A former Mississippi State University baseball player is accusing Bulldog coach John Cohen of intentionally breaking NCAA rules while conspiring to force the player to quit the team.
If MSU is found to have violated NCAA rules, it could impact Cohen's job and lead to sanctions against the program.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court, Forrest Moore contends MSU players practiced more hours than allowed under NCAA rules and that during one such practice Moore became so dehydrated he was "nearing death" and required hospitalization.
Under NCAA rules, major college players are restricted to no more than four hours per day or 20 hours per week allotted to their respective sports. The lawsuit does not specify which time limit is alleged to have been surpassed, but does say Cohen "required" players to "dedicate more hours than permitted by the governing rules," an act that continued into the spring of 2009.
Moore contends Cohen forced him to pitch - in practices and games - while injured, causing further damage to his arm that required surgery to repair and led to Cohen not renewing his scholarship for the 2009-10 academic year.
Moore also says Cohen took away his scholarship without proper written notification and that he did not follow the NCAA rules that allow for appeals when scholarships, which are awarded annually, are not renewed.
Stacey Osburn, an NCAA spokeswoman, said the organization would not comment on the allegations.
Scott Stricklin, MSU's athletic director, would not be interviewed for this story but issued the following statement through the school:
"We are aware of the lawsuit filed by former baseball player Forrest Moore. We are confident that we operate our baseball program in compliance with the rules of the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. We will allow the university's general counsel to comment further on this legal matter."
MSU, Cohen and MSU associate athletics director Mike Nemeth are listed in the suit seeking unspecified damages for a breach of contract.
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Cohen would not comment on the lawsuit when reached by The Clarion-Ledger on Friday in Oxford, where the Bulldogs played the University of Mississippi in a key Southeastern Conference game.
"We're really focused in on baseball and focused in on trying to win a series in the Southeastern Conference," Cohen said.
The general counsel's office directed questions to a university spokeswoman. "The university, as a practice, does not provide comment on current or potential litigation," MSU spokeswoman Maridith Geuder said.
Nemeth, the administrator who oversees the baseball program, did not return messages left on his phone Friday.
The lawsuit details a litany of events that Moore said led to his arm injury and eventual departure from the team.
Moore is in Jupiter, Fla., with the Florida Marlins organization, his father, Dana, said. Dana Moore, a kicker for MSU's football team in the 1980s, would not comment further when reached by The Clarion-Ledger.
Forrest Moore also alleges team doctor Rusty Linton and trainer Allen Thompson downplayed an injury Moore reported to the team on March 23, 2009, which ultimately required surgery after Moore pitched in several games. Moore asked for a second opinion outside of MSU, and an MRI revealed a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament that required surgery, according to the suit.
Cohen denied Moore's request to remain on the team during the 2009-10 season - and not play - while recovering from the surgery and instead told Moore his scholarship would not be renewed, according to the suit.
Moore alleges he was not provided written notice that his scholarship would not be renewed by July 1, 2009, as required. He also alleges he was not provided a hearing before MSU's regular financial aid authority, again in violation of NCAA standards.
Moore was a high school All-American out of Baton Rouge and signed with MSU in 2007 under former coach Ron Polk. He had a 1-2 pitching record with an 8.14 ERA as a freshman in 2008. His record was 2-1 with a 5.91 ERA in 2009, his final season at State. He was drafted in the 38th round of the MLB Draft in 2010 by the Marlins.
The complaint was filed by Oxford lawyer Doug Foster, who also represents a man who says he was attacked by a man with a cowbell during the Egg Bowl in 2009 and is seeking damages from MSU and the SEC for not enforcing rules that disallowed the possession of the traditional noisemaker at SEC games at the time. Foster would not comment about Moore's lawsuit.