A lawsuit brought by four former New Mexico State football players alleging they endured religious discrimination because they are Muslim was settled for $165,000, court records show.

The federal lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Mu'Ammar Ali, Jacob Wallace and brothers Anthony and Vincent Thompson.

The case was settled days before it was scheduled to go to trail last June 18. The settlement was paid by the state's risk management division. Both parties had agreed to keep the settlement amount confidential for six months.

Defendants in the lawsuit were NMSU football coach Hal Mumme, university vice president and provost William Flores and the school's regents.

The lawsuit contended that Mumme instituted a "religious brotherhood" within the team, singled out Muslim athletes and had players recite the Lord's Prayer after each practice and before each game.

The university did not admit any wrongdoing in the case. [Link]