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Xavier Lucas in the portal

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nycane said:
you weren't hype when he committed? lol.

He has been out of place bad on plays but he's athletic and can be a sure tackler. Problem is whether he can pick it up mentally and based on how Guidry coached, im willing to give him a shot with a new coach.
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He is an in the box safety. Was in high school and should be here. Need the new coach to provide a scheme and teach to his skillset.
 
Honest question:

What exactly would be the most justifiable reason for holding this up? Texts from Mario to Lucas offering money to transfer? Sure, that is tampering, but everyone tampers.

It is difficult to believe that Wisconsin is going to all this trouble just because they value the player so much and want to convince him to change his mind. That ship has sailed.

I am not lawyer but if the issue was money that the collective gave Lucas that he won't pay back, that is a tough look for Lucas, but that is between his camp and the collective and Wisconsin is a separate entity.

I truly cannot think of a big enough reason for Wisconsin to bother with all of this.
 
MikeyCanez said:
Honest question:

What exactly would be the most justifiable reason for holding this up? Texts from Mario to Lucas offering money to transfer? Sure, that is tampering, but everyone tampers.

It is difficult to believe that Wisconsin is going to all this trouble just because they value the player so much and want to convince him to change his mind. That ship has sailed.

I am not lawyer but if the issue was money that the collective gave Lucas that he won't pay back, that is a tough look for Lucas, but that is between his camp and the collective and Wisconsin is a separate entity.

I truly cannot think of a big enough reason for Wisconsin to bother with all of this.
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Dozens of pages later, we have all concluded this. We have no idea what Wisconsin is thinking, we have no idea what they think will happen.

On the other hand, I am very curious as to why this is NOT a slam-dunk quick answer from the NCAA. Expedited review. Perhaps the NCAA is just chicken-****, but this is ridiculous.

Both NCAA and Wisconsin rules compel Wisconsin to process the paperwork.
 
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TheOriginalCane said:
Dozens of pages later, we have all concluded this. We have no idea what Wisconsin is thinking, we have no idea what they think will happen.

On the other hand, I am very curious as to why this is NOT a slam-dunk quick answer from the NCAA. Expedited review. Perhaps the NCAA is just chicken-****, but this is ridiculous.

Both NCAA and Wisconsin rules compel Wisconsin to process the paperwork.
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Chicken **** is being too nice
 
IbzRlz said:
I agree Wisconsin is cutting off their nose to spite their face, but if Miami has any desire of joining the BIG10, this is going to bite them in the ***. Say what you want, but Wisconsin is one of the most powerful schools in the conference and will do everything they can to make sure UM isn't admitted.
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This is one of the dumbest comments I’ve ever Read on here. Well done, sir, well done.
 
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TwentySix said:


SIAP. Anyone?
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With college programs enrolling for the spring semester in the next couple of weeks, there’s some urgency to the matter …. because otherwise Lucas will need to wait until after spring practice to try and enter again during the second portal window.

CaneSport spoke today with Heitner, who says he’s gotten no explanation as to why Wisconsin hasn’t put Lucas’ name into the portal. So far there’s been no movement and no NCAA hearing for Lucas as it regards to his getting into the portal, per Heitner.

“It’s a shame that Wisconsin has left everybody with no choice but to speculate, because no one has said anything publicly from the University,” Heitner said. “The NCAA hasn’t said anything.

“I’ve never heard of (this happening) before. Wisconsin is a voluntary member of the NCAA, which requires them two business days to submit his name into the national transfer database after he’s provided his documentation to compliance, which he did. He did so mid-December, and here we are a week into January and from my perspective every minute that he doesn’t have his name in the portal he’s being prejudiced because other schools are filling out their rosters.”

Heitner adds that “From my understanding it’s a case of first impression. I have not seen anything other than mere speculation on social media as to the justification for Wisconsin to preclude Xavier from entering his name into the transfer portal.”

Among the “speculation” is that Wisconsin has lost so many players to the portal – 23 – that folks within the athletic department are upset. Or that the Badgers feel there’s tampering going on and are trying to make an example of someone … in this case Lucas.

As to that latter theory, Heitner says that if litigation is ultimately filed then potentially any text message exchanges from or to Lucas, for example, could be revealed, although Heitner would fight that in discovery if the case got that far.

“I would object to the relevance of any such communication, because even if there was `tampering,’ that doesn’t give them any basis for preventing him from entering his name into the transfer portal,” Heitner said. “Maybe Wisconsin wants to bring a claim against a third party for some sort of tortious interference, but that wouldn’t be a basis for defense (to keep Lucas out of the portal).”

Heitner also points out that “I don’t even know what tampering is in this context (of a third party perhaps talking to Lucas’ agent, for example) because these aren’t employees of a University. That’s the first question. Secondly, if an agent for a player is reaching out to others to see how interested others may be in the player, how is that actionable? I don’t know what tampering is, I keep seeing the phrase thrown out on social media and in articles. But if we’re talking about some sort of tortious interference, I haven’t seen the necessary documentation or evidence that would make a case on such grounds.”

As for the process now? Heitner has reached out to a contact at the NCAA this morning seeking a speedy review of what’s happened. Depending on the response he gets and the NCAA’s willingness to look at Lucas’s case, he might then reach out to Wisconsin to try and come to a resolution.

“It’s not a formal appeal to the NCAA, I was only retained this morning – I reached out to a contact at the NCAA to explain the situation … and that we require immediate action,” Heitner said. “I’m waiting for a response. I’ll wait somewhat patiently, but not too long. If we don’t hear from the NCAA we’ll next go to Wisconsin directly.”

Short of either of those?

“If we continue to be stonewalled, we’ll escalate to litigation,” Heitner said. “We need action immediately.”

“I’d quickly draft a complaint as well as a motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction and seek the court to provide use with emergency relief that puts his name into the transfer portal and allows him to transfer elsewhere,” Heitner adds. “Absent that I’d ask for extraordinary relief that gives him an exception to the rule as to the deadline by which he would need to enroll.”

Heitner says he’s “an optimistic guy” but is uncertain of any potential timeline or how this will play out.

“I’d like to think cooler heads will prevail when you have reasonable people who are involved in a situation,” he said. “If they don’t budge and continue to hold Xavier hostage then we will quickly figure out what their position is either in response to a motion that we file and/or in discovery.

“I’m hopeful it can be done without escalation or litigation, but we’re ready and willing if necessary. … If the NCAA throws its own hands up in the air I’ll still make every effort to communcate with all the decision-makers at Wisconsin who have been involved in this process to see if they are willing to change course before I file a lawsuit. But that needs to happen quickly.”
 
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I mean literally unless players are able to sign nil directly with the school now which I don't believe is the case, has anyone at all came up with any possibility that actually makes sense for Wisconsin actions that actually would justify their lawyers back they coaches play here and not immediately overriding them?
 
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