Lane Kiffin says decision to leave former NFL players off LSU roster was in 'the best interest of the team and the university'

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When it comes to LSU's decision to leave two former NFL players off its roster, Lane Kiffin says he is looking at the big picture.

In an appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" on Saturday, Kiffin spoke about the choice to not include Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris in the Tigers' lineup for Saturday's game against Clemson.

Wright and Harris, who both spent time in NFL training camps before they were cut, were ruled eligible to play by a judge on Thursday, in a big legal win for LSU. But on Saturday, Kiffin said that the decision to omit them was in "the best interest of the team and the university" since they did not know exactly what consequences could befall the team if they played.

"That wasn't easy. As much as I feel for the players, and I believe that you fight for what you believe in, and I believe that, you know, these kids have an opportunity to play, just like all of the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters," Kiffin said. "But the same time, I'm the head coach at LSU and I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU and the LSU football program, with the uncertainties of what potentially could've come by adding them to the roster."

Those "uncertainties" likely stemmed from LSU's ongoing feud with the SEC. The SEC, along with other power conferences, banned the inclusion of players who had signed professional contracts. However, unlike the other conferences, the SEC was also considering some very steep penalties for schools and players that violated that ban, including boycotting LSU games and sanctions against the school, such as probation or expulsion.

The SEC also filed a federal lawsuit against LSU on Thursday, alleging that the Tigers "waged a deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes to play football for LSU."

Wright and Harris both played for Ole Miss before leaving for the NFL. Both went undrafted; Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints in May, and Wright spent with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. The players were cut before training camp ended, prompting them to follow their old coach to LSU.

The ongoing college eligibility crisis stems from the NCAA adopting their new "five-for-five" rule, which gives college players five years of eligibility in a five-year span. The class of 2022 was not eligible for this rule change, leaving many athletes in that class to go to court.

When speaking on "College GameDay," Kiffin said that the members of his team were not distracted by the whole saga.

"They're in a great place," Kiffin said, via The Athletic. "All this stuff is made in the media; you guys have to cover it, I have to answer it, but these guys don't worry about it. They've got a team that they've been with this whole time. They said, 'Hey, coach, if we can add some players to help us win, let's go.' That's my job to always look at those things, but this team is ready to go; they've prepared a lot for this moment."

Kiffin, meanwhile, seems to be fine with his role as a college football villain.

"A lot of times to do great things, you are going to be hated," Kiffin said.

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