Jackie Sherrill, the longest-serving football coach in Miss. State history, is taking on the NCAA.

He says that when the NCAA accused him of recruitment violations, it effectively blacklisted him.

The NCAA, later dismissing charges, said he had intended to quit coaching prior to the allegations.

There have been 460 court filings since 2004, making Monday’s trial 15 years in the making.

“Are you a fan of Mississippi State or Ole Miss? Will that affect your judgment?"

It's an important question to ask in a die-hard college football state like Mississippi, especially when it involves a former head coach, the NCAA and a Madison County courtroom.

It was asked by attorney Jim Waide Monday during jury selection in Canton on the first day of the long-awaited Jackie Sherrill trial. Sherrill, the longest-serving football coach in Mississippi State University history, is taking on the NCAA.

Sherrill's attorneys: NCAA allegations blacklisted him from coaching

Sherrill's attorneys say that when the NCAA publicly named Sherrill in violation of three recruitment violations, it effectively blacklisted him from future work as a football coach. As head coach of the Bulldogs, Sherrill was accused of offering a car and a job to two separate recruits, both of which led to a separate unethical conduct allegation.

460 court filings:Former MSU football coach Jackie Sherrill finally gets his day in court, takes on NCAA

The NCAA's infractions committee would later dismiss all charges against Sherrill, although it would go on to penalize the university.

"The allegations were unfounded, not true," attorney Rachel Waide told jurors in opening statements.

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"He was a target and that targeting ultimately ended his career in college football," she said.

NCAA: Sherrill had already decided to retire, MSU program sliding

But attorney Cal Mayo, who is representing the NCAA and investigators Rich Johanningmeier and Mark P. Jones, argued evidence proves Sherrill had already made a decision to retire through statements he made at a press conference and because the football program had experienced a slide in recent years.

Mayo said the timing of the press conference, in which Sherrill said MSU was "his last rodeo," was critical since it came two months before the NCAA publicly released his name. In the press conference, Mayo said Sherrill also denied that the NCAA investigation played a role in his decision.

"Absolutely not," Mayo quoted Sherrill as saying.

In 13 seasons in Starkville, Sherrill coached the Bulldogs to a record of 75-75-2. In 1998, he led the team to the school's only SEC West title and a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic. A year later, Sherrill coached the team to a 10-2 record with a No. 12 national ranking in the AP Poll. But, the Bulldogs only won three games in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The team would win only two games in 2003.

"It was time to retire. He knew it was time," Mayo told jurors.

Mayo also claimed on Monday that investigators acted within the scope of NCAA policies.

"They did their jobs. They followed the rules. They did it by the book," he said.

Jury selected, 20 total witnesses for both sides

At question is if investigators knew statements about Sherrill were false or had “serious doubts” about their truth. This is the essence of constitutional malice which Madison County jurors will decide. The jury is made up of six men and six women. Of the 12, four are African American and eight are white.

Attorneys for both sides listed about 20 total witnesses for the trial, including longtime and former Clarion Ledger sports columnist Rick Cleveland. Still, Jim Waide said he expected the trial to last "about a week."

The suit was originally filed in Oktibbeha County but the NCAA, at its request, was granted a change of venue.

Madison County Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur, who is presiding over the case, repeatedly told counsel to "be on roller skates" to move things along.

460 court filings since 2004 in case

The trial has been a long time coming. According to court records, there have been 460 court filings since 2004, making Monday’s trial 15 years in the making.

During jury selection, a prospective juror wearing a maroon with white trim jacket and clutching a MSU baseball cap, admitted he would not make a good juror.

"I'm just being honest. I don't think I can be impartial in this," he said.

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Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow @justinvicory on Twitter.