RTRnFlorida

Given what was at stake for the Tigers, the result should not come as a surprise. According to the school's filing with the NCAA, of its athletic department's $223.5 million in total revenue for fiscal year 2025, nearly a third was tied to its membership in the SEC, including $53.1 million from media rights and $16.4 million in conference distributions. The $69.5 million total topped the $65.7 million the athletic department received in donations and its $53.6 million in ticket sales. No other revenue stream exceeded $11 million.

You are practically in business because of Sanky Panky. Emotions aside, the SEC keeps you in the black.

LINK

It’s a great point, but Bediako didn't ultimately win.

He initially received a temporary restraining order and actually played five games for Alabama. But another judge subsequently denied his request for a preliminary injunction, ending his ability to continue playing for Alabama.

Here comes the fun part: Greg Sankey and the SEC opposed Bediako returning to Alabama too.

Sankey submitted an affidavit supporting the NCAA and asking the court to uphold the eligibility rules.

So someone like you saying, "Why is the SEC going after LSU when Alabama did the same thing?" does have a legitimate comparison—but there's an important answer.

Alabama tried to use Bediako while a court order temporarily permitted him to play. When the injunction was denied, Bediako stopped playing.

The problem is the SEC's current position is that LSU went substantially further. Its federal lawsuit alleges LSU engaged in a “deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes” despite the conference's rules. THATS THE ISSUE!!!

And that gets back to the Kiffin allegation I was discussing earlier. The controversy isn't simply:

Former professional wants to return … school wants him … player sues.

That's essentially what happened with Bediako.

The SEC alleges something closer to:

LSU/Kiffin identifies former/current NFL players … reaches out to players or their representatives … encourages litigation that could establish their eligibility … intends to recruit those players back into college football.

That's a much more aggressive institutional action.

The stronger distinction is: Alabama tested the eligibility of one former professional through the courts and ultimately complied when Bediako lost his injunction. The SEC alleges LSU/Kiffin embarked on a broader effort to recruit professional players and facilitate litigation designed to make them eligible.

There’s an old saying… when you make a deal with the devil, you’ll have to pay it back someday.

Congrats LSU. You’re reaping the benefits of your choices and bringing us down to hell with you.

You forgot the signed 5 figure contracts part

Well, first, your second question actually coincides with your first.

**You can absolutely be a professional without ever playing a snap in a regular-season game.** Hell, it’s my dream to be a millionaire backup kicker and never see the field.

But before we even get there, I think an important part of this case is being overlooked that I keep referencing this suit…

The SEC’s amended complaint specifically alleges that Kiffin and LSU **“reached out to multiple players on NFL rosters or their representation”** for the purpose of getting them to pursue litigation that could allow them to return to college football. It’s everything liberal republicans hate. You get the one LGBTQ kid to try and change every bathroom in your state.”

This wasn't simply two former players randomly suing, winning a ruling, and then LSU saying, “Hey, maybe we can use these guys.” The SEC is alleging LSU and Kiffin were actively reaching into NFL rosters and encouraging the legal challenges that could create the pathway for those players to come back.

Now, to your question about what constitutes a “professional”:

Under the SEC's position, being a professional is **not dependent upon whether you ever played a regular-season snap.**

The rules address things such as entering a professional draft, signing a professional contract, or being rostered by a professional organization.

Take Dae'Quan Wright as an example.

He left college, signed an NFL contract with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, was compensated with a signing bonus,etc.. entered an NFL organization and went through the professional process. Philadelphia waived him, Cleveland claimed him off waivers, he signed a new contract, and Cleveland subsequently waived him.

So no, he didn't play a regular-season NFL snap.

But I don't think the logical conclusion from that is that he therefore wasn't a professional football player.

If I sign an NFL contract, receive compensation and spend the entire season as a backup but never take a snap, am I not a professional?

If I'm on a practice squad, am I not a professional?

If I'm on the 53-man roster but never get into a game, am I not a professional?

That's really the issue here.

The debate isn't whether these particular guys played in an NFL regular-season game. **The debate is whether someone can leave college athletics, enter professional football, sign a professional contract and join an NFL organization—and then reverse course and return to college athletics.**

And when you combine that with the SEC's allegation that LSU and Kiffin were actually contacting NFL players or their representatives and encouraging litigation that could facilitate that return, I think it becomes a much bigger issue than whether somebody recorded an NFL snap.

Nothing good will come from hiring Lane. You’ll win some games, but trust me, the ending to it all sucks

“We”? WTF is we? You’re not an attorney, 99.9 % not a booster or attorney. You’