Jimmy Valvano's Famed 1983 NC State Wolfpack Suing NCAA For NIL Moolah

Another day, another NCAA lawsuit. After years of profiting from "student-athletes", the NCAA is reaping what it sowed. In the latest edition of "Who's suing the NCAA today?", 10 players from Jim Valvano's 1983 men's college basketball champion NC State Wolfpack filed a lawsuit to get name, image, and likeness ("NIL") compensation. 

Forty-plus years ago, Jimmy V led the Wolfpack to one of the biggest upsets in sports history. As a 6-seed in the then-52-team NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack, aka Cardiac Pack, became the largest seed to win a national championship until the Villanova Wildcats upset the Georgetown Hoyas in the 1988 title game as an 8-seed. 

NC State upset the Phi Slamma Jamma Houston Cougars, led by future Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, in the 1983 title game. The Wolfpack pulled off the miracle thanks to a put-back dunk by former late forward Lorenzo Charles from a half-court heave as time expired. The buzzer-beater is followed by Jimmy V running around the court like a madman. 

This moment has been further immortalized over the years in March Madness advertisements. Therein lies the problem. According to the 10 Wolfpack suing the NCAA in the Wake County Superior Court in North Carolina, they are owed money for said promotion. 

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The lawsuit alleges the "NCAA and its co-conspirators have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the Cardiac Pack’s publicity rights – including their names, images, and likenesses – associated with that game and that play, reaping scores of millions of dollars from the Cardiac Pack’s legendary victory". 

Ten former players on the 1983 national champion NC State Wolfpack are suing the NCAA for NIL compensation. (Andy Hayt/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

At the time, NCAA rules banned college athletes from earning money. That changed in 2021 after the Supreme Court's landmark decision to allow college athletes to profit from their names, images, and likenesses. While the former Wolfpack players shouldn't get damages for not being paid previously, they should get a check cut moving forward. 

How many times did Jimmy V's Cardiac Pack get mentioned during NC State's run to the 2024 Final Four as an 11-seed? A s***-ton, that's how many. Entertainers often get paid residuals for re-runs or digital rights for movies. Why can't the 1983 Wolfpack get a similar deal? If the plaintiffs get their way, there will be compensation and a jury trial. The NCAA should be happy I'm not on that jury because I'd make sure the former NC State racked their old NCAA overlords.