Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss testifies on Thursday in Pittsboro, Miss.
I did something I never thought I’d do on Thursday: I spent an entire day in Pittsboro, Miss.
I’m glad I did.
It was certainly worth it…to watch the legal machinery of local versus national…of Mississippi versus the world.
Of right versus wrong.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss won his right to play in the 2026 season with a temporary injunction handed down by Judge Robert Whitwell in the Calhoun County, Mississippi, courthouse. By the time Judge Whitwell got around to issuing his ruling right before 6 p.m., there was little to no suspense left in the courtroom. This was going to be a rousing Rebel victory.
Here are some highlights from the day that set the tone:
The opening prayer was said by Reverend Chad Logan, the pastor at First Baptist Church in Bruce, Miss. He asked God for this trial to end in Trinidad’s favor. It was a great prayer. It had to have knocked the NCAA legal team off its feet. In football, it was a head-hunter first lick.
Trinidad Chambliss gives the camera thumbs up following Thursday’s decision.
Trinidad’s side called several witnesses, among them Oxford ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Ford Dye, Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Joe Judge and his mother. The NCAA called no witnesses of its own, but cross-examined Dr. Dye and Coach Judge.
They all presented fair and detailed accounts of Trinidad’s struggles leading up to and through the 2022 season when he was a player at Division II Ferris State… a season in which he did not play a single down. It was the season in question on Thursday.
Dye recounted and offered expert opinion on Trinidad’s condition, and I now unfortunately know more about tonsils and sleep disorders than I have ever wanted.
Attorney Tom Mars, Ole Miss QBs coach Joe Judge, attorney Williams Liston (back) and Chambliss’ mother.
Judge talked football, even though the NCAA objected to him being labeled an expert. Judge officially testified as a lay person (what the heck?) but offered a dominant and factual testimony under examination and cross examination. I told him afterwards that he stole the show with his emotionless expression and straight and directed answers.
Mom testified as expected. She loves her son and was extremely concerned when Trinidad was ill back in 2022. She talked about watching him while he slept to make sure he was breathing, making sure his chest was going up and down. She talked about things only a mother would do for her son.
In the midst of all of this, Judge Whitwell announced to the court that he is the father of a child who plays tennis for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Hotty Toddy!
The courtroom galley was full of Ole Miss fans, young and old, black and white, most wearing some sort of Red and Blue. A couple of frat guys were wearing ties with the country Trinidad’s stripes on them. They later got the star quarterback and 2026 Heisman hopeful to sign them.
At times, the courtroom was a festive atmosphere…almost Grove like.
Yours Truly got the first reaction from Trinidad. I was happy with that.
When Judge Whitwell announced his thorough ruling, applause erupted inside the court. That was it. Trinidad had d3efeated the NCAA and Ole Miss can now get set for a wild run this fall.
If the NCAA decides to appeal, this case will likely be before the Mississippi Supreme Court. But I’m not sure they want to come back to the Magnolia State. `The NCAA’s legal team didn’t even stick around for the reading of Judge Whitwell’s ruling.
They left.
Ole Miss students in attendance in Trinidad ties.
Judge Whitwell said he may very well hold them in contempt of court. “That’s not the way it works,” he said.
In summation, this was a total (earmuffs) ass whipping handed to the NCAA in a small, backwoods, Mississippi courtroom. If it were a football game, the final score would be about 60-0.
I’ll close with this, too: William Liston is one hell of a litigator. With Tom Mars sitting at Trinidad’s table,m Liston cracked his whip on the NCAA.
And everyone who stayed to the end left smiling.
Follow David Johnson on Twitter @Rebels247