• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 2, 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

PSG and the City of Paris Can Join European Soccer’s Elite

What a maiden Champions League title would mean for the French club.
Mar 28, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) rebounds over Michigan State Spartans center Carson Cooper (15) and Mississippi Rebels guard Matthew Murrell (11) in the second half of a South Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena.

SEC Increases Court Storming Fine to $500K—With Caveat

The SEC used to fine schools $500,000 as a third-time offense.

How the Champions League Anthem Took on a Life of Its Own

The composer didn’t know he wrote a timeless hit three decades ago.

Brett Yormark: Big 12 Puts Private Equity and Naming Rights on Pause

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is shifting his conference’s strategy.

Featured Today

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

“It’s almost impossible to think about tennis without thinking about Rolex.”
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 24, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Basketball Universe—Thanks to Both Pro Teams

The Fever and Pacers are thriving at the same time.
Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
Mar 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detailed view of the basketball sneakers worn by Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena.

Skechers Sued Over Allegedly Sketchy Go-Private Deal

The footwear giant agreed to be acquired by 3G Capital for $9.4 billion.
May 28, 2025

Arizona Father-Son Duo Plead Guilty to $280 Million Sportsplex Fraud

Randy Miller and his son Chad conned multiple investment firms. 
Zion Williamson
May 30, 2025

Zion Williamson Accused of Rape and Abuse in Lawsuit

The woman says their relationship began when he was at Duke in 2018.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
Vince McMahon
May 28, 2025

Former WWE Exec Flips on Vince McMahon in Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Janel Grant and John Laurinaitis announced their settlement Wednesday.
Darin Ruf
May 23, 2025

Darin Ruf Sues Reds Over Career-Ending Knee Injury

Ruf played for five teams across nine major league seasons, hitting .239.
Indiana basketball's Adidas team shoe - January 5, 2025
May 22, 2025

Steve Madden Sues Adidas to Protect Its Own Use of Stripes

Adidas previously sued Steve Madden over trademark issues.
Tennis
May 21, 2025

ATP, WTA Ask Judge to Dismiss ‘Tennis Cartel’ Lawsuit 

The motions were filed late Tuesday and early Wednesday.