Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after being denied a sixth year of eligibility. Chambliss’ legal team is requesting a preliminary injunction from a Mississippi judge that would allow him to play another collegiate season, according to multiple reports.
The NCAA formally rejected Chambliss’ request for a sixth year of eligibility on January 9. The denial was based on the inability of Chambliss and his team to provide evidence that he was suffering from an “incapacitating injury or illness” during the 2022 season, in which he did not play due to apparent respiratory issues.
“In November, Ole Miss filed a waiver request for football student-athlete Trinidad Chambliss, seeking to extend his five-year Division I eligibility clock, citing an incapacitating illness or injury. Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student’s incapacitating injury or illness, which was not provided,” the NCAA’s statement read.
The documents submitted by Ole Miss and Chambliss’s prior school included a physician’s note from a December 2022 visit stating that the student-athlete was “doing very well” since he was last seen in August 2022. Additionally, the prior school indicated it had no documentation of medical treatment, injury reports, or medical conditions during that time frame and cited “developmental needs and our team’s competitive circumstances” as reasons for Chambliss not playing in the 2022-23 season.
As a result, the waiver request was denied.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter expressed disappointment with the NCAA’s decision and confirmed that the school plans to appeal.
“We are disappointed with today’s announcement by the NCAA and plan to appeal the decision to the Committee level,” Carter wrote in a social media post, which included the flag of Trinidad and Tobago. “Additionally, we will continue to work in conjunction with Trinidad’s representatives in other avenues of support.”
Chambliss’ attorney also released a statement suggesting that litigation could be pursued.
“I understand that Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA. However, there’s now an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary instead of some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who couldn’t care less about the law or doing the right thing,” said attorney Tom Mars. “Whether to pursue that course of action is a decision only Trinidad and his parents can make.”
Chambliss and his legal team are preparing to go to court in an effort to keep him on the field for the 2026 season.
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https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ole-miss-qb-trinidad-chambliss-sues-ncaa-get-6th-season-eligibility
