Playing college football is a privilege, not a right. The University and its football team afforded Michael McAdoo that privilege three years ago, only to have him squander it at the expense of his school’s reputation and his NCAA eligibility. Now, after signing with a professional team, McAdoo is going one step further with a groundless lawsuit asserting that the NCAA failed to respect the Honor Court’s findings and precedent. The University was right to nip his moot argument in the bud and file a motion to dismiss.
The NCAA deemed McAdoo permanently ineligible in November for accepting improper benefits and academic misconduct. McAdoo rebutted with a lawsuit against Chancellor Holden Thorp, UNC and the NCAA, asking for monetary compensation as well as athletic eligibility.
Today, as a player in the NFL, McAdoo has no basis for continuing his lawsuit.
UNC’s Honor Court found McAdoo guilty of accepting impermissible help on a works cited page — an obvious academic violation. UNC employs student-athletes, not athlete-students. If McAdoo can’t maintain his credibility in the classroom, he does not deserve what he has deemed his right to be on the field.
The NCAA has the right to rule an athlete ineligible if it has enough evidence of misconduct and McAdoo forfeited his privilege when he broke the rules.
McAdoo is now on the Baltimore Ravens’ roster under a three-year contract totaling $1.4 million, according to the Carroll County Times. As an NFL player, McAdoo has now severed all ties with UNC, except for one — his lawsuit.
McAdoo will never know how another college football season could have affected his career, and this uncertainty further debases his case for whatever damages he seeks.
McAdoo’s next hearing is Oct. 11. The judicial system should ensure that no more time and money is wasted on claims that are now more baseless than ever.
