As we move beyond the third year or third week, who’s to say, of waiting on a decision from the NCAA appeals committee about Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility for the 2026 season, the irritation meter is close to maxing out.
First, there was the initial denial of Chambliss’ eligibility waiver for 2026, which, along the way, featured:
- An NCAA staff member, in a recorded conversation, admitting a letter from Chambliss’ doctor “sufficiently demonstrates” that Chambliss was incapacitated during the 2022-23 season at Ferris State (page 19 of the PDF)
- More fun folks at the NCAA dismissing 91 pages of contemporaneous medical records (page 19)
- The NCAA lying in its “press release” on Twitter (page 19)
- The NCAA passing down their ruling the day after Ole Miss lost to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl
- Trinidad Chambliss finding out his eligibility had been denied via Twitter (page 19)
- Ole Miss compliance finding out Chambliss’ eligibility was denied (also via Twitter) while literally on the phone with the NCAA (page 19)
But it’s about the student-athletes, y’all!
Then, after Ole Miss appealed the waiver denial, the NCAA committee in charge of rendering appeals judgment spent the last 3+
weeks displaying the transparency that the organization loves to talk about. When you’re there 100 percent of the time all the time for the student-athletes, you have to be transparent as possible.
So how transparent have the been? Let’s see…
Do we know what they’ve been doing? No.
Do we know why this has taken almost a month and counting? No.
Have they given any progress updates? No.
Have they given an super vague updates with empty buzzwords? No.
Have they provided a decision date? No.
Have they provided a ballpark decision date? No.
Have they provided the decade in which they might make a decision? No.
Have they at least confirmed they’ve met? No.
How many lunches and dinners have they charged to the expense account? ALL OF THEM.
While we don’t know anything from the transparency of the guardians of the game, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports confirmed on January 23rd that they met at least twice prior to that date and requested more information.
If you’re crunching the numbers, the 23rd was 12 days ago. And according to Dellenger’s tweet, they asked for more information earlier in that week, which means this request was made up to 16 days ago.
Given that Ole Miss submitted 91 pages of medical documentation for Chambliss at least 2 months ago, it’s unclear what additional information the committee needs before making a decision. Since it’s the NCAA and arbitrary requests and “some bullshit we made up 10 minutes ago” are the rules, here are a few guesses as to what information they’re requesting:
- A jar containing Chambliss’ removed tonsils and adenoids in 2024
- A second jar containing the medical instruments used to remove the tonsil and adenoids in 2024
- Video of the surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids
- The surgeon talking a selfie with the removed tonsils and adenoids
- Chambliss’ dental records from when he was 8 years old
- A list of every time Chambliss has had diarrhea
- Proof that Chambliss recited the Gettysburg Address in this 5th grade history class
- Chambliss’ documented official stance on whether that dress from 2015 was black and blue or white and gold
The guardians need all the facts, folks!
Earlier this week, rumors were swirling, as that’s the only way rumors can move in the air, about an appeals committee meeting this week. According to 247’s Chase Parham, that meeting is allegedly happening today, February 4th.
As he notes in the tweet, a decision could happen soon, but it could be Thursday. Or Friday. Or next week. Or next month. Or this summer. Or 2027. Or before the 2028 Olympics. Or WHENEVER WE DAMN WELL PLEASE, PEASANTS.
Obviously, Ole Miss and Chambliss would love a decision as soon as possible, and one that grants him immediate eligibility. I can imagine a scenario in which they make a decision soon, but I will wager many monies it’s not a decision any of us will like.
However long the guardians drag this out before issuing their inevitable pre-determined outcome, the most important date for Ole Miss and Chambliss is February 12th. That’s the date of the hearing for Chambliss’ injunction to allow him to play football for Ole Miss in 2026.
Once that hearing begins, the wheels are in motion for Chambliss’ 2026 eligibility, regardless of what the guardian committee decides. It’s entirely possible that injunction is not granted, but in court, the outcome won’t depend on responses to arbitrary requests and “some bullshit we made up 10 minutes ago.”
