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MADISON – Up until Saturday the discourse in the ongoing battle between Xavier Lucas and the University of Wisconsin has been one-sided with Lucas and his attorney offering their side of the story.
That changed Saturday.
Wisconsin issued a statement on the situation involving the freshman’s departure from the school, and it offered some interesting details.
* On Dec. 2, Wisconsin and Lucas entered into a two-year NIL agreement that included “substantial” financial compensation for Lucas that UW believes remains in effect and enforceable. The statement also said there was a separate agreement with the Varsity Collective, which connects Badger athletes with NIL opportunities.
* Wisconsin said it has credible information indicating impermissible contact between Lucas and University of Miami football personnel prior to his request to enter the transfer portal. Lucas announced his intention to transfer on X on Dec. 19.
“Direct interference with another institution’s committed player and contractual interests is prohibited by NCAA tampering rules and the law,” UW wrote in the statement.
Lucas, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound cornerback from Pompano Beach, Florida, and his attorney argue that Wisconsin wrongfully declined to enter his name into the transfer portal last month. Wisconsin said it did not process Lucas’ transfer portal request because it had a signed agreement that commits Lucas to the Badgers football program.
In a story published Friday, Lucas’ attorney, Darren Heitner, told Yahoo Sports that Lucas had unenrolled at Wisconsin and enrolled in Miami. That move could circumvent the transfer portal.
Xavier Lucas of Wisconsin intercepts a pass in the fourth quarter against Western Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium on Aug. 30, 2024, in Madison.
“Badger student-athletes who have signed these agreements expect…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/university-wisconsin-breaks-silence-stalemate-051046212.html
Author : Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Publish date : 2025-01-19 05:10:00
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