Last week the sports world was in an uproar (myself included) over the possibility of former NFL players returning to college football this season. A number of players were granted elgibility by a judge, allowing them to partake in NFL training camps and pre-season games and now return to college football after being cut.
The ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and SEC all released bylaws/statutes/whatever you would like to call it that barred all members from bringing in former professional athletes (across multiple sports) back to their schools. However, LSU and Lane Kiffin found a judge in Baton Rouge who granted them “immunity” (for lack of better term) against these rules. The Tigers would proceed to flirt with the idea of bringing two former NFL players back onto their roster all the way up until Saturday morning, a mere hours before their kick off.
Saturday it was announced that LSU decided against adding their possible NFL “transfers” to their roster on Saturday – and would still go on to beat Clemson by a score of 51-10 on national television Saturday night. Meaning the Tigers did exactly what was asked of them by the SEC and followed the rules placed by the conference.
Fast Forward To This Morning
The SEC has now announced they have made changes to their lawsuit against LSU and Lane Kiffin, including a clause that allows them to expel LSU from the conference.
You read that right.
Let’s recap:
- LSU says they are going to bring back NFL players who have “legally” been granted eligibility in a United States Court of Law.
- The SEC says not so fast, buddy. Implements rules to their conference that specficially states you cannot do that.
- LSU has a Baton Rouge Judge (yeah, yeah, yeah – not every judge would do it… but it’s still a US Judge) rule against the SEC and says LSU can infact have these players on their roster.
- The SEC says yet again, not so fast. LSU, you will be fined, Lane Kiffin will be suspended, and you will face the consequences if you do this.
- LSU continues to say they are considering those players for their roster, all the way up until game day – however that morning states they will follow the SEC’s rules and not place those players on their team for their game Saturday night.
- LSU hosts ESPN’s College Gameday and proceeds to beat Clemson on the national game of the week by a 41 points.
- Tuesday morning the SEC announces Thursday it will hold a vote on whether or not to expel LSU from the conference.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
I understand the SEC being annoyed that Kiffin and the Tigers delayed the process until the last minute, but at the end of the day they did what was asked – and now could still be punished for it?
This Could Be The End of NCAA
On Thursday, the SEC is scheduled to hold a meeting in which members will vote to expel the LSU Tigers from their conference.
Should this happen, LSU would be released from the conference… and everything that comes along with it.
Want to sign a mega TV deal that isn’t regulated by the SEC (similar to NBC and Notre Dame)? Done.
Want to bring in former NFL players? Why not, no one is stopping you.
But what about all of those rules, regulations, and expectations the SEC has put on their teams? SEC who?
As of this moment there isn’t much holding the NCAA together. Yearly there are rumors and discussions about the possibility of the biggest schools disbanding from their conferences and the NCAA to form some sort of “league” that is free from the NCAA’s rule. Should LSU be expelled from the SEC, they would in theory become the first team to do so (against their will, but none the less).
So, SEC, I ask you: Do you want to see the end of the NCAA?
Go ahead and vote LSU out for following directions. You will single handedly end college football as we know it. Because if all it takes to have free reign over your program is to follow directions, the other powerhouse programs might just follow the directions too…
Till Next Time,
Trevor
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