Elite Lawyer: Sanctions should not have been imposed in '12 and '13

One of the top lawyers in America, Neal Katyal of Hogan Lovells, believes the NCAA made a mistake in denying the University of Louisville's appeal of sanctions.

Katyal, who was named 2017 Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer, argued seven Supreme Court cases in the last term. He was hired by the University of Louisville to argue its appeal in front of the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee last year.

Katyal submitted this statement after Louisville's appeal was denied: "I've argued a lot of cases over the years, and I have a good sense of when the position I'm arguing is a strong one and when it's not. Based on the facts, years of NCAA precedent, and a sense of what is fair and just, UofL had a very strong case.

"In particular, I thought the University had very powerful arguments that sanctions should not have been imposed for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons."

Louisville's primary argument seemed to hinge on the fact that a player who still had remaining eligibility was reported to the NCAA, was declared ineligible, and then regained eligibility without missing a game.

The NCAA ruled that was justification enough to prevent the vacation of all wins from 2011-12 through 2014-15, it's previously prescribed punishment.