Ole Miss officials were told per a 2011 separation agreement not to make statements that could harm former coach Houston Nutt’s reputation as a football coach, USA TODAY reported Friday night.
Nutt’s non-disparagement clause in the agreement has been a pivotal part of the defamation lawsuit he filed last month against Ole Miss and its athletics foundation for allegedly portraying him as a bigger part of the NCAA investigation into the football program than what actually has turned out to be the case.
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“Outside of any obligation, legal or otherwise, to reveal the terms of this Agreement to third parties, the University agrees not to release or disclose information related to this agreement,” the clause reads.