Ole Miss DT takes legal action against Kiffin, school over mental health

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Elder WriterSep 14, 2023, 09:05 PM ET

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  • College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

Ole Miss defensive tackle DeSanto Rollins, who said he was just recently kicked off the team for missing out on practices and conferences throughout a “psychological health crisis,” is suing the university and coach Lane Kiffin for failure to provide equal protection, racial and sexual discrimination, and several other claims, according to the suit filed Thursday.Rollins, a backup

lineman whose career has actually been ruined by injuries, is demanding $10 million in compensatory damages and$30 million in compensatory damages. The claim declares that Kiffin purposefully took adverse action versus Rollins”on account of race for asking for and taking a psychological health break, but not taking unfavorable action against white student-athletes” for the very same request. It alleges sexual discrimination on the basis that Ole Miss has actually not taken “negative action versus female student-athletes for asking for and taking a mental health break.”

“We have actually not received a lawsuit,” Ole Miss composed in a declaration issued through a school spokesman Thursday night. “DeSanto was never ever removed from the football group and stays on scholarship. In addition, he continues to have the opportunity to get all of the resources and benefits that are paid for a student-athlete at the university.”

Kiffin decreased to comment, deferring to the university’s statement.The claim, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Oxford Department and obtained by ESPN, declares that at the time of the incident, Ole Miss “did not have actually written institutional treatments for regular psychological health recommendations.” It also specifies that Kiffin, the remainder of the coaching staff and the football athletic trainers weren’t supplied with “role-appropriate training about the signs and symptoms of psychological health disorders and the behaviors of student-athletes to keep an eye on that may reflect psychological issues.”According to the suit, Rollins suffered multiple injuries during his career with the Rebels, including a concussion in the spring of 2022 and an injury to his right Achilles tendon that July. The claim claims Rollins “suffered serious depression, stress and anxiety, disappointment, shame, humiliation, a loss of sleep and loss of appetite”from the injury to his Achilles.The claim more states that no one within the athletic department or football personnel provided Rollins with materials about psychological health or a psychological health recommendation after the injury. He was renewed to practice the following month, and in August, he worsened a previous injury to the LCL in his left knee. In addition to the physical pain he suffered, the claim mentions that Rollins struggled with”severe anxiety.”On Nov. 28, 2022, Rollins met with defensive line coach Randall Joyner for an exit meeting, and Rollins stated Joyner tried to convince him to get in the transfer website. Rollins declined to transfer. On Jan. 6, 2023, Rollins’grandma died, and he”continued to suffer extreme anxiety,” according to the lawsuit.On Feb. 27, 2023, Rollins met with Kiffin, who notified Rollins he was moving from protective tackle to the scout group’s offending line because he would not

transfer. According to the lawsuit, Rollins asked Kiffin if this was”a choice or a command.”Rollins declared that Kiffin told him”if he didn’t like it then he should give up.”At that point, Rollins told Kiffin he was going to take”a mental break, “according to the suit. Rollins went to his car and immediately called strength and conditioning coach Nick Savage and reiterated his requirement for a mental break.His mother, Connie Hollins, stated she called the school’s athletic fitness instructor, Pat Jernigan, and told him Rollins was” suffering a mental health

crisis.”She requested Jernigan get a counselor to consult with her kid and screen him.According to the claim, Jernigan scheduled a conference for Rollins with Josie Nicholson, the school’s assistant athletic director for sport psychology. She encouraged him to take an action back and set up a follow-up session for March 7. When he returned for his next session, Nicholson told him Kiffin wanted to meet him once again, but Rollins said he wasn’t prepared to see the head coach yet.Rollins didn’t meet with Kiffin again up until March 21, in spite of repeated requests from the football personnel. During the conference Rollins lawfully recorded Kiffin without his understanding, and a copy of the records was consisted of in the lawsuit. ESPN has actually heard the audio recording however was not able to separately validate it.”Ok, you have a f– ing head coach, this is a job, think what, if I have mental problems and I’m not reducing them, I can’t not see my f– ing manager,”Kiffin said, according to the lawsuit and the audio recording. “When you were told once again and

again the head coach needs to see you, wasn’t to make you practice, wasn’t to play a position you do not f– ing want to, ok? It was to speak with you and describe to you in the real life, ok? So I don’t provide a f– what your mother state, ok, or what you think in the real f– ing world, you appear to work, and then you say,’ Hey, I have psychological issues, I can’t do anything for two weeks, however if you alter my position I won’t have psychological concerns.’ “I guarantee if we f– ing called you in and stated you’re playing defense, would you have psychological problems?”” I definitely would, “Rollins said.During the audio exchange, Rollins is heard stating,”I imply, you’re imitating my concerns aren’t real.””I didn’t state they’re not real,”Kiffin reacted.”

You show up when your head– when your boss wants to meet with you. It wouldn’t have resembled this. If you would’ve come here when you kept getting messages the head coach wants to

talk with you, you say’I’m not prepared to speak with him. ‘””I wasn’t, “Rollins stated.” What f– ing world do you reside in?”Kiffin asked. “I don’t see why you have to be rude, honestly,”Rollins said.”Leave here,”Kiffin stated.”Go, you’re off the team. You’re done. See ya. Go. And guess what? We can kick you off

the group. So go read your f– ing rights about psychological health. We can kick you off the team for disappointing up. When the head coach asks to meet you and you don’t appear for weeks, we can remove you from the group.” It’s called being a p– y,”Kiffin said. “It’s called hiding behind s– and disappointing approximately work. “The suit alleges that” as a proximate outcome of the actions and inactiveness of the offenders … Rollins has suffered physical pain and emotional distress and suffering.” It likewise points out the Americans with Disabilities Act, declaring that Rollins was started the football group because of his special needs, which it states was a” mental disability.”

In addition to the claims of gross carelessness and negligence, the claim alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress, specifying that “Kiffin acted willfully, maliciously, recklessly, and wantonly in words and deeds toward Rollins. “”No individual ought to go through this type of abuse when they’re suffering a psychological health crisis, “Hollins said.” He just wanted some time to make it through his grandmother’s death. It wasn’t even spring ball yet, however I do not care, it could’ve been the routine season. Often, everybody requires a break.”Rollins and his lawyer submitted a tort declares need letter May 3, however said in the

claim the defendants have not responded to it.Rollins, an honor roll student expecting to finish in December with a service degree, had played in just three games as a reserve defensive lineman heading into this season. He redshirted in 2020 and played in one game as a sophomore in 2021 as a backup defensive deal with against Austin Peay.Rollins decreased to comment, aside from informing ESPN,”I enjoy Ole Miss, however they do not enjoy me.”