by Jeff Poor
Commentary
The State of Louisiana, perhaps blinded by a loyalty to its flagship university, Louisiana State University, is attempting to slay some demons in college athletics, some of which may not be long for this world.
LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry are crying foul over a new Southeastern Conference (SEC) rule that threatens to penalize teams for using players who previously signed a professional contract.
According to Landry and Kiffin, the new rule allegedly contradicts a prior NCAA eligibility rule that allowed some 2022 high school graduates, granted a fifth year, to sign professional contracts before returning to college, based on the new circumstances stemming from the NCAA’s rule change.
Essentially, two NFL players, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, announced plans to play at LSU for Kiffin after they failed to make an NFL roster for the 2026 season.
The SEC objected to LSU’s interpretation of an existing precedent, but was sued in Louisiana state court, where a stay was granted for Wright and Harris to play.
Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner, responded with a federal lawsuit and threatened LSU with expulsion.
Despite the Louisiana court ruling, Wright and Harris were not listed on LSU’s active roster and are therefore not eligible.
The SEC won the battle, but the war wages on.
The national sports media approach this issue with near condescension. Aside from tedious Cajun cooking metaphors, the media seem to have lined up against LSU, casting Kiffin and Landry as comic book villains.
“How dare this backwoods historically corrupt state use its local judges to challenge the rulebook of our beloved elite institutions, like the NCAA and the SEC?”
However, accepting the dare in a “hold my beer” manner, Louisiana is proceeding with its plan to challenge the SEC’s rule, indifferent to what the talking heads on ESPN or any other national media platform have to say.
Given the half-crazed nature over college athletics in Alabama (or any other state), how is it that LSU and the State of Louisiana seem to be the only ones willing to push the envelope enough to exploit prospective rejected NFL players for a fifth year of eligibility?
Imagine if these were options for Alabama’s flagship universities, Alabama and Auburn.
Aside from a brief flirtation with former pro basketball player Charles Bediako at the University of Alabama, the State of Alabama has stayed on the sidelines in this fight.
Not that Kay Ivey is capable of much these days, but would the Alabama courts and the governor consider taking on the SEC or NCAA?
What if this fight came at a different time in Alabama history? Let’s say instead of Kalen DeBoer and Kay Ivey, it was Paul “Bear” Bryant and George Wallace.
Hard to imagine Bryant taking on a cause on behalf of former professional players. But it is absolutely feasible that Wallace would have taken on the NCAA and SEC.
This is the market at work. The elected governor of Louisiana, and perhaps some judges and lawmakers along the way, are trying to set up LSU with the best possible football program.
Why is it important? Because the people of Louisiana have determined it is important. As trivial as some sportsball legal issue may seem in a broad political or global context, it is what matters in Louisiana.
Also consider that LSU dominates Louisiana. Granted, other schools in Louisiana have followings, but nothing measures up to Louisiana State University.
Would it be politically beneficial for a state’s governor to go out on a limb for a university with an intense in-state collegiate rival?
If the governor of Alabama went all in on a rulebook interpretation for Auburn, how might that sit with Alabama fans?
Maybe it would work politically in Tennessee, Arkansas or Kentucky. But dying on a hill for LSU in Louisiana seems like an 80/20 issue there.
Historically, that has been the case. As governor of Louisiana, Huey Long pumped resources into LSU. He diverted money away from capital projects for state government buildings in Baton Rouge down the street into the LSU campus.
The Louisiana political establishment has a long-standing tradition of coming to LSU’s aid, and this latest fight with the SEC illustrates that.
Yes, the University of Alabama enjoys the adoration of our state’s political class. Aside from some Auburn alums making their way into the corridors of power in Montgomery, state government has historically been dominated by University of Alabama alums.
But for the most part, that balance of Auburn University and the University of Alabama, both with well-staffed government affairs arms, is likely what is keeping the State of Alabama from taking up this cause.
The SEC headquarters in Birmingham and its baseball tournament in Hoover may also be contributing factors.
But don’t expect our state to be the tip of the spear in such a fight.
