If the kid has a diagnosed disability, OM could be in trouble, but the young man has no right to refuse to speak to any superior. That is insubordination.
I work with children with disabilities for a living. There are extremely strict guidelines based on the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, passed during the George HW Bush admin. This case will be decided based on those guidelines I know by heart.
He would need to speak to the coaches, or the university, and let them know his condition, and present a formal diagnosis from a medical professional.
The article doesn't read like that happened. His mother calling them is not proof of a disability.
Depression can be a disability, but it is usually a mental impairment. There is a big difference between an impairment and a disability. His injury could be a temporary disability, but OM says he still has a scholarship, so no discrimination there.
In TN, you certainly can record conversations with admissibility.
Only one party is required to consent, presumably the recording party. You can't record two other people having a conversation and use that in court. Even law enforcement has to have a court order to do that.
One party can record, but they have to be involved in the conversation, and the conversation cannot be used to commit a crime.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-601
I think Kiffin was a bit raw with the young man, based on the transcripted protion of the conversation, but it seems this kid was avoiding contact with coaches. Not sure the player has a case since his scholarship has not been withdrawn. It seems he is facing consequences for not keeping his coaches and the university informed.
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