SEC sues LSU over athlete eligibility disputes as court hearings unfold near season start
In a rare legal showdown near LSU, athletes took the stand Thursday to argue for reinstatement of their college eligibility after turning professional. Meanwhile, the Southeastern Conference filed a federal lawsuit against LSU, accusing the school of recruiting former pros in violation of league rules.
The hearing was held just two days before LSU, ranked 11th nationally, begins its football season at home against Clemson. East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden scheduled the session over a temporary injunction that prevents the NCAA from barring former professional athletes or fifth-year college players, a stance supported by the SEC and other Power Five conferences. The league adopted new rules last week to enforce these restrictions.
Several athletes, including former NFL players Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright, testified about their desire to return to college sports. Wright said he would have stayed in college if he had known he could earn an additional year, noting he would be willing to pay back his signing bonus. Two LSU soccer players, Jazmin Ferguson and Jocelyn Ollivierre, had already received court orders allowing them to play this season after returning money paid to them by USL teams.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey defended the league’s authority during a more than two-hour testimony, stating that maintaining a clear boundary between professional and college sports was essential. The SEC’s lawsuit against LSU, filed in Alabama, accuses the school of attempting to recruit professional athletes in defiance of league rules. The filing seeks an injunction to prevent LSU from violating the SEC’s First Amendment rights by engaging in conduct contrary to its mission.
Legal experts noted that the SEC’s federal filing could serve as a backup if the league loses in Louisiana state court. Outside the courthouse, plaintiffs’ attorney Tony Clayton criticized the SEC’s choice of venue, questioning why the league chose to sue LSU in Alabama instead of Louisiana. The ongoing legal battles highlight the complex intersections of NCAA rules, conference policies, and athlete rights, with dozens of athletes nationwide seeking additional eligibility through litigation. The court’s decision is pending, with the football season already underway.
Source: Original Article
