Cephus attorney says UW doesn’t want football player back
MADISON, WIS. >> University of Wisconsin-Madison officials are sending a “clear message” they don’t want former Badgers wide receiver Quintez Cephus to return despite his acquittal in a sexual assault case, his attorney said Monday.
Cephus, 21, of Macon, Georgia, was suspended from the football team in August 2018 after being charged with secondand third-degree sexual assault. He was expelled from the university earlier this year for violating its nonacademic misconduct code. Cephus applied for readmission on Aug. 6, four days after a jury found him not guilty.
Cephus’ attorney, Stephen Meyer, said Monday that discussions with the university have collapsed. But the university, in a statement posted on its website, said Meyer was “false” and no decision has been made.
The university is gathering all relevant court records and will review the Cephus petition “as quickly as possible” once all the information is in hand, the school said.
The university also noted that students are held to a different standard under its code of conduct and may be found in violation even if what they did isn’t found to be criminal.
Ohio State’s Landers shines light on mental health struggles
COLUMBUS, OHIO >> Ohio State defensive tackle Robert Landers struggles with mental illness, and he doesn’t care who knows it.
In fact, he wants more people to be aware of it. The mass shooting in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, rattled him enough that he decided it was time to speak out.
The gregarious senior known as “BB” said he has suffered bouts of anxiety and depression since his father was shot to death and he was forced to become the man of the house at age 10. It wasn’t until he got to Ohio State that he was mature enough to recognize what was happening and to stop regarding it as a weakness.
NCAA amends agent rules to no longer require college degree
INDIANAPOLIS >> The NCAA has backtracked on new certification standards and will no longer require a bachelor’s degree for a sports agent to represent Division I men’s basketball players who declare for the NBA draft while maintaining college eligibility.
The requirement drew criticism last week when the certification standards were revealed, including a social media blast by NBA star LeBron James. The requirement was quickly dubbed the “Rich Paul Rule” in reference to James’ agent, who does not have a college degree.
The NCAA announced Monday it would amend the standards so bachelor’s degrees would not be required for agents currently certified and in good standing with the NBA players union. The NCAA had said last week it modeled its rules after those of the National Basketball Players Association.