hired a prominent attorney, Darren Heitner, who told outlets he planned to file an antitrust lawsuit against Wisconsin if Lucas was unable to transfer.
Now, the case could set an important precedent in the way schools enforce tampering clauses within revenue-sharing agreements offered to student-athletes.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
