Harvard yesterday filed a stinging response to a lawsuit alleging that the College had reneged on a promise of admission made to a potential transfer student by football Coach Tim Murphy.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Boston in early July, alleges that Marco G. Minuto, a first-year student at Tulane University and a redshirt member of the school’s football team, was promised admission to Harvard as a transfer student on March 1 by Murphy. However, the lawsuit says that on April 3 Harvard “reconsidered” and denied him an admission. As a result of his failed plans to transfer, the lawsuit alleges that Minuto did not receive a full scholarship to play football at Tulane that he was otherwise promised.

The lawsuit asks the court to order Harvard to admit Minuto in the fall as a member of the Class of 2004.

Neither the Minuto family nor their lawyer, Joseph F. Hardcastle, could be reached for comment last night.

The Plaintiff’s Allegations

The lawsuit argues that over the course of the winter, after Minuto expressed interest in transferring to Harvard, he met with members of the football coaching staff and was shown around campus.

After some background research, Murphy met with Minuto and his parents and told him that Minuto “had a place” on this fall’s football team as a wide receiver and that assistant coach Bruce Tall explained to the family that the team had gained permission from the admissions office to offer Minuto a spot at Harvard.

Murphy then asked Minuto to drop his other transfer possibilities and commit to Harvard. The lawsuit alleges Murphy said something to the effect of “I gave you my word you are in, I’d like your word that you are coming.”