It looks like the SEC vs. LSU cage match has been canceled, at least for now.
The SEC planned a meeting for Thursday, and part of the agenda was possibly expelling LSU from the conference. According to various people, including Paul Finebaum, the Nicolas Chauvin of the SEC, they were quite serious about the possibility.
To recap, LSU’s football coach Lane Kiffin and basketball coach Will Wade both planned to play former professional athletes, and the SEC reacted with an astonishing fury. Among the options discussed were a new rule that would allow Commissioner Greg Sankey wide discretion in how he punished the coaches and university, boycotting games against LSU and, ultimately, booting them out of the conference altogether.
But it looks like this will blow over, as LSU has essentially caved. The SEC filed a federal lawsuit, but that has now been postponed.
Altogether, it’s sort of a shame, because the online war over this has been spectacular.
The LSU fans have lost their minds over this.
Some are insisting that LSU should go independent, “like Notre Dame,” which is delusional. Currently, there are exactly two independents in football: Notre Dame and UConn. LSU is a major team in the SEC, but its fan base isn’t national like Notre Dame’s. The Irish have had more than 100 years to build that up, and as the great Catholic power, they have a base that LSU can never have.
More likely, LSU would follow in the footsteps of South Carolina when it left the ACC, and would eventually be as irrelevant as the Gamecocks were (and to some extent, still are, despite joining the SEC in 1991).
Some others raged at what LSU would do to the SEC, promising massive, punishing lawsuits by the university and the athletes.
The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, is an LSU grad, and he has weighed in, offering to mediate, an offer that is probably no longer necessary, and Senator John Kennedy got in on the act too, saying essentially that if the SEC thought they’d get away with kicking LSU out of the conference, they’d better think again.
And not to be left behind, Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow said “[t]he SEC’s blatant targeting of LSU is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the league’s blunders and the NCAA’s failure to enact clear and consistent rules. Just like they won in court last week and dominated in Death Valley on Saturday night, no matter whom LSU competes against, they will win.”
Well, not so much, since LSU caved.
Well, the meeting is still on, but the SEC will not be expelling LSU on Thursday, after LSU made some commitments:
- The football roster is now locked, and no professionals are involved (this does not address basketball, however)
- LSU has complied with SEC rules, so the eligibility dispute is over, at least for football.Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.
LSU told the SEC that it will not “challenge, disrupt, cancel, or seek to postpone Thursday’s meeting of SEC presidents and chancellors.”
The football roster is now locked, and no professionals are involved (this does not address basketball, however)
LSU has complied with SEC rules, so the eligibility dispute is over, at least for football.
LSU told the SEC that it will not “challenge, disrupt, cancel, or seek to postpone Thursday’s meeting of SEC presidents and chancellors.”
Will Wade’s decision to recruit professionals has not been addressed, notably for RJ Luis, who would appear to be in violation of the SEC’s policies.
And the SEC may consider other punishments as well.
And, in a sobering footnote, the attorney for Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris says they are reviewing their legal options.
What that means exactly, we don’t know. Who would they sue? The SEC, for something like restraint of trade? LSU, for denying them a roster spot they were once promised? Breach of contract?
The whole situation remains bizarre and as dense as a Russian novel.
However, we can rely on LSU fans, and Louisiana politicians, to keep saying stupid stuff online. So that should be good for a few more weeks of entertainment.
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