An Ole Miss football player has filed a lawsuit against Ole Miss University and head coach Lane Kiffin. The lawsuit filed by Rebels player, DeSanto Rollins, alleges racial and sexual discrimination and negligence.[1] Rollins is a defensive tackle from Louisiana who claims that he was kicked off the team during a mental health crisis.[2] However, the school filed a motion seeking to dismiss the lawsuit and is arguing that Rollins has no basis for his lawsuit.
Rollins is currently a senior and has been with the team since June 2020.[3] He claims that Kiffin’s failure to recognize his mental health requests resulted in a worsening of his depression.[4] Additionally, Rollins claims that Kiffin’s actions were “intentional, malicious, and ‘in reckless disregard’ of the player’s rights and mental health.”[5] Part of the suit accuses the school of ignoring Rollins “requests for a mental health break and claiming that neither Kiffin, the football coaching staff nor the trainers provided him with mental health educational materials or referrals, as required by the NCAA.”[6]
Rollins claims that he was kicked off the team when he asked to take a mental health break after debilitating injuries and the passing of his grandma.[7] Kiffin is claiming that he has immunity from the claims made by Rollins. “Kiffin said he cannot be held individually liable for violating Rollins’ equal protection rights because his actions were not state actions, but Rollins claimed they were state actions because Kiffin at all times was an employee of the university who was acting in his individual capacity and his official capacity as the head football coach.”[8]
Kiffin and Ole Miss are looking to have the claims made by Rollins thrown out on the grounds that Rollins is still on the team, as shown on the school’s website. However, “[s]ince allegedly being kicked off the team on March 21, Rollins has not suited up, sat on the sideline for the team, received the team’s daily schedule, received a jersey or gear, been invited to or attended mandatory team meetings or media events or been invited to or attended team meals.”[9]
To make matters worse, “Rollins said that during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, a white male kicker for the football team tested positive for drugs, and while Kiffin gave him a break from the team, he was not kicked off, and he still plays for the university today.”[10] “This year, Rollins said, when a white player’s father died, Kiffin gave the player time off but did not kick him off the team either.”[11] He claims he was not supported through his depression the way white and female athletes have been at Ole Miss.[12]
“Rollins [is] seek[ing] $10 million in damages from Kiffin and the university, and $30 million in damages from Kiffin individually.”[13] He is looking for $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages.[14] With Rollins claiming that Kiffin and the school neglected his mental health requests, and Kiffin claiming immunity, it will be up to the judge to determine whether Kiffin and the school were negligent in the care of Rollins.
[1] Ole Miss, Kiffin seek dismissal of lawsuit filed by football player | AP News
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Ole Miss Football Player Highlights Coach’s Troubling Actions – Law360
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
[11] Id.
[12] Ole Miss, Kiffin seek dismissal of lawsuit filed by football player | AP News
[13] Ole Miss Football Player Highlights Coach’s Troubling Actions – Law360
[14] Ole Miss, Kiffin seek dismissal of lawsuit filed by football player | AP News
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