Latest news with #tampering
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bret Bielema calls out Kirby Smart, Georgia for tampering
The post Bret Bielema calls out Kirby Smart, Georgia for tampering appeared first on ClutchPoints. When a college football player receives communication from another team about playing for said team before the player has entered the transfer portal, it is called tampering. Tampering is a big problem in college sports, and it is against the rules. However, it's abundantly clear that it happens all the time, and there are rarely any punishments for it. For example, Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema is pretty confident that Kirby Smart and Georgia tampered with his running back Josh McCray. Advertisement Josh McCray was one of the best players on the Illinois football team last season, but he now resides in Athens, Georgia. He entered the transfer portal this past offseason, and it didn't take him very long to land with the Bulldogs. 'We did lose a guy to Georgia,' Bielema said during a recent episode of The Triple Option. 'Somehow, he found his way to the portal and 12 hours after being in the portal, he was on a flight to Georgia. I don't know how that happened, but it's crazy. Wish Josh all the best. He took advantage of that opportunity.' McCray had over 600 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season for the Fighting Illini. Losing him hurts, but Bielema has a lot of confidence in this year's running back room. It reminds him of a special one that he had back in the day at Wisconsin. 'I'm very excited,' Bielema said. 'We had three guys last year that are coming back to us that are very special. And it's kind of like what I had when I was at Wisco. I had a roster one year John Clay was a fifth-rounder to Pittsburgh, big 260-pound bruiser, just a workout (warrior). Behind him was a guy by the name Montee Ball, ended up being a second-round pick to the Denver Broncos.' Advertisement Just those players would make for an incredibly stacked RB room, but Bielema wasn't finished. 'Then behind him was this young guy named James White, who was the Freshman Big Ten Player of the Year,' he continued. 'Then there was this other guy, Melvin Gordon, who became a first-rounder. Those four guys were on one roster. All four of them were just a little bit different, and that's kind of what I've got going now.' Tampering is a huge problem in college football, and Bret Bielema thinks that his team was a victim of it this offseason. However, the Illinois football team is going with a next man up mentality, and Bielema is confident that the Fighting Illini will be successful at the RB position. Related: North Carolina, Bill Belichick lands ex-Alabama commit to bolster secondary Related: Lee Corso's son is 'disappointed' by College GameDay's Ohio State selection
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Miami Facing Groundbreaking NIL Lawsuit Over Alleged Player Tampering
Miami Facing Groundbreaking NIL Lawsuit Over Alleged Player Tampering originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The ever-evolving world of college athletics, particularly NIL, may have reached a legal tipping point. The University of Miami now finds itself at the center of a groundbreaking lawsuit filed by the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective, focused on alleged tampering involving cornerback Xavier Lucas. Advertisement According to a report from Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint in state circuit court, claiming 'tortious interference' by Miami. The complaint alleges that the Hurricanes made impermissible contact with Lucas while he was still under contract with Wisconsin. This is believed to be the first legal action of its kind directly tied to NIL-era tampering. Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel At the heart of the case is Lucas, a South Florida native who signed a new contract with Wisconsin in December before transferring to Miami in January, without formally entering the NCAA transfer portal. The Badgers allege that Miami knowingly engaged with Lucas despite his existing agreement, which resulted in him breaching that deal and transferring. 'Miami interfered with UW-Madison's relationship with Student-Athlete A by making impermissible contact with him and engaging in tampering,' the suit reads, with Wisconsin seeking 'unspecified damages, transparency, and accountability.' Advertisement Whether the courts agree remains to be seen. However, legal experts and college football insiders believe this case could set a precedent for how tampering is defined and enforced moving forward. For now, Lucas remains eligible to play for the Hurricanes this fall, where he's expected to make an immediate impact on a secondary that allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns per game in the ACC last season. Lucas was 247Sports' 20th overall player and first-ranked cornerback in the transfer portal this offseason. His addition was viewed as a major win for new Hurricanes defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman's defense, and it now carries potentially significant off-field implications. As the NIL era continues to evolve, Miami's role in this case could shape how schools recruit, retain, and protect their athletes and navigate the legal lines surrounding NIL, player contracts, and tampering. The Hurricanes have not yet issued a public statement on the lawsuit. Related: Rookie QB Cam Ward's Surprising Trash Talk Highlights His Confidence at Titans OTAs This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
NHL rumblings: Tampering penalties and Marner signing timeline, plus latest on Giroux, Gibson, more
At the NHL general managers meeting last November, deputy commissioner Bill Daly addressed the room on the subject of tampering. Especially on and around July 1. I asked him that day why he decided to raise the topic. 'We just haven't emphasized its importance in recent years,' Daly responded. 'So, it's more of a refresher on what the rules are and what can be done and what can't be done and what's appropriate and what's not appropriate. That's all.' Advertisement And the timing of the refresher? 'There was some commentary in the media that I was uncomfortable with around July 1 that indicated that there may have been contact and negotiation before July 1,' he said. On Nov. 25, Daly followed up by sending a league memo on tampering to all 32 clubs. So here we are, with July 1 just days away. 'We sent out a reminder to clubs this past week about pre-free-agency talks and certainly hope that will be useful as a reminder,' Daly told The Athletic on Wednesday. 'If we are made aware of tampering going on, we will be required to act.' What are the repercussions for a team found to be tampering? 'Fines, suspensions and potential loss of draft picks,' Daly said. So, will we see an impact when James Duthie welcomes the hockey world on TSN's Free Agent Frenzy on Tuesday? Will it be a little quieter than normal in the first hour after the market opens? Hard to say, honestly. Let's be real: Any team waiting until July 1 to communicate for the first time with a notable unrestricted free agent is toast. They would get left in the dust by their competition. At the very least, every team interested in certain free agents has to lay the groundwork before July 1 to make sure they're in the mix. And to be fair, usually it's agents reaching out to teams, feeling them out. Agents leave the draft combine in Buffalo every year feeling a lot clearer about what the market will look like for their clients, and it was no different this year. But perhaps teams and agents are being a little more careful this year in how far their conversations are going ahead of July 1. As one agent said this week, maybe don't ratify your agreement in the first five minutes after the market opens, right? What's the rush? (I still don't understand why the NHL and NHL Players' Association did away with the UFA speaking period, which was legalized tampering in the day leading up to free agency, when extending the CBA in July 2020. It's the NHLPA that wanted it gone.) Advertisement Whatever the case, it doesn't sound as though the No. 1 free agent on the board will be a 12:01 p.m. Eastern signing, for starters. 'As per the rules, we are only permitted to speak with teams beginning July 1,' Darren Ferris, Mitch Marner's agent, said Wednesday. 'At that time, prospective teams will have the opportunity to speak with Mitch directly. Following those conversations, Mitch will make an informed and thoughtful decision.' That doesn't sound like a first-hour signing. What Ferris didn't say exactly, is when that decision would be made. My TSN colleague Darren Dreger reported on a SportsCentre hit during the Stanley Cup Final that after soliciting interest from teams on July 1, Ferris and Marner would whittle the list to the clubs he and his family want to visit 'before making a decision by July 15.' Teams aren't convinced that's how it's going to go down, but I get why Ferris may want that out there ahead of time. It takes the pressure off the situation just in case a Marner signing doesn't happen on July 1. And if Marner really does feel the need to visit teams and cities, well, that will indeed delay things. Remember that prized free-agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo did visit Vegas before signing with the Golden Knights on Oct. 12, 2020, three days after the market opened. And of course, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter made their splashy signings in Minnesota on July 4, 2012, also three days after the market opened. There are other examples as well. Heck, Nazem Kadri didn't sign until Aug. 18 when he was UFA in 2022 (the market opened July 13 that year), although there were other factors at play there with the Flames at the time needing to make more moves ahead of the signing, most notably moving Sean Monahan to Montreal that same day to make the cap math work. Kadri still signed a very nice contract given that it was the flat-cap environment, seven years and $49 million. So waiting didn't hurt him. Advertisement Kadri's agent, by the way? Ferris. Which is maybe just a coincidence, but at the very least, it tells you if Marner's situation isn't settled by the end of Tuesday, it's all part of the process for Ferris. Here are rumblings from elsewhere around the NHL: The Ottawa Senators had more talks Wednesday with Pat Brisson, the agent for pending UFA forward Claude Giroux. It's been a grind of a negotiation, by all accounts, on a one-year deal. I don't sense Wednesday's conversation produced the breakthrough the sides had hoped for, but the plan is to keep at it. I get that some Vancouver Canucks fans weren't thrilled that the team had to give up an asset to get Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and take on his full $5.125 million cap hit on the remaining year of his contract, helping a rival with their cap issues. But Kane's agent, Dan Milstein, said there was interest from two other teams, so there was competition and interest there. Milstein said Kane's preference was to go to his native Vancouver and credited the Oilers for making that happen. The two other teams were in the Eastern Conference. I actually think a healthy Kane might have a decent year for the Canucks next season in a good role. Speaking of the Oilers, they still need to move more money. It's not just that Evan Bouchard is in line for a huge raise on his expiring $3.9 million cap hit. Remember: Leon Draisaitl is going from $8.5 million to $14 million on the cap next season, too — plus the Oilers putting the finishing touches on Trent Frederic's extension. Next up, the Oilers are looking to trade Viktor Arvidsson and his remaining $4 million cap hit for next season. Arvidsson has a full no-move clause, but that shouldn't be an issue. He met with Oilers management after the season, and both sides agreed that a change could be beneficial for all involved. The agent and team are working together to find him a new home. The Oilers have had several inquiries already. I would expect a trade within the next two to three weeks. And then, well, the Oilers have to find replacement players for Kane and Arvidsson — cheaper guys who can contribute. Not easy to hit that right. Finally on Kane, Daly told The Athletic on Wednesday evening that there is 'no change' as far as the league's investigation into the Oilers and potential long-term-injured-reserve circumvention with Kane this season. The league put the Oilers on notice a while ago, but whether things proceed to the next level on that front, Daly said, remains to be seen. Advertisement Stop me if you've read this before (guilty as charged), but this might finally be the summer that John Gibson gets moved. It's my understanding that several teams have inquired of late on Gibson, 31, who had a better season after a few injury-plagued ones and whose contract is down to two years left on it at a $6.4 million cap hit. It's not a surprise that teams are calling as the UFA crop after Jake Allen isn't very sexy. Gibson has a modified no-trade but is very open to a move. So Ducks GM Pat Verbeek and veteran agent Kurt Overhardt are working together on it. There's a sense that it's finally going to happen, but I will also add that Verbeek isn't overly interested in retaining salary on the trade unless he's incentivized to do so. He would take a contract back in a deal, though. And that contract could be another goalie. Again, I know we've all heard this before, but it feels more real than ever. Just don't hold me to it! Talks continue between the Stars and agent Bayne Pettinger on a new deal for pending UFA captain Jamie Benn, who turns 36 on July 18. The sides are focused on a 35-plus-type one-year deal. July 1 is right around the corner, but there seems to be no concern that it won't get done. Benn doesn't want to go anywhere. (Top photo of Mitch Marner: Claus Andersen / Getty Images)
CNN
7 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Wisconsin, NIL collective sue Miami, allege tampering and NIL inducements to land football player
The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers' football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida school this upcoming season. Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics. The player in question in the filing is referred to only as 'Student-Athlete A.' But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas' name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall. The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore. 'Indeed, student-athletes' newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments,' a portion of the lawsuit reads. Wisconsin said in January that it had credible information that Miami and Lucas made impermissible contact with each other before the former Badgers cornerback decided to transfer. Wisconsin and VC Connect allege that the inducement for Lucas to attend Miami happened within days of him entering his NIL agreement to play for the Badgers, and that they incurred substantial monetary and reputational harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and 'a declaration that Miami's conduct directed towards Student-Athlete A constituted tampering.' A message left with the University of Miami seeking comment was not immediately returned. In a text message Friday, Heitner declined to comment on the lawsuit but he said that Lucas still plans to attend Miami and play football. Wisconsin said it had the support of its leadership and the Big Ten Conference in filing the lawsuit, noting its commitment to 'ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics.' 'While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,' the statement said. 'In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community. Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin last season. Heitner said that Lucas hasn't received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school. Heitner also argued that Wisconsin had violated an NCAA bylaw by not entering Lucas into the transfer database within two business days of the player's request. Wisconsin issued a statement at the time saying it hadn't put Lucas' name in the portal because he had entered a two-year binding NIL agreement. In April, the surprise transfers of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA prompted fresh questions about contracts and buyouts. Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract. Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal after spring practices wrapped up. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks' NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas.
Reuters
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Wisconsin sues Miami over transfer tampering in a legal first
June 21 - The University of Wisconsin sued the University of Miami on Friday, formally accusing the Florida school of tampering with a football player under a financial contract with the Badgers. The decision to sue could become a watershed moment in the current era of college athletics. Never before has a university accused another of tampering with one of its athletes, who did not have contracts before the dawn of name, image and likeness rights this decade. "While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field," the school said in a statement provided to ESPN on Friday. Though Wisconsin's lawsuit only refers to the player as Student Athlete A, the subject of the case is cornerback Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami over the winter without ever entering the transfer portal. It was reported at the time that Wisconsin refused to put Lucas' name in the transfer portal. Lucas signed a two-year contract with the Badgers in December 2024 -- a deal that gave the football program nonexclusive rights to use his NIL but also prohibited him from committing to enroll or participate in athletics at another school. Lucas enrolled at Miami in January. Wisconsin's lawsuit alleges that a Miami staffer and a prominent alumnus of the school met with Lucas and his family and offered him money to transfer. --Field Level Media
