The bitter legal fight between LSU and the SEC over the eligibility of two football players with recent NFL ties appears to be winding down, with LSU no longer facing the threat of expulsion from the conference. A vote on whether LSU should remain in the SEC is no longer on the agenda for today’s meeting of the league’s presidents and chancellors. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says the fact that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey threatened to kick LSU out of the conference still doesn’t look good.
“I don’t think previous commissioners like Mike Slive and Roy Kramer and other commissioners the SEC have had, would never have let it get this far and behave like this, the way Greg Sankey is,” Guilbeau noted.
The SEC filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to prevent LSU from adding Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to its football roster. Both players were on NFL training camp rosters last month. In an amendment to its lawsuit, the SEC announced it would hold a Thursday meeting to consider whether LSU should remain in the conference.
But an initial hearing in the federal case was postponed yesterday, and the agenda for today’s SEC CEOs meeting no longer includes a vote on LSU’s membership. Guilbeau says it’s good to see the SEC back away from the threat.
“It’s time for the SEC to be an adult and relent; that’s what it’s time for,” Guilbeau said.
LSU backed down first, deciding not to add Wright or Harris to its roster before the season opener. Then, Tuesday night, the Tigers filled their final two roster spots with injured players who are not expected to play this season. That leaves no room for Wright or Harris, despite a Baton Rouge judge issuing a court order allowing both players to play for LSU.
Guilbeau says SEC leadership took the situation too far.
“They’re just upset and acting like a child. People say it’s the SEC, but it’s really Greg Sankey,” Guilbeau remarked.
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