Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp threw his support behind Georgia and the SEC on Thursday as the fight over Lane Kiffin, LSU and the eligibility of former pro players kept spilling out of the courtroom and into the sport’s biggest offices.
The dispute traces back to LSU using what the source describes as an NCAA eligibility loophole to bring Dae’Quan Wright to Baton Rouge. Wright had previously been under contract with the Cleveland Browns and had spent the summer with the team.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart made clear where he stands on the issue. He said he is "worried about our team, our organization, how we do things."
Smart also added, "The opportunities presented to the guys on our team are important to me. They've earned those opportunities through an offseason, through a summer program, through a really tough fall camp.
You have to decide, each and every person, if that's valuable enough to warrant replacing your players that have worked with your team with others."
Late Wednesday, a Louisiana judge granted an injunction that allows those players to return to college football. Smart and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey have stayed firm in their opposition, and Kemp made his feelings public on Twitter.
"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. If we don’t, one of the greatest American traditions will cease to exist."
"The @SEC and @universityofga have…"
Kemp’s message lined up with the frustration already coming from inside the SEC. The source notes that Sankey has said he will fight the ruling on the federal level in Alabama, while Smart’s concern centers on fairness for players who spent the offseason, summer program and fall camp earning their spots.
The argument is simple from that side: Wright did not go through LSU’s summer camp, and neither did the other players now coming back into college football.
The source also points to the federal angle, suggesting the Louisiana ruling may not carry the same weight once the issue moves beyond state lines. And Deion Sanders weighed in before Colorado’s game against Georgia Tech, saying, "we are tired of the NIL talk, we are ready to be back and play college football. So, let's do just that."
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