Among the 300-plus individuals who have lodged objections to the House v. NCAA settlement, one anonymous letter submitted just before the Jan. 31 deadline stands out, offering an explanation for why there weren’t hundreds if not thousands more objections.

“We are writing this anonymously because we fear the possibility of retribution against the co-author of this letter, who is a Division I student athlete and a member of the class,” states the undated letter, which was entered into the case docket Monday. “We hope you understand and appreciate how difficult the situation is for current student athletes who wish to object to the settlement proposed, in part, by the NCAA, which represents the schools for which they compete. Whether it was intentional or not, the threat of roster cuts accompanying this settlement has silenced the voices of a large portion of the class that believes its interests conflict with the interests of the class representatives.”

Michael Hausfeld, an attorney who represented Ed O’Bannon in his landmark antitrust case against the NCAA and currently represents several objectors to the House settlement, is all too familiar with the culture of fear. “College athletes, by nature of their relationship with coaches and their desire to participate in the athletic program, are hesitant to take any action that they believe might produce a negative response,” Hausfeld said, adding that unlike with most legal settlements, college athletes who opt out of this one will maintain an ongoing relationship with the defendant, potentially lasting for years.