Armstrong Plans to Sue UM over Dismissal
Injunction would allow Armstrong to practice with UM until the NCAA rules on his eligibility
Ray Ray Armstrong is planning to file an injunction against the University of Miami in hopes of practicing with his former team until the NCAA rules on his eligibility. His attorney told several media outlets, including ESPN and the Miami Herald.
"Here you've got Miami making a decision on its own to kick him off the team without the NCAA telling them to. You ask why? I believe it's because they're under investigation by the NCAA," his attorney Matt Morgan told the Herald. "We're saying Miami is offering up a sacrificial lamb in Ray-Ray."
UM dismissed Armstrong from the team in July for undisclosed reasons (though it was reportedly for an interaction with a booster that he discussed on Twitter). Armstrong was one of the players suspended multiple games in 2011 for receiving impermissible benefits from Nevin Shapiro. UM is still under investigation for its role in the Shapiro scandal, which Morgan believes is behind Armstrong's dismissal.
"The underlying issue is Ray-Ray was at a hotel with his girlfriend, the girlfriend picked up charges to her personal credit card, so there is no NCAA violation," Morgan said. "They're thinking an agent is putting him up in the room but it turns out to be his girlfriend. You can't avoid hanging out with your girlfriend, just because her occupation happens to be a PR person."
"Occupation" puts it loosely, reports the Herald. She owns a PR agency that represents professional athletes. In the NCAA's complex rulebook, that makes any interaction she has with Armstrong complicated.
Armstrong's father told the Herald his son was dismissed from the team because he had initially lied to UM officials about the hotel incident. According to ESPN.com, past NCAA rulings have found players guilty of violating rules simply by lying or misleading NCAA investigators.
Even so, this was not Armstrong's first dust-up, even after his suspension for the Shapiro affair. Armstrong was suspended another game late in the 2011 season after he tweeted a photo of his meal at Prime 112, which his girlfriend allegedly paid for.
UM athletic director Chris Freet told the Herald Tuesday he had not heard from Armstrong's lawyer, offering no other comment.
In a statement provided by Morgan, Armstrong said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with The University of Miami. I hope they reconsider their decision and allow me to play football as a Hurricane this season."
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