In the act of getting along to get along with its SEC brethren Wednesday, Aug. 26, LSU decided instead to stand alone.
Or, abstain alone.
LSU leadership declined to vote when SEC presidents were tasked with the formal ratification of the league's newly created policy
regarding a ban of professional athletes returning to college competition, two people with direct knowledge but granted anonymity because of the sensitive nature of conference relations told USA TODAY Sports.The adopted policy has outlined:
"An SEC institution is not permitted to have an athlete on its roster who has:
- Previously declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA draft and did not appropriately withdraw (as is permitted by NCAA regulations)
- Signed a contract with an NFL (or other pro football league), NBA/G League or WNBA affiliated team, or
- Been listed on an NFL (or other pro football league) roster, NBA/G League or WNBA (or affiliate pro league) roster.
Between LSU first-year
football coach Lane Kiffin and Tigers' returning men's basketball coach Will Wade, the institution has, in short order, become the SEC's answer to the Big 12's Texas Tech — perceived renegade.
Kiffin has prepared to welcome multiple former NFL players onto his team, as well as former Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka.
Wade met ex-NBA player R.J. Luis outside a Louisiana court room this week to share an embrace after a state judge granted Luis clearance to begin working out with the Tigers' basketball team.
Three people confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, Aug. 26, Kiffin — or, more specifically members of the Tigers' staff — had discussed with ex-college players their potential legal options to return to NCAA competition.
The LSU approach was centered on what the staff and evaluators deemed as need-specific positions and not an approach of just casting a wide net.
One SEC executive had a candid assessment of the situation when the individual spoke to USA TODAY Sports.
"What a mess," the person said, granted anonymity to speak candidly. "If Lane would have left this alone, these kids would have been able to (potentially) return to their previous institution and it wouldn't have been a big deal.
"Now, these (athletes are being used) to undermine the NCAA and SEC with lawsuits. And they've burned bridges at their previous institutions."
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported players who depart the NFL in an attempt to return to play at the collegiate level "will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team this year."
Kiffin has sought to have LSU welcome back Dae'Quan Wright, who last weekend was with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and Zxavian Harris, who also had signed with an NFL team, after both Wright and Harris played for Kiffin last year at Ole Miss.
Additionally, another SEC executive with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports the football program's general manager had been "watching tape during practice of NFL guys who might get cut this weekend."
Per NFL regulations, franchises must trim their preseason rosters from 90 players to 53 on their active rosters with the ability to also retain 16 additional players for each franchise's practice squad.
Additionally on Wednesday, Aug. 26, two agents from separate firms who represent players in the college and NFL spaces told USA TODAY Sports they heard from multiple institutions at both the Power conference and Group of Six levels in college football. However, they noted, schools inquired about players who had perhaps exhausted eligibility and even conducted pro-day sessions in attempts to land an NFL opportunity but that had not ever signed with or accepted benefits from an NFL team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The SEC wanted unity. LSU chose to abstain, maintain renegade status
