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Report: Attorney who helped several players receive immediate eligibility no longer handling waiver cases
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The attorney who helped so many college athletes earn immediate eligibility from the NCAA, including Justin Fields and Shea Patterson, will no longer handle waiver cases, according to ESPN.
On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported that Tom Mars, the attorney who has battled the NCAA numerous times, is stepping away from handling future waiver cases. The demand for his services in that area had grown tremendously, forcing him to step away.
According to Rittenberg, Mars has no regrets about the individuals he assisted, but the increasing demand was too high.
Attorney Tom Mars, who assisted Shea Patterson, Justin Fields and others with their immediate-eligibility waivers, tells me that he no longer will be handling waiver requests. Mars has no regrets about helping players but notes he could not take on all the cases, given the demand
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) July 12, 2019
Mars assisted numerous student athletes in their quest for immediate eligibility waivers from the NCAA. In the B1G, he helped Patterson earn immediate eligibility at Michigan following his transfer from Ole Miss. He also assisted Fields in his pursuit for immediate eligibility at Ohio State.
The lone case that Mars was not successful in was with Illinois tight end Luke Ford, who had is initial request and subsequent appeal denied. Ford moved closer to home to be around his grandparents, who are battling health issues. It’s still a head-scratching decision from the NCAA.
With the transfer portal growing in popularity, demand for Mars and his ability to fight the NCAA would’ve only grown higher.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB