The Patriot League Responds to Pat McQuaide’s Deadline Extension Request

Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide’s eligibility battle with the Patriot League continues to rage, with Patriot League attorney David Sporar filing a brief in opposition on Friday, Nov. 13 regarding McQuaide’s legal team’s Nov. 11 motion for an extension of time.

As things stand right now, McQuaide and his legal team have until Monday, Nov. 16 to respond to the Patriot League’s Nov. 2 motion to dismiss McQuaide’s initial complaint in the suit. The conference’s counsel is looking to make sure it stays that way — although they wouldn’t be opposed to a 30-day extension to Dec. 16, in accordance with the 30-day extension they received in responding to McQuaide’s initial complaint. Pushing the deadline to Dec. 16 means the Wildcats would have already made (whether via a conference title or an at-large bid) or missed the postseason.

The Patriot League’s Argument

The Patriot League’s counsel argues in their brief in opposition that “McQuaide’s response to The Patriot League’s motion to dismiss is currently due November 16, 2026. McQuaide is asking to be granted until December 31, 2026, to respond to the motion to dismiss, due to “the press of business” of his legal counsel. 45 days appears to be an unusual and excessive amount of time for an extension due to the press of business. By comparison, the Local Rules limit stipulated extensions of time to respond to a complaint to 30 days…and that is the amount of time McQuaide’s counsel agreed to provide The Patriot League to respond to McQuaide’s verified complaint. McQuaide’s counsel did not, however, communicate with The Patriot League in advance of filing McQuaide’s motion for extension of time.”

The brief in opposition goes on to restate the argument made in their Nov. 2 motion to dismiss McQuaide’s initial complaint, noting that the Patriot League’s defense revolves around using the wording of McQuaide’s complaint against him. As such, “Where McQuaide’s counsel represents that The Patriot League’s motion to dismiss raises numerous complex issues, The Patriot League notes that many of the issues should be familiar because they are what McQuaide pleaded, and some of them already have been briefed by both parties in connection with The Patriot League’s appeal. In addition, The Patriot League is concerned that the requested extension is merely intended to invoke and align with the Court’s deadline for the NCAA to respond to McQuaide’s complaint against the NCAA.”

With the end of the work week, however, any decision on an extension likely won’t appear in the court records database until Monday, mere hours before McQuaide’s response is due.