Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry believes the SEC is unfairly singling out LSU in the growing legal battle over former athletes seeking an additional year of college eligibility.
In an interview with Fox Business, Landry questioned why the SEC is taking legal action against LSU while other conference schools have players with similar circumstances on their rosters.
Landry used the case of Cole Huston as an example. Hutson played at the University of Texas, thought of his college eligibility expired, participated in two NFL minicamps and is now back at Texas,
The governor says there are other questionable eligibility cases.
“Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, he’s in his sixth year at Ole Miss. This is only being picked on because it’s LSU,” Landry said.
The SEC has sued LSU in an effort to prevent the university from rostering players who previously spent time with NFL teams during training camp.
Landry also criticized national media reports describing the athletes as former professionals or ex-NFL players.
He says this eligibility chaos could have been avoided if the NCAA had granted members of the high school class of 2022 a blanket waiver for another year of eligibility when it adopted its new five-for-five rule.
“320 athletes around the country that were basically told by the NCAA that they could not play another year, so they put themselves up for the draft, only to find out that in the summer the NCAA changed the rule,” Landry said.
LSU tight end Dae’Quan Wright is among the plaintiffs in the Louisiana college eligibility case. Wright was cut by two NFL teams earlier this summer and committed to LSU after being released by the Cleveland Browns.
Wright said he was relieved when a judge’s ruling cleared the way for him to receive another year of college eligibility.
“You never know what the judge will do, but I still have faith as well in these lawyers and these guys. They won, and I’m proud of that and I appreciate them,” Wright said.
Wright said he expects to play Saturday when LSU opens its season against Clemson.
Former Alabama and LSU coach Nick Saban, speaking on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, cautioned LSU about moving forward with players whose eligibility remains the subject of ongoing legal challenges.
Saban said the Tigers could face consequences if a federal or state court later rules the players ineligible.
LSU President Wade Rousse issued the following statement on Friday morning.
“LSU respects the judicial process and the court’s decision,” said President Rousse. “Our responsibility is to support our programs while complying with the law and the rules governing our conference. We will carefully review the court’s order and continue to work constructively with the SEC and NCAA as this matter moves forward. College football does not deserve this kind of ambiguity in eligibility standards. This is just another illustration that Congress needs to pass a version of the Protect College Sports Act.”
