SEC files federal lawsuit in Birmingham against LSU, football coach Lane Kiffin
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WAKA) – The Southeastern Conference has filed a lawsuit against LSU to stop it from hiring former NFL players to play on its football team.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Birmingham, which is home to the SEC, asking for a court injunction to stop LSU from violating the SEC’s First Amendment rights by forcing it to “associate with conduct that is contrary to the conference’s purpose and mission.”
Listed as defendants are LSU, its board of supervisors, school president Wade Rousse, athletic director Verge Ausberry and new head football coach Lane Kiffin.
Sources told CBS Sports that Kiffin and his staff reached out to certain NFL players or their representatives to encourage them to bring a lawsuit against the NCAA, and those suits eventually included the SEC. The SEC says that those alleged actions “harmed the conference and threatens to cause further substantial harm if not curbed.”
The suit was filed as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was testifying at a state court hearing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to defend the SEC’s ability to enforce its rules against professional athletes returning to play college sports.
LSU is looking to hire three former NFL players: former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and defensive back Blake Cotton.
The SEC said LSU has expressed its “unequivocal intent” to place those athletes on LSU’s official football roster. That roster is due tomorrow, with 11th-ranked LSU scheduled to host Clemson on Saturday night.
Longtime Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney said, “Rarely am I at a loss for words. But I’m at kind of a loss of words. I would just say it’s kind of embarrassing. I mean, honestly, it’s just embarrassing that that’s where we are.” Swinney has led Clemson to national championships in the 2016 and 2018 seasons and is considered a traditionalist in the changing world of college football.
Last week, the judge in Louisiana ruled that the SEC can’t punish member schools for hiring former college players who had signed an NFL contract. The SEC wants to punish schools with a half-season suspension for coaches, a fine of half the school sport’s annual budget and pulling the school’s SEC voting rights.
CBS Sports reports that Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging SEC commissioner Greg Sankey to use “all measures available” against LSU should the Tigers roster former NFL players. In a letter obtained by CBS Sports, Carr suggested even suspending or removing LSU from the conference should it go against league rules.
Both Alabama and Auburn are scheduled to play LSU later this season.
READ the SEC lawsuit against LSU, head coach Lane Kiffin
Action 8 News will keep you updated.
