In a recent legal scrimmage, Ole Miss defensive tackle DeSanto Rollins has thrown a curveball at Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin, accusing him of treating players differently based on their skin color. Rollins, with a touch of courtroom flair, has presented two eyebrow-raising allegations to back his claims.
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Table of Contents
Rollins’ Courtroom Chronicles: A Touchdown of Allegations
Rollins, who proudly wears the color Black, has submitted a court filing through his lawyer, Carroll Edward Rhodes, claiming “evidence of disparate treatment of white and Black football players.” This legal play has triggered a series of counter-moves in response to Kiffin’s attempts to dismiss the lawsuit.
Examples from the Field: When Kickers Get a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card
The legal playbook unfolds with Rollins pointing to instances where white players seemed to catch a break. According to the lawsuit, a white male kicker tested positive for drugs in 2022, yet Coach Kiffin didn’t show him the door. The same leniency was allegedly granted to another white player, excused from the team after his father fell ill and later passed away. These players remain in the Rebels’ lineup, according to Rollins.
Rollins’ Mental Health Timeout: A Comedy of Errors?
Rollins, whose original lawsuit claimed racial bias over a mental health break, now narrates a tale of woe involving depression, anxiety, and a touch of embarrassment. His Achilles injury in July 2022 and the death of his grandmother added to the tragic comedy. Rollins, in a bold move, admits to avoiding Coach Kiffin in March because he was “not in a good place,” leading to a heated exchange when they finally crossed paths.
The Missing Invitations: Rollins’ Redshirt Junior Woes
Rollins argues he’s not feeling the team love, citing a lack of invites to meetings, meals, jersey swag, away game trips, and even the exclusion from Senior Day festivities. Is he on the roster or on the sidelines? The courtroom drama deepens.
Kiffin’s Defensive Strategy: A Legal Jujitsu
Coach Kiffin’s playbook is no slouch either. He’s calling on qualified immunity, Eleventh Amendment immunity, and a slew of legal defenses to intercept Rollins’ claims. Kiffin asserts he’s not individually liable for ADA violations and attempts to sack Rollins’ claims under Title VI, Title IX, and the Rehabilitation Act. It’s a legal cat-and-mouse game with high stakes.
Rollins’ Big Ask: The Million-Dollar Huddle
In the end, Rollins isn’t just seeking a first down; he’s going for the end zone with a demand for “$10 million in compensatory damages from Kiffin and Ole Miss, and $30 million in punitive damages from Kiffin.” It’s a Hail Mary pass in the legal playbook.
In this riveting match between player and coach, only time will tell if Ole Miss will emerge victorious or if this legal pigskin will be fumbled. Stay tuned for more twists and turns in this gridiron saga.
