Members of NC State’s 1983 team suing NCAA over NIL
A group of ten individuals from NC State’s championship team of 1983 have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, aiming to receive payment for the organization’s utilization of their identities, pictures, and likenesses.
Terry Gannon and Thurl Bailey are part of the players currently engaged in the legal action, although it is worth noting that Dereck Whittenburg, Sidney Lowe, Ernie Meyers, and the estate of Lorenzo Charles are not included in the lawsuit.
“For more than 40 years, the NCAA and its co-conspirators have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the Cardiac Pack’s publicity rights — including their names, images, and likenesses — associated with that game and that play, reaping scores of millions of dollars from the Cardiac Pack’s legendary victory,” the lawsuit said.
If there is a legitimate grievance, it seems that Whittenburg and the estate of Charles are most affected. It is possible that they might join the lawsuit as plaintiffs later. Both Whittenburg and Ernie Meyers are currently working for NC State, as you probably already know.
It will be intriguing to observe how this situation unfolds—the team has enlisted legal professionals with expertise in litigations against the NCAA, including the attorney who represented UNC receiver Tez Walker in his eligibility dispute.
The NCAA has faced numerous legal challenges in recent years, and this case could potentially establish a new legal precedent—if it indeed proceeds to trial.
