LSU Advises SEC to Drop Lawsuit and Skips Meeting on Possible Expulsion
LSU officials told SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey the university would not attend a conference meeting on expulsion, urging the league to dismiss its federal suit over a fifth-year eligibility dispute.
The Louisiana State University system president, Dr. Wade Rousse, emailed SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on Sept. 10 to say LSU would skip the upcoming SEC meeting where members were to discuss the possibility of expelling the school. Rousse said counsel had advised the university not to attend because several LSU employees were named in the federal lawsuit the conference has filed against the university.
"I want to be clear that our absence should not be interpreted as LSU stepping away from our commitment to the SEC," Rousse wrote, adding that the university wanted the litigation resolved so the conference could focus on strengthening its brand.
The dispute centers on a legal battle over whether college athletes may be granted a fifth year of eligibility. The SEC has sued LSU in federal court, while a state appeals court recently upheld a ruling allowing former players to pursue the additional year.
SEC leaders proceeded with the meeting without LSU representation and did not take any action to expel or penalize the university. The federal case remains pending.