By Field Level Media
Sep 11 (Field Level Media) – The presidents and chancellors of Southeastern Conference member institutions concluded a virtual meeting Thursday without deciding on any sanctions against LSU.
The SEC threatened LSU with outright expulsion from the league earlier this week as tensions mounted over coach Lane Kiffin’s pursuit of players who were cut from NFL teams during training camp.
The conference had filed suit against the university in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Alabama, and it amended the complaint Tuesday as it sought authority to expel LSU.
Later Tuesday, the Tigers reached their 105-man football roster limit for the season without adding tight end Dae’Quan Wright or defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, which LSU president Wade Rousse later said should render the SEC’s case “moot.”
The SEC released a statement Thursday evening that did not mention any punitive action toward LSU — nor did it rule out taking action in the future.
“The presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference met Thursday by videoconference to discuss recent matters involving conference expectations and responsibilities,” the statement said. “Those discussions will continue as the conference and its member universities work toward an appropriate resolution.”
Wright had spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns this summer after going undrafted. Harris signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints but was waived in early August. Both Wright and Harris played for Kiffin at Ole Miss last season.
A Louisiana judge ruled that the players were free to return to college to utilize a fifth year of eligibility. The SEC and the other three power conferences introduced bans on adding football and basketball players who had any professional contract or appeared on a roster, but LSU didn’t back down.
SEC presidents authorized commissioner Greg Sankey to impose penalties on programs that break that rule, which included a half-season suspension for the head coach, a fine equal to 50% of its operating budget and the revocation of conference voting rights.
Established rules of the conference require a favorable vote of at least two- thirds of all university presidents to terminate a school’s membership from the SEC.
(–Field Level Media)
