re: SEC bans pro football and basketball players from returning. A big FU to LSU from the SEC

LSBoosie on the Tiger Rant gets it:

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Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but the league policies will be enforceable because they are not directly punishing the players, just the schools. Basically saying you can have the players on your roster but you will be punished. Suspending the coach, fining the school, etc. I suppose the schools could sue the conference, but that seems unlikely since the schools were the ones who agreed to this. Am I off base here?

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Thread

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What are the legal differences between the NCAA, as a voluntary organization and the SEC, as a voluntary organization?

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Already explained that. All these lawsuits the ncaa has been losing have been by players against the ncaa. They aren’t NCAA members. They didn’t agree to bylaws.

This is the SEC saying they will use their bylaws to punish schools who play players who went pro. These players don’t have standing to sue the SEC for punishing LSU. LSU would have to sue. They are going to have a hard time suing the SEC and winning when they voluntarily agreed to SeC bylaws. Bylaws they’ve been subject to for a century. Their remedy is leaving the voluntary association. LSU could do that. My understanding is the SEC doesn’t even have buyouts for members. LSU’s choice is to be subject to the bylaws it agreed to or to get to stepping to another conference.

Also, no antitrust issues with a conference enforcing bylaws against members.

Also a waiver issue if LSU came out and supported this rule like the tweet says.

Also a big practical difference, the case won’t be decided by Judge Cletus Thibideaux, the fifth generation LSU fanboy in Baton Rouge. It will be decided to someone who is either neutral or someone who doesn’t like LSU — an Atlanta judge.

The problem is that the conference is still selectively enforcing eligibility rules.

LSU can't have player XYZ because he was a pro but Ole Miss can have Chambliss, even though he's not in good standing with the NCAA, as required by conference rules. Same with Pavia last year.

Giving Sankey the power to decide eligibility himself, may change that though.

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How do you think the conference will explain enforcement of its rules selectively, especially if there's a lawsuit?

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Nobody wants LSU in the conference. Go join the ACC

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Giving Sankey the power to decide eligibility himself, may change that though

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He already had that power under the bylaws. He has wide, wide discretion to punish any member whose conduct damages the league in his opinion.

Whether a member thinks he should apply it to other players in other situations doesn’t at all impact his exercise of discretion here. Even if those circumstances were apples to apples, it wouldn’t matter.

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Nobody wants LSU in the conference. Go join the ACC

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Rogue program

I like the part that says.... "and did not appropriately withdraw."

College athletes are paid professionals.

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So what was the point of today's action?

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PR to match what Big 10 did. No new rule was needed.

But there is some value in unanimous action by presidents and sec to let coaches know where the line is. In effect defining what conduct detrimental is to league with respect to playing former pros. They gave coaches a bright line.