UGA president still 'strong advocate' of SEC self-governance after LSU expulsion threat

The temperature was turned down this week between LSU and the SEC and its other 15 schools after a fight to add players who spent time on NFL rosters ended with no vote held to expel one of the league’s founding members.

That drastic measure was on the table before LSU closed that door by filling out its final two football roster spots.

A videoconference held Thursday of SEC presidents and chancellors resulted in a statement put out by the league that said the conference and its schools will continue to “work toward an appropriate resolution.”

What, Georgia president Jere Morehead was asked on Friday Sept. 11, would that be?

He punted in answering but did say the meeting was “lengthy,” and there was no further formal discussion Friday.

“I’m going to have to stress to you with two pending lawsuits that I can’t comment on that matter,” Morehead said after the first UGA athletic board meeting of the new academic year. “The commissioner and our legal counsel at the SEC are going to have to speak for the presidents on that matter. We’ve been asked to not make any comments on either piece of legislation.”

Morehead has been outspoken about believing the SEC should govern itself if Congress doesn’t pass legislation that would protect it from the bevy of lawsuits against NCAA rules.

“I remain a strong advocate of the Southeastern Conference creating its own rules and governing itself,” Morehead said. “I’m going to be a strong supporter of Commissioner (Greg) Sankey as he works to develop that model. …There’s a lot of things happening now, but I do believe that the SEC setting rules and the league members following those rules is a path forward that we all should support.”

LSU had moved to add former Ole Miss players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris who spent time with NFL teams this preseason but wanted to return for a fifth season as class of 2022 athletes.

A Baton Rouge judge had granted a preliminary injunction that gave them and other athletes eligibility., but the SEC has said it does not believe pro athletes should be allowed to return to college.

An SEC amended court filing Tuesday from its federal lawsuit against the LSU in Alabama seeks to preserve the conference's authority to discipline LSU, both institutionally and individually, according to USA Today Sports which said that could include suspending football coach Lane Kiffin for its week 3 game at Ole Miss.

The SEC argued that continued association with LSU could cause "irreparable harm" if it could not distance itself from conduct it believes runs counter to the league's values.

The Wednesday hearing for an injunction to allow the SEC to move forward with action against LSU did not take place after it was continued and will be rescheduled.

The filing said SEC presidents and chancellors had “great concern,” that LSU president and athletic director Verge Ausberry had “no meaningful control,” over Kiffin or the football program.

Morehead said even if Congress passes the ‘Protect College Sports Act’ there will still be a need for conferences to have specific rules.

“Without Congress acting, it’s the responsibility of coaches, universities, conferences, and everyone who loves college sports to start acting with some damn common sense,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp posted on X on Sept. 4. “If we don’t, one of the greatest American traditions will cease to exist. The @SEC and  @universityofga have it right—thankful for their leadership!

Morehead said he’s “optimistic,” that legislation “will improve our situation. We’ll have to see what happens. They’ve got to get 60 votes in the Senate and then they’ve got to convince the House to pass it. There’s still a lot of work to be done there.”

Morehead said SEC members “support the notion of self-governance.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: UGA president still 'strong advocate' of SEC self-governance after LSU expulsion threat