Houston Christian University Denied Motion to Intervene in NCAA Antitrust Case

US District Court Judge Claudia Wilken denied Houston Christian University’s motion to intervene in the ongoing antitrust case, House v. NCAA, as reported by Sportico.

Judge Wilken concluded that the university did not sufficiently demonstrate an inability to protect its interests without joining the case. She also noted that the university’s delayed motion, filed after a prolonged period, was a significant factor in her decision.

Houston Christian University, formerly known as Houston Baptist University, submitted a motion last month arguing that it, along with its league, had not been named as defendants in the House lawsuit nor consulted by the NCAA and the power conferences involved. The university contended that the forthcoming settlement in the House case would reduce its annual NCAA distributions by hundreds of thousands of dollars, necessitating a reallocation of funds from campus resources to maintain its athletic programs.

Related: NCAA and Wealthiest Conferences Set to File $2.77 Billion Antitrust Settlement

However, Judge Wilken dismissed this argument, stating that such financial adjustments were neither certain nor grounds for intervention. “Because HCU’s membership in the NCAA and participation in Division I sports is optional,” she wrote, “and because HCU is subject to the NCAA’s decisions and rules only because it chooses to be, the Court cannot conclude that HCU lacks ‘other means,’ besides intervention, to protect its claimed interest in deciding for itself how to allocate its funds.”

James Bryant, one of the lead attorneys for Houston Christian, indicated that the university is now considering other legal avenues in response to Wilken’s ruling. As the university digests the implications of this decision, it remains to be seen how it will navigate the financial challenges posed by the potential reduction in NCAA distributions.

Source: Sportico