Conference USA asks judge to keep USM deal secret
Conference USA is seeking a court order to stop the University of Southern Mississippi from releasing key records.
At issue is the agreement the school reached with Conference USA this year when USM decided to leave the conference.
Four reporters, including one from the Sun Herald, have filed public information requests to review the agreement.
Last month, Conference USA filed paperwork in Forrest County Chancery Court asking a judge to order that the agreement is exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act.
In the filing, Conference USA argues the settlement “contains confidential financial and commercial information” and that “disclosing that information would greatly and irreparably harm C-USA’s interests.”
Conference USA argues the agreement is a product of confidential mediation between two parties.
The paperwork notes the agreement is in USM’s possession.
Southern Miss is leaving Conference USA to join the Sun Belt conference.
National college football reporter Brett McMurphy reported Tuesday that C-USA schools “negotiated a buyout with the league in the ‘neighborhood of $1.75 million’ in addition to forfeiting one year of conference revenue.”
This story was originally published May 4, 2022 at 11:20 AM.
