NCAA replaces legal counsel following disparaging emails in Rhode Island

The NCAA replaced its outside legal counsel in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit after internal emails containing derogatory comments about a Villanova football player and the Rhode Island judiciary surfaced in court filings. The Holland & Knight law firm was replaced by Foley & Lardner LLP on Monday. Court documents revealed attorney Siobhan Cole referred to Villanova senior Jake Picard as “the poop man” and colleague Natalie Molz insulted Picard’s mother. Molz also wrote that a separate Pennsylvania lawsuit could be maintained to simplify matters for a “dumb judge in RI.” Picard is suing the NCAA over the denial of a medical hardship waiver for an additional year of eligibility after his 2025 season ended due to an ACL injury. A hearing on a temporary restraining order in the case is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

• 9:28 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Dumb judge’: NCAA lawyers mocked player, RI judiciary in emails