Kassidy Woods, a former Washington State University football
player, has sued the university, saying that his civil rights were violated
when he was kicked off the football team after complaining about potential
exposure to COVID-19 and for joining an association of Black student-athletes.

Woods, a wide receiver, filed the lawsuit in a federal court
in Dallas, Texas on August 20 in federal court in Dallas.

In the lawsuit, Woods said that his rights were violated by
Washington State coach Nick Rolovich and the university when he was kicked off
the team last year. Woods seeks actual and punitive damages set by the court.

“Rolovich’s acts were racist, intentional, malicious,
willful, wanton, and in gross and reckless disregard of Woods’ constitutional
rights,” the lawsuit says, according to media reports.

Woods transferred to the University of Northern Colorado last
year after getting the ax.

“WSU Athletics is aware of the complaint and will not
comment on any pending or ongoing legal matter,” the Associated Press
quoted Washington State athletic department as saying in a statement.

Woods, who is African-American, said that he was heavily
recruited by former coach Mike Leach and accepted a football scholarship in
2017. He signed legal financial aid documents in accepting the offer.

Rolovich replaced Leach in January 2020, and the COVID-19
pandemic spread across the US two months later, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, the school started asking athletes
to voluntarily return to campus to participate in football-related activities
in June 2020. The school promised to take precautions to prevent athletes from
catching COVID-19. That was important to Woods, who carries the sickle cell
trait and was susceptible to the virus.

At the same time, protests were occurring across the country
based on several high-profile cases of police brutality against Black people,
the lawsuit said.

“A coalition of discussion between Black athletes formed
around these ideas and questions,” the lawsuit said. “Ultimately, a group
of Pac-12 athletes identified in a social and racial justice group by the name
of “#WeAreUnited.”

In July 2020, Woods and another player met with Rolovich to
discuss the #WeAreUnited movement, their concerns regarding the health risks
associated with their athletic participation, and the apparent lack of planning
or testing, among other concerns, the lawsuit said. Their worries were
confirmed when 60 student-athletes at WSU came down with COVID-19, the lawsuit
said.

Rolovich told Woods that opting out for health reasons was
fine, but being involved with #WeAreUnited was a problem, the lawsuit said. He
was then asked to clear out his locker.

Woods contends his First Amendment right to freedom of
association was violated by the university, as was his Fourteenth Amendment right to
equal protection under the law along with the breech of contract.

Rolovich has also sparked controversy this year by initially
saying he wouldn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19.