Ad Disclosure
Report: Attorney for Shea Patterson claims he doesn’t plan to sue over eligibility
By Cody McClure
Published:
Shea Patterson’s attorney does not plan to sue the NCAA over Patterson’s immediate eligibility at Michigan, according to a Monday report from CBS Sports.
The former Ole Miss quarterback, Patterson, is represented by Tom Mars — the same man who represented Houston Nutt in his lawsuit against Ole Miss.
“I’ve never even had a private thought about suing the NCAA and have never said or suggested that to anyone,” Mars reportedly told CBS Sports. “I have no idea who makes up this garbage.”
Mars added that he hopes to have Patterson’s waiver request to play immediately approved “as soon as possible,” the report noted.
After NCAA sanctions — including a bowl ban for the next football season — were handed down against Ole Miss, several players decided to immediately transfer out of the program.
“I’m not aware of any rational, legitimate reason for Ole Miss to oppose any of the requests for immediate eligibility,” Mars told CBS Sports.
Rising seniors at Ole Miss have been allowed immediate eligibility upon transfer, due to the special circumstances of the situation in Oxford.
Rising juniors such as Patterson, however, are “subject to usual NCAA rules that require a year in academic residency at the next school before becoming eligible to play,” the report noted.
But perhaps the nature of the situation — and the help of Mars — will end up allowing Patterson to play for the Wolverines in 2018. Time will tell.
Patterson threw for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season at Ole Miss.
He announced on Dec. 11 that he was planning to transfer to Michigan after taking a visit to the school the weekend prior.
Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.
