Former Oregon football player sues NCAA for $100M
Former Oregon defensive lineman Doug Brenner is filing a $100 million lawsuit against the NCAA for allegedly suffering lifelong injuries from workouts.
A former defensive lineman for the University of Oregon is filing a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking $100 million in punitive damages, alleging that he suffered permanent injuries when he took part in controversial workouts in 2017.
Doug Brenner is also suing the university and former Oregon Ducks coach Willie Taggart. Brenner filed the case in Oregon state court, and the trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
A grueling training program
Taggart had hired Irele Oderinde to be the strength and conditioning coach, though he wasn’t licensed to be one at that time.
According to the lawsuit, Taggart and Oderinde did not discuss the strength and conditioning program with the university medical staff, and the school, for its part, should have made them do so.
The lawsuit went on to say that student athletes were subjected to punishing workouts where they reached the point of vomiting, passing out, or collapsing. The suit adds that Oregon’s medical staff acknowledged that the exercises exceeded the athlete’s natural limits.
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Exercising to the point of hospitalization
The university suspended Oderinde for month without pay after Brenner and fellow players Cam McCormick and Sam Poutasi had to be hospitalized after participating in the exercise program.
Brenner suffered from rhabdomyolysis, which reportedly caused lifelong damage to his kidneys. The case says that the damage has cut his life expectancy by ten years.
Taggart responded with a statement that he released to ESPN.
“I care about every one of the players I’ve coached like they are my own sons, and I want each of them to be successful on and off the field. I would never want any of them to suffer any injury.
I disagree with the things Doug Brenner has said in his complaint and am sorry we’re involved in this lawsuit. But I still wish him the best.”
The University of Oregon also challenged the claims of Brenner, saying that the university responded quickly to his injuries and that he was given the best care possible.
The trial will take place in the Lane County Circuit Court in Oregon.