• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Law

Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin Lawyers Argue for Dismissal of Player Lawsuit

  • Audio obtained by Front Office Sports details the alleged argument between coach and player.
  • Defensive lineman informed Kiffin he wanted to take a ‘mental health break’ from the program.
Lane Kiffin
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

In a motion filed on Wednesday, lawyers for Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss laid out a half-dozen reasons why the lawsuit filed by a Rebels player in September should be dismissed. 

DeSanto Rollins, who remains on scholarship at the school, alleged in the federal lawsuit that seeks $40 million in damages that Kiffin “ignored” indications Rollins suffered from depression and subjected Rollins to “grossly reckless, and indifferent” treatment.

“Plaintiff has not alleged Kiffin treated him differently than other similarly situated individuals, much less that he did so with discriminatory intent because of Plaintiff’s race or sex,” attorneys Paul B. Watkins, Jr. and Walter G. Watkins, Jr. wrote in a brief in support of the motion to dismiss

Those “similarly situated individuals” that Rollins alleged in the lawsuit include “a white football player,” “white female softball players,” and “female volleyball players” who allegedly didn’t face punishment for taking mental health breaks. 

“Plaintiff does not allege Kiffin coached these volleyball or softball student-athletes or was involved in decisions about their alleged ‘mental breaks,” the lawyers wrote in the motion to dismiss. “Kiffin, in his individual capacity, cannot be said to have discriminated against Plaintiff absent such facts.”

At a Feb. 27 meeting, Rollins alleged that Kiffin was upset he didn’t enter the transfer portal after the 2022 season. He said he was “being moved from his defensive tackle position to the scout team on the offensive line.” Rollins said he told Kiffin at the end of the meeting “he was going to take a mental health break.”

Rollins’ mother contacted Ole Miss athletic trainer Pat Jernigan after the Feb. 27 meeting, and told Jernigan her son “was suffering a mental health crisis,” according to the lawsuit.

Rollins said he was suffering from depression following an injury last season that was compounded by the death of his grandmother. He was next to his grandmother as “she drew her last breath.”

According to the motion to dismiss, defensive line coach Randall Joyner told Rollins to meet with Kiffin on March 1. Josie Nicholson, Ole Miss’ assistant athletic director for sport psychology, told Rollins on March 7 that Kiffin wanted to meet with him.

“Rollins did not want to meet with him yet because he was not in a good place,” according to the lawsuit.

That meeting didn’t take place until March 21, leading to a contentious exchange that was transcribed in the lawsuit. 

“You have a f—ing head coach,” Kiffin said. “This is a job. Guess what? If I have mental issues  — and I’m not diminishing them — I can’t not see my f—ing boss, when you were told again and again the head coach needs to see you.”

Front Office Sports exclusively obtained the audio recorded by Rollins. Warning: Contains strong language. The conversation begins at the 26-second mark. 

“There is no statutory duty for a football coach to manage his team roster or speak to his players in any particular way,” the lawyers wrote in the motion. “To the contrary, Mississippi courts have recognized that coaching decisions are largely discretionary because ‘coaches know their players and must be able to control their teams.’ Nor has Plaintiff identified a legal duty to ‘have written institutional procedures for routine mental health referrals.’” 

Messages left with Ole Miss, and the lawyers representing the school and Kiffin were not returned.

Rollins, who is Black, alleged he was denied his 14th Amendment rights of equal protection. Ole Miss’ lawyers wrote that Kiffin couldn’t be the target of such an allegation as an individual. 

Lawyers for Ole Miss and Kiffin also claim that Rollins’ claim that rights under Title IX were violated should be dismissed because Rollins “may not seek reputational or emotional distress damages for his claims under Title VI, Title IX, and the Rehab Act.” 

The lawyers also wrote that Rollins’ negligence claim against Kiffin can’t be pursued in federal court because of the Mississippi Tort Claims Act

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
Sep 10, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards (8) fights to keep the ball in-bounds during the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Connecticut AG Demands Documents From WNBA About Sun Sale Process

The WNBA reportedly prefers to move the team to Houston.

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
Sep 10, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; A general view of the main scoreboard at Yankee Stadium during a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk before the game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers.

Yankees Prepare for Security Chaos With Trump at 9/11 Game, Days After..

The team told fans to arrive three hours early without any bags.

Featured Today

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
opinion
September 9, 2025

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from NFL’s Week 1 Broadcasts

Many viewers decried the addition of ads to “NFL RedZone.”
Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) leads the team onto the field for warm ups before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
September 7, 2025

Slow Burn: The NFL’s Private-Equity Era So Far

Three deals have been struck to date. But the league is bullish.
Jon Gruden

NFL Asks Nevada Supreme Court to Rehear Jon Gruden Case

The arbitration fight between Gruden and the league continues.
Blue Jays
exclusive
September 5, 2025

MLBPA, DraftKings Agree to Settle NIL Suit

MLBPA said DraftKings and other sportsbooks improperly used players’ NIL.
Hosszu
September 8, 2025

World Aquatics Reaches $4.6 Million Settlement With Pro Swimmers

Meanwhile, the International Swimming League’s case heads to trial in January.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Nov 9, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; 23XI Racing team owner Michael Jordan during qualifying for the Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
September 4, 2025

Jordan Can’t Bar Charter Sales Because NASCAR Agreed Not to Sell Charters

The contentious antitrust suit is slated to go to trial this December.
Feb 2, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue scratches his head after calling a time out as forward Kawhi Leonard (2) walks past in the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
September 4, 2025

Kawhi Leonard’s Alleged ‘No Show’ Job Is Latest in Complex Clippers Relationship

Leonard’s high-profile 2019 recruitment continues to generate headlines years later.
Megan Romano
September 4, 2025

The $800 Million Enhanced Games Lawsuit Could Have Legs

Antitrust experts say the case could have some merit.
Oct 15, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the Fox Sports Southwest logo during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 123-104.
September 3, 2025

Fox, Hairstylist Settle Bombshell Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Skip Bayless, Charlie Dixon, and Joy Taylor all denied claims of wrongdoing.