Liberty Law team crowned champions in annual Football Negotiation Competition

As the NFL season drew to a close over the weekend, students from Liberty University School of Law were celebrating their own championship trophy as winners of the annual Tulane Professional Football Negotiation Competition, held Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. Competing before NFL executives and agents, two Liberty Law teams showcased the unique skills needed to negotiate an NFL contract for a free agent or on behalf of a team. The team of 3L Zoeanne Missner and 2L Nick Hayes took first place out of 56 teams that included University of Miami, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and University of San Francisco.

The competition is a simulated contract negotiation using real-life scenarios of current pending NFL free agents and provides participants with an opportunity to sharpen their negotiation skills and knowledge of NFL contracts. Teams were required to represent both sides — the NFL team and the free agent — between rounds.

Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development Rodney Chrisman, who coached the Liberty teams, said this was Liberty Law’s fourth year to enter the competition.

“Each year, students who went (to the competition) try to pass on what they learned to students who go the next year,” he said. “It’s a neat culmination to finally get the win, because it is really hard competition requiring specialized knowledge and skills.”

Chrisman said the other Liberty Law team of 3Ls Matt Williams and Myiah Scott performed well on the first day of preliminary rounds but did not advance to the quarterfinals the second day. The team still continued to assist Hayes and Missner as they prepared to advance in the following rounds.

The competition served as great exposure to high-level NFL agents and executives, and Chrisman said one NFL executive asked for the winning team’s contact information.

During rounds, the teams go back and forth negotiating a deal by presenting offers and counteroffers, both verbally and by inputting real-time numbers in a Microsoft Excel workbook to share with the other team and judges.

In the final round, Missner and Hayes represented prospective NFL free agent Trey Hendrickson (defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals) and negotiated a three-year contract totaling over $73 million, including salary and bonuses.

Missner noted that although some schools have specific sports law programs, their training at Liberty Law equipped them for success.

“I really think it shows that it’s not your knowledge of sports, or data, or stats, or preparing (that matters most),” she said. “It’s the skills that are implemented and how you present yourself. Those are all things that we’ve learned just by being here at Liberty.”

Hayes noted that Liberty Law’s Lawyering Skills Program was key in preparing them for the competition. He said the judges commended their positive attitudes, which he attributes to the faith-based emphasis in their training.

“It really comes down to a ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ kind of mentality,” Hayes said. “One of the teams even pulled us to the side and was like, ‘You know, it was really easy negotiating with you all because it was so respectful. It was such a good environment.’”

As soon as their win was announced, Hayes and Missner shook their opponents’ hands, a further reflection of their respect.

“All four of our competitors demonstrated exceptional professionalism, humility, analytical discipline, and teamwork,” Chrisman said. “They listened carefully to the judge’s feedback, worked very hard, and improved every round. They represented Liberty Law with distinction and excellence in front of NFL executives, NFLPA player agents, and other sports law experts and professionals.”

The students said that despite some teams using shrewd “tricks and maneuvers,” they didn’t waver in their professionalism and faith commitment.

“It’s just the negotiation style,” Missner added. “You don’t have to go in there and be a bulldog in order to get a good deal.”

Missner said she prayed before the final round.

“I scribbled down a quick prayer to God: ‘Give me the wisdom to speak. Please calm my nerves,’” she said. “I really think our reliance on God is the reason we won. There were a lot of things that happened that were not in our control, and I think that was God giving us the pathway to win.”

Hayes, who is in the Virginia Army National Guard, said that while he has always planned to become a JAG attorney after graduating, he is now highly interested in pursuing sports law.

“I would very quickly pivot if the right opportunity were to show up,” he said. “(This competition) has completely changed my mindset away from what I thought it would be, but I think it’s for the best. If that’s where God wants to lead me, then I will follow that path.”

Hayes said he will compete in next year’s competition and help mentor any new additions to the teams.

Missner, who is chair of the Alternate Dispute Resolution board at Liberty Law, will graduate this spring and has accepted a job in family and estate planning in Colorado.

Chrisman said students’ interest in the school’s Alternate Dispute Resolution program has increased because of this win, and the accomplishment situates Liberty Law as a school to beat.

“People are going to view us as a threat to winning,” he said. “(Sports negotiation) is a hard area to crack into, and so sometimes you have to play the long game on those things. We’re showing people that we’re doing really excellent work here. We’ve got great students who do a great job.”