Articles by Ralph D. Russo

Pac-12 Files Suit Against Mountain West Over $40M in ‘Poaching’ Penalties

The Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over what it calls an unlawful and unenforceable “poaching penalty” that would cost the rebuilding conference more than $40 million for adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State, according …

Labor Official Rules Dartmouth College Basketball Players Are School Employees

A National Labor Relations Board regional official ruled on Monday that Dartmouth basketball players are employees of the school, clearing the way for an election that would create the first-ever labor union for NCAA athletes. All 15 members of the …

College Athletes Are Fighting for a Cut of Billions Generated in Media Rights Deals

At a reception attended by several university presidents in Manhattan, Arizona State President Michael Crowe was asked to ponder a not-too-distant future where Sun Devils football and basketball players get a cut from the billions of dollars their sports generate …

New Antitrust Lawsuit Against NCAA Seeks Millions in Damages

The attorneys who beat the NCAA in the Supreme Court have filed a new class- action antitrust lawsuit against the association and the five wealthiest college sports conferences that seeks millions of dollars in damages for thousands of athletes. The …

Colleges Asking Returning Athletes to Sign COVID-19 Risk Forms

Ohio State calls it the Buckeye Acknowledgment and Pledge, a two-page document the school asked its athletes to sign before they could begin using team facilities during the pandemic. The document SMU is requiring its athletes to sign is much …

Insurance Will Help But NCAA Faces Loss of Millions Due to Lost Tournament

The NCAA made more than $1 billion last year, almost $867 million from the men’s Division I basketball tournament, and most of that from a massive television rights deal with CBS and Turner that runs through the 2032 tournament. The …

Former Notre Dame Linebacker Sues School over Spinal Scan Results

A former linebacker has filed a lawsuit against Notre Dame, claiming the university concealed the results of a spinal scan from him and that he has potentially permanent nerve damage to his neck. The Indianapolis Star reports that Douglas Randolph …