A former WSU football player who left the team after a controversial recorded phone call last year has filed a new lawsuit against Head Coach Nick Rolovich and the university, alleging they exposed athletes to unnecessary COVID-19 risks, stifled free speech rights and later punished the player for speaking out.
Former wide receiver Kassidy Woods accused Rolovich of racial discrimination and retaliation following the player’s decision to opt out of play for the 2020 season as part of a regional student athlete movement calling for additional health and safety protections during the pandemic.
“The treatment that Woods received and the acts by Rolovich were in direct retaliation for the exercise of civil rights secured by … the First Amendment,” the complaint states. “Rolovich’s acts were racist, intentional, malicious, willful, wanton, and in gross and reckless disregard of Woods’ constitutional rights.”
WSU spokesman Phil Weiler indicated he was not aware of the lawsuit prior to Whitman County Watch emailing him a copy. He declined to provide comment. Bill Stevens, a spokesman with WSU Football, did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 20 in Wood’s home state of Texas, alleges Rolovich and WSU brought athletes back to campus in summer of 2020 for workouts — assuring players they had not had any positive cases and that “campus was the safest place” for players — despite a growing number of cases in Athletics.
Woods accused WSU in the lawsuit of failing to warn players of potential close contacts during that time and prohibiting players from sharing information about positive test results, even with teammates.
“Not only were athletes already testing positive for COVID-19 without notification to other players,” the complaint alleges, “Woods’ own roommate had been exposed just two days prior to Woods’ arrival on campus.”
WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun later acknowledged at least 60 student athletes had tested positive by early September. Chun also announced a number of salary and spending cuts as a result of the financial impact of the pandemic.
“These cases occurred during the time that WSU was ordering athletes to conceal the truth or otherwise face retaliation,” the complaint states, “and to abstain from support of [a] movement that questioned this very activity and demanded change.”
Woods, who is Black, participated in a number of social and racial justice efforts during his time at WSU, according to the lawsuit. In 2020, he joined other Pac-12 players in support of #WeAreUnited, a student movement demanding additional pandemic safety protocols, racial equity measures and financial responsibility.
The lawsuit states Woods spoke at least twice with Rolovich about the group’s concerns about an “apparent lack of any [COVID-19] planning or testing, among other concerns specific to Black athletes.”
Citing a health history that put him at increased risk of COVID-19 complications, Woods reportedly told Rolovich in an Aug. 1, 2020 phone call that he planned to opt out of play for the 2020 season. The lawsuit states Woods recorded the call, which was later leaked to the press.
Woods alleges Rolovich voiced concerns about his involvement with the #WeAreUnited group. Shortly after, the coach directed him to clear out his locker and barred him from team activities. The lawsuit contends five other WSU players affiliated with the #WeAreUnited group were removed from team group messaging discussions. Woods was also uninvited from team Zoom meetings.
“Defendants took blatant steps to remove Woods from the WSU football team,” the complaint alleges, “and send a clear, chilling message to those remaining on the team: joining the #WeAreUnited movement results in complete removal, ostracism, and isolation.”
The lawsuit alleges Rolovich later directed players not to discuss opting out on social media or to post in favor of others who did. Chun later denied Wood’s involvement with #WeAreUnited contributed to his removal from the team.
A few weeks later, Woods entered the transfer portal to move to a new university after concluding his career at WSU had been “terminated,” according to the lawsuit. Woods alleged WSU then breached its contracts with him by prematurely eliminating his athletics-based housing, food and other services at the end of fall semester.
The lawsuit stated Woods hoped to transfer to a school that offered more support for student safety and racial equity.
“This university nonchalance was likely driven by the enormous revenues generated by football athletes for the universities and coaches,” the complaint argues. “It was also observed that Black athletes comprise a significant percentage of the university students asked to assume COVID-19 risks while performing athletic services … for the financial gain of the universities.”
Rolovich has since faced intense criticism in recent weeks over his unexplained decision to refuse COVID-19 vaccination. After the governor recently mandated vaccinations for all higher education employees, Rolovich announced he would comply with the mandate, but did not clarify whether he specifically would get vaccinated as opposed to seeking a valid exemption.
The football team went on to play just four games in 2020 after multiple games were cancelled over positive COVID-19 results. The pandemic severely undercut the already heavily indebted Athletics department, which now has an accumulated debt to the university of more than $130 million.
WSU has not yet filed any legal answer to Woods’ lawsuit.
“Woods seeks damages for the harm to his athletic career, lost scholarships, and lost education opportunities as a results of Defendants’ unlawful conduct,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit does not list a specific sum for compensation, requesting that damages be determined at trial. Woods is also seeking punitive damages, expectation damages and attorneys’ fees.
WSU will play its first football game of the 2021 season on Saturday in Pullman.
Update, Nov. 3: Attorneys for Rolovich and WSU filed a legal answer to the complaint on Friday, denying wrongdoing and challenging the facts as outlined in the complaint. Read the answer here.
Seems like this player is a real trouble maker. Good riddance to him.