'84 Chronology-Boris Ruling

Event Date: March 13th, 1984

Event Description: Boris Ruling

Source: UPI

The U.S. Football League has filed an application for permission to appeal a federal judge's ruling that declared the league's college eligibility rules violated antitrust laws, it was announced Tuesday.

In a prepared statement, the USFL said it had proceeded with the legal action on the advice of counsel.

On Feb. 28, Judge Laughlin E. Waters of the U.S. Federal District Court in Los Angeles ruled in favor of Robert Boris, a former University of Arizona punter who filed suit against the USFL in an attempt to enter the league's draft. Waters said the USFL's rule constituted a 'group boycott' in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The USFL's eligibility rule states that its draft is restricted to those players who have a degree, who have played collegiately for four years or who have been enrolled for five years at a school.

Boris had left Arizona three games into the 1982 season and sought to enter the USFL draft, since the league had permitted the New Jersey Generals to sign Herschel Walker after the running back left the University of Georgia following his junior year.

But the USFL prohibited Boris from doing so, citing his two remaining years of college eligibility. Boris filed suit in August, 1983, and Waters said the USFL's policy is 'a per se violation' of the Sherman Act.

After Waters' ruling, the USFL permitted the New Orleans Breakers to sign 19-year-old running back Marcus Dupree, who did not satisfy any of the requirements of the league's eligibility rules. Dupree signed a multi-million dollar pact with the Breakers.