USA Today Features Mit Winter as College Sports Law Expert in Article Discussing Dispute Between ESPN and the Big 12 over Loss of Oklahoma and Texas

USA Today Features Mit Winter as College Sports Law Expert in Article Discussing Dispute Between ESPN and the Big 12 over Loss of Oklahoma and Texas

Kennyhertz Perry attorney Mit Winter was sought out by USA Today to comment on the recent conference realignment in college sports.  With Oklahoma and Texas announcing they are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, the Big 12 has sent a letter to ESPN accusing the network of attempting to destabilize and eliminate the Big 12.  The conference has threatened to sue ESPN for interfering with contracts between the conference and the members and for breaching the broadcast agreement between ESPN and the Big 12.

Mit commented on what the letter means and what could happen going forward:

“This is putting ESPN on notice that (the Big 12) may sue ESPN at some point in the future if Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big 12 before the grant of rights expires,” Mit Winter, a lawyer who has served as outside counsel to college athletic conferences, told USA TODAY Sports.

“Threatening to sue ESPN is going to sour the relationship between the Big 12 and ESPN if the Big 12 continues to exist. I assume ESPN is not going to be happy about receiving that kind of letter.”

This will likely ultimately come down to “how much the Big 12 is willing to settle or whether it’s going to draw a line in the sand,” Winter said. “There are some issues with suing UT or OU because of sovereign immunity. It’s hard to sue a state entity.”

The entire article can be read at the following link:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2021/07/28/big-12-sends-espn-cease-desist-letter-college-conference-expansion/5408410001/

More About Kennyhertz Perry’s Collegiate Sports Practice Group

The need for an attorney experienced in collegiate athletics has never been higher.  From assistance with compliance, eligibility, scholarship, and transfer issues, to advice and representation relating to the newly emerging name, image, and likeness laws and legislation, universities, conferences, coaches, and college athletes often need an attorney to advocate on their behalf and to assist and advise on these types of issues.

The team at Kennyhertz Perry is uniquely suited to guide universities and college athletes through all of these types of issues with respect to the multitude of rules and laws set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations (NFHSAA).

The attorneys at Kennyhertz Perry all have years of experience advocating for clients in high stakes matters and advising them on related issues.  In addition, and most importantly, attorney Mit Winter is a former Division I scholarship basketball player with extensive experience working on collegiate athletics legal matters.  Mit has first-hand experience in understanding the pressures and demands faced by college athletes both on and off the field, and has represented a number of sports-related clients in his practice, including the Big 12 Conference, Conference USA, and the NCAA.

Mit is widely regarded as an expert in collegiate sports law and frequently writes on these legal issues.  He is also the founder and chairman of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s Sports and Entertainment Law Committee and serves as a Regional Captain in the states of Kansas and Missouri for the Sports Lawyers Association’s (“SLA”) Outreach Committee.

Kennyhertz Perry’s college sports practice provides representation to those who are seeking an attorney with expertise to advise them on the myriad legal and compliance concerns prevalent in college athletics today.  To learn more about the firm, visit kennyhertzperry.com.

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