Jeff Poor
Marked safe from Lane Kiffin and Jeff Landry
by Jeff Poor
Commentary
The State of Louisiana, perhaps blinded by a loyalty to its flagship university, Louisiana State University, is attempting to slay some demons in college athletics, some of which may not be long for this world.
LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry are crying foul over a new Southeastern Conference (SEC) rule that threatens to penalize teams for using players who previously signed a professional contract.
According to Landry and Kiffin, the new rule allegedly contradicts a prior NCAA eligibility rule that allowed some 2022 high school graduates, granted a fifth year, to sign professional contracts before returning to college, based on the new circumstances stemming from the NCAA’s rule change.
Essentially, two NFL players, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, announced plans to play at LSU for Kiffin after they failed to make an NFL roster for the 2026 season.
The SEC objected to LSU’s interpretation of an existing precedent, but was sued in Louisiana state court, where a stay was granted for Wright and Harris to play.
Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner, responded with a federal lawsuit and threatened LSU with expulsion.
Despite the Louisiana court ruling, Wright and Harris were not listed on LSU’s active roster and are therefore not eligible.
The SEC won the battle, but the war wages on.
The national sports media approach this issue with near condescension. Aside from tedious Cajun cooking metaphors, the media seem to have lined up against LSU, casting Kiffin and Landry as comic book villains.
“How dare this backwoods historically corrupt state use its local judges to challenge the rulebook of our beloved elite institutions, like the NCAA and the SEC?”
However, accepting the dare in a “hold my beer” manner, Louisiana is proceeding with its plan to challenge the SEC’s rule, indifferent to what the talking heads on ESPN or any other national media platform have to say.
Given the half-crazed nature over college athletics in Alabama (or any other state), how is it that LSU and the State of Louisiana seem to be the only ones willing to push the envelope enough to exploit prospective rejected NFL players for a fifth year of eligibility?
Imagine if these were options for Alabama’s flagship universities, Alabama and Auburn.
Aside from a brief flirtation with former pro basketball player Charles Bediako at the University of Alabama, the State of Alabama has stayed on the sidelines in this fight.
Not that Kay Ivey is capable of much these days, but would the Alabama courts and the governor consider taking on the SEC or NCAA?
What if this fight came at a different time in Alabama history? Let’s say instead of Kalen DeBoer and Kay Ivey, it was Paul “Bear” Bryant and George Wallace.
Hard to imagine Bryant taking on a cause on behalf of former professional players. But it is absolutely feasible that Wallace would have taken on the NCAA and SEC.
This is the market at work. The elected governor of Louisiana, and perhaps some judges and lawmakers along the way, are trying to set up LSU with the best possible football program.
Why is it important? Because the people of Louisiana have determined it is important. As trivial as some sportsball legal issue may seem in a broad political or global context, it is what matters in Louisiana.
Also consider that LSU dominates Louisiana. Granted, other schools in Louisiana have followings, but nothing measures up to Louisiana State University.
Would it be politically beneficial for a state’s governor to go out on a limb for a university with an intense in-state collegiate rival?
If the governor of Alabama went all in on a rulebook interpretation for Auburn, how might that sit with Alabama fans?
Maybe it would work politically in Tennessee, Arkansas or Kentucky. But dying on a hill for LSU in Louisiana seems like an 80/20 issue there.
Historically, that has been the case. As governor of Louisiana, Huey Long pumped resources into LSU. He diverted money away from capital projects for state government buildings in Baton Rouge down the street into the LSU campus.
The Louisiana political establishment has a long-standing tradition of coming to LSU’s aid, and this latest fight with the SEC illustrates that.
Yes, the University of Alabama enjoys the adoration of our state’s political class. Aside from some Auburn alums making their way into the corridors of power in Montgomery, state government has historically been dominated by University of Alabama alums.
But for the most part, that balance of Auburn University and the University of Alabama, both with well-staffed government affairs arms, is likely what is keeping the State of Alabama from taking up this cause.
The SEC headquarters in Birmingham and its baseball tournament in Hoover may also be contributing factors.
But don’t expect our state to be the tip of the spear in such a fight.