The longer this goes on, the more outrage I can muster against the rest of the conference.
I can sympathize with the arguments and desires of both sides in the particular matter that catalyzed all this, although I wouldn't want LSU's position to set a precedent beyond this initial mess the NCAA created and open the door for continuing in this vein. To the extent I sympathize with LSU's position, it's only insofar as it pertains to the class of 2022 kids who took a shot at the NFL before an additional year had been granted for them to consider. I'm no lawyer, but as I've read up on the proceedings, I find the retroactive concerns LSU raised to be valid points, whether or not one thinks it's wise to take measures to remedy them. Here, I should clarify and say I also sympathize with the SEC's concerns about protecting its authority to set rules and boundaries for its league.
All that said, the conference's continued response and the proportionality of it are ridiculous. Even after LSU said it would comply with NCAA and SEC rules (in spite of an injunction allowing them not to do that) and filling out the roster, the league presidents and chancellors are still meeting tomorrow to consider whether to terminate LSU's membership. Additionally, a federal hearing today at 1 pm is scheduled where the SEC is requesting a TRO to prevent LSU officials or their representatives from taking action to block or interfere with Thursday's meeting. All this, even though LSU did not include the players in question on the roster for Clemson and have now precluded that possibility in the future. The SEC believes the larger issue isn't settled, saying LSU has demonstrated a "lack of institutional control," particularly when it comes to Kiffin, and they even cited Kiffin's halftime wisecrack, "Imagine if we had pro players" as part of its case. That last part is particularly petty.
For a league that has spent decades looking the other way and tolerating all sorts of rule-bending by others while LSU's compliance department was a ruthless, efficient example nationally--not just within the conference--this is hypocrisy of the highest order.
I've lost count of the number of times the SEC did not go to bat for LSU in various situations it routinely sticks its neck out for with other schools. For whatever reason, its indifference-at-best, disdain-at-worst for LSU has been apparent for decades now. That a charter member who has brought in massive TV ratings (and thus $) for them for years, and a lot of bolstering of the SEC's brand due to its success, can be treated like this after complying and breaking no rules, while the league throws a hissy-fit in court about what LSU "could have been intending" to do.....
I'm still highly skeptical the SEC would kick LSU out, but.......it can still GFI.
