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SEC Releases Strong Statement Opposing Former Pro Athletes Returning To College Sports

By Staff Reporter•Aug 24, 20268:26 pm•

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

On Monday evening, SEC presidents released a statement opposing professional players' return to college.

The SEC argues that players who leave college, sign professional contracts, and compete professionally should not be allowed to return to college athletics, saying it creates competitive-equity issues and takes roster opportunities away from high school recruits and current college players.

quote:
After a Monday evening videoconference of the presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference, the conference is issuing the following statement:

“College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference. Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition.

“Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.

“College sports are for college athletes. The current confusion around national eligibility standards emphasizes the need to advance the Protect College Sports Act.”

The timing is especially notable given the recent situations involving former Ole Miss players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, along with the broader eligibility uncertainty created by recent court rulings.

Previously scheduled SEC league meetings will begin tomorrow in Birmingham.

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LSU Tiger Eyes•2 hours

"“Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports" Cry me a river! NIL threw the rulebook out the window from its very inception. It didn’t just change collegiate sports, it destroyed the very concept of amateurism.

LaSportsFan1•2 hours

Totally agree!

LSUcajun77•2 hours

Basically said he doesn’t like and he doesn’t want it to happen. But there isn’t shite he can do.

Lsustev•2 hours

“Blur the line between college and professional sports”.

What a joke. Every SEC is currently paying millions of dollars for payroll for their players.

Here is a newsflash for the hypocrits. That line has been crossed by all of us already.

OGTiger•2 hours

Everybody agrees with you commissioner. Even our Head Coach. But, because the NCAA is impotent at this point a school would be stupid not to play within the rules as set out by the courts today.

pitchandcatch27•2 hours

I wonder if he would say that if it was Alabama who recruited the players and Nick Saban was still Head Coach ! NOT!!!

Dingeaux•2 hours

"Individuals who choose to leave". Not sure but didn't these guys play four years and were told you can't play college football anymore?

"will blur the line between college and professional sports". The line is already blurred. College players are paid to play football. I would say that they are already professional players.

NotaStarGazer•1 hour

Lane Kiffin said he was also AGAINST players who had left college behind to go to the pros to be able to return to college. HOWEVER, he also gave his rational for this particular situation. The NCAA came out with their 5 for 5 policy AFTER the current players who could play one more year made their decisions to leave college. I agree with Kiffin's outlook...those players in this transition year should be given special treatment. As usual, the NCAA screwed players with an ill-timed change in policy.

EulerRules•2 hours

Ummm…how does a olayer coming back to college for one more tear take away an opportunity for a high school athlete? A player who plays one more year will be gone by the time that high school student gets to college. No player in college can take away an opportunity from a high school student because high school students are, DOH, in high school.

EulerRules•2 hours

(Sorry about the fat fingers)

Timeoday•1 hour

Well, it is my understanding the player did not know he had a 5th year so he went pro. I do believe any player who is uncertain of his status must do the right thing as a player. The leagues need to get rid of the uncertainties regarding eligibility going forward.

Stew2581•2 hours

In other words, we don’t like it but our hands are tied because Ole Piss showed the way on how to do it. Funny thing is they just screwed themselves. SEC knows they can’t win this.

Vogtle•30 min

It’s an anomaly. Won’t happen again unless the incompetents “running” the NCAA enact another poorly designed rule change. Don’t hate the playa…..

HotDamn•2 hours

Is this really a “strong” statement? Sounds like the SEC will sit on its hands and wait on the federal government’s direction. Lol, go tigers!

kbartj•1 hour

How can an objective person say that college and the pros are that much different now? I know of a college golfer that is coming back for goodness sake!!! It's not just football or basketball.

Tridentds•1 hour

Start your own league with rules you want and enforce them. The NCAA isn’t going to do shite but give lip service.

ReverendJeffro•1 hour

In other words they dont agree, but dont have the balls to do anything about it.

mrbayoublu•1 min

If Sankey the donkey had been in charge instead of Roy Kramer, the SEC would never had an SEC football conference championship. No guts no glory. Sankey is a gloried, high paid lackey.

arealtiger67•5 min

"Amateur" is absolutely the most vague term in the modern vernacular. It basically means someone who performs a task/job for pleasure rather than money. If you apply that definition, it will be a challenge to find any amateur that isn't under the age of what? 15 or 16? Take a 4 star athlete who is a junior in high school...playing just for the love of the game? Maybe. Motivated by a big payday? Probably! How far are we from a court or legislature determining that a high school varsity athlete is an employee of the school? Any coach/administrator of an institution bellyaching about amateurism or student athletics is just hating themselves for falling behind the curve! GEAUX TIGAHS! Most won't read this. Also part of the problem I think.

TXTiger81•22 min

“Create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes”

So playing staying for their 5th, 6th or even 7th year doesn’t reduce opportunities high school and current college athletes? Interesting take.

LesnarF5•27 min

Hey everyone is getting paid Skanky.If he wants to be pissed off at anyone be pissed off at the NCAA.

Roaad•1 hour

This will be the nail in the coffin of CFB