Dustin W. Osborne, an associate in the firm’s Sports and Entertainment and Workers’ Compensation practice groups, wrote an article for the America Bar Association discussing Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields and the new NCAA transfer guidelines, which have led to discussions of ending the one-year rule.

In “Buckeye on the Prize: Justin Fields and the Evolution of NCAA Transfers,” Dustin talks about the current NCAA transfer guidelines, the evolution and application of reformed guidelines, and how Fields got his waiver to play approved.

“Based on the recent transfer precedent, it comes as no surprise that the NCAA ultimately granted Fields his waiver; perhaps coming as even less of a surprise, it gave no reasoning for its decision. If history is any indication, the stars seemed to align for Fields from the get-go; first, the inference may be made that Fields met any and all academic requirements. The crux of the issue, then, turned on whether Fields suffered from “documented mitigating circumstances outside of [Fields]’s control and [whether it] directly impacts the health, safety or well-being of [Fields]” pursuant to the new NCAA guidelines. This is where perennial NCAA transfer expert Tom Mars clearly came into play—according to Mars, ‘[u]nlike the situation with the Ole Miss transfers, the process of obtaining a waiver for Justin isn’t going to drag on for months.'”

Read the full article here: 

“Buckeye on the Prize: Justin Fields and the Evolution of NCAA Transfers,” American Bar Association, November 21, 2019

More about Goldberg Segalla’s Dustin W. Osborne:

Dustin W. Osborne focuses his practice on the defense of complex workers’ compensation claims. In representing clients in all types of workers’ compensation litigation, Dustin handles matters from their inception through resolution, and, if necessary, on appeal. His background also includes commercial litigation, and he is an emerging authority in sports and entertainment law.