LSU legal battles continuing to build after deciding against adding former NFL players
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The college football season is well underway, but plenty of off-field drama continues to unfold. The SEC has made it clear that it intends to punish the LSU Tigers over their recruiting actions involving two former NFL players.
Those recruiting actions stemmed from LSU’s attempt to add Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris after a Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order. This allowed numerous former NFL players to pursue college eligibility. However, the SEC has made it clear that it will not let the situation go. LSU got that message after a lawsuit was filed against the school and head coach Lane Kiffin.
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LSU ultimately did not add Wright or Harris after the SEC threatened the school with expulsion from the conference. Now, the Tigers have another issue on their hands. According to a recent report, the attorney representing Wright, Harris and several other athletes will ask the court to hold LSU in contempt.
“Louisiana plaintiffs attorney Ryan Downton tells Yahoo Sports he would ask the Court to hold LSU in contempt if the school decides against adding the players. The judge enjoined LSU in the order, presumably preventing the university from actions that adversely impact players.” Ross Dellenger reported last week.
Why would LSU be held in contempt?
It is clear that LSU had every intention of adding Harris and Wright. Rumors and speculation indicated that the school pushed for them to join the lawsuit. That, of course, ultimately resulted in the court order granting eligibility. Kiffin reportedly even contacted the Cleveland Browns about Wright’s roster status before the judge issued the order.
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Now, because LSU finalized its roster Tuesday without either player, Downton could argue that the Tigers violated the court’s order. The central question will be whether LSU’s actions adversely impacted the players.
From the players’ aspect, there is a strong argument that they did. LSU recruited Wright and Harris with the expectation that they could join the Tigers as the pair are now currently enrolled. If those opportunities influenced the players’ decisions regarding their NFL futures, the school ultimately choosing not to add them could have significant consequences.
LSU, however, could argue that it did not have a choice after the SEC threatened expulsion. That creates an unusual legal situation in which the school could potentially face consequences from either side.
The court will ultimately have to determine whether LSU’s decision violated the TRO. Until then, the Tigers remain caught between the SEC and a legal order that could create even more problems for the program.
It makes one wonder if any of this would have been worth it if LSU even got their way to begin with.
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