SEC presidents unanimously approved a policy to ban former professional football and basketball players from returning to play for a member school. This rule blocks LSU from signing ex-NFL commits Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris as well as basketball signee RJ Luis, who all received Baton Rouge court rulings allowing their return. Tiger Rag executive editor Todd Horne expects more lawsuits now targeting the SEC.
“If that occurs in a state or an appellate court somewhere that is a district with multiple states and multiple jurisdictions in it, that carries a hell of a lot more weight than what the SEC or the Big Ten, or even if the NCAA were to say something, than we’ve learned that,” Horne explained.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has been given unlimited authority to enforce the rule, although specific consequences schools could face have yet to be announced. Horne, though, says that power could still be limited.
“And the reality of it is, it’s only an authority to the level that you accept it. If you have a question about it, then the State of Louisiana contradicts it in the judicial system, guess who wins? The State of Louisiana.” Horne noted.
A hearing in the case that gave Wright and Harris temporary eligibility will be held on Monday. The athletes’ legal representatives have already suggested legal action against the SEC. Horne says, at the end of the day, the SEC is just a conference.
“They don’t have real authority, and that’s why they’re in this situation to begin with; and that’s why for the last five years, and certainly for the last two years, state courts have been deciding the rules for the powerless, castrated NCAA,” Horne said.