Kiffin, Ole Miss ask to dismiss player’s $40M match

• Heather Dinich, ESPN

  • Senior Citizen WriterNov 9, 2023, 04:03 PM ET Close College football press reporter
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

Lawyers for Ole Miss and football coach Lane Kiffin submitted a movement Wednesday to dismiss a suit a player filed against them in September, according to court documents.Ole Miss defensive tackle DeSanto Rollins, who stated he was begun the team for missing practices and conferences during a”psychological health crisis, “is suing the university and Kiffin for failure to provide equivalent protection, racial and sexual discrimination, and multiple other accusations, according to the lawsuit.In a composed brief in assistance of Kiffin, his attorneys argued that Kiffin and Ole Miss “are immune” from a few of Rollins ‘claims which “his remaining accusations fail to specify a claim upon which relief can be granted.”Editor’s Picks Rollins, a backup lineman whose profession has been marred by injuries, is looking for$10 million in countervailing damages and$30 million in punitive damages.The claim alleges that Kiffin intentionally took unfavorable action versus Rollins”on account of race for asking for and taking a mental

health break, but not taking adverse action against white student-athletes “for the same request. It alleges sexual discrimination on the basis that Ole Miss has actually not taken”negative action against female student-athletes for asking for and taking a mental health break.” The lawyers echoed Kiffin’s only statement on the matter, which was that Rollins was never begun the group.” While Complainant declares Kiffin

‘has actually never kicked a white football player off the group for requesting or taking a break,’ he does not allege any white football player asked for a’ psychological health break’or declined to meet with Kiffin for 3 weeks,” the file stated.” Complainant likewise alleges Kiffin ‘allowed a white football player who had been gotten rid of from the group to go back to the team, ‘however he does not allege this other player was’eliminated ‘from the group under similar situations. Even more, Complainant himself has not been eliminated from the group, so even presuming there were white football players who were similarly situated, Plaintiff got the same treatment.”On Feb. 27, 2023, Rollins consulted with Kiffin, who notified Rollins he was moving from defensive deal with to the scout team’s offensive line because he would not move

. According to the claim, Rollins asked Kiffin if this was”an option or a command.”Rollins alleged that Kiffin told him”if he didn’t like it, then he should quit.”At that point, Rollins told Kiffin he was going to take “a psychological break, “according to the lawsuit.Rollins, in spite of repeated demands from the football staff, didn’t meet again with Kiffin until March 21. During the meeting, Rollins lawfully taped Kiffin without his understanding, and a copy of the transcript was included in the claim. ESPN got a copy of the audio in September.”Ok, you have a f– ing head coach. This is a task. Think what? If I have mental issues– and I’m not decreasing them– I can’t not see my f– ing manager, “Kiffin stated, according to the suit and the audio recording. “When you were informed once again and once again the head coach requires to see you, [it] wasn’t to make you practice, [it] wasn’t to play a position you don’t f– ing want to, OK? It was to talk to you and describe to you in the real world, OK? So I do not give a f– what your mother [states], OK, or what you believe in the genuine f– ing world, you appear to work. And then you state,’ Hey, I have mental problems. I can’t do anything for two weeks. However if you change my position I will not have mental issues. ‘”I guarantee if we f– ing called you in and stated you’re playing defense, would you have mental problems?”Answered Rollins:”I definitely would.”During the audio exchange, Rollins is heard saying, “I mean, you’re acting like my issues are

n’t genuine. “” I didn’t say they’re

not genuine,”Kiffin reacted.” You show up when your head– when your boss– wishes to meet with you. It would not have actually been like this … if you would’ve come here when you kept getting messages [that] the head coach wants to talk to you. And you say,’I’m not all set to talk to him.'”Said Rollins:”I wasn’t. “”What f– ing world do you reside in?”Kiffin asked.Answered Rollins:” I don’t see why you need to be disrespectful, truthfully. “”

Get out of here, “Kiffin said.” Go.

You’re off the group. You’re done. See ya. Go. And think what? We can kick you off the group.

So go read your f– ing rights about mental health. We can kick you off the team for disappointing up. When the head coach asks to consult with you and you don’t appear for weeks, we can remove you from the group.”It’s called being a p– y. It’s called concealing behind s– and not showing approximately work.”In reaction to Rollins ‘claims that Kiffin subjected him to a “hostile instructional environment,” the lawyers wrote that”

the only accurate claims supporting this claim are Complainant’s claims that Kiffin chewed out him. The Fifth Circuit has held that negative words, without more, can not trigger an equivalent security claim. “Kiffin declined to comment, deferring to the university’s original statement.” DeSanto was never gotten rid of from the football team and stays on scholarship,”Ole Miss wrote in a declaration issued through a school spokesperson.”In addition, he continues to have the opportunity to receive all of the resources and advantages that are paid for a student-athlete at the university.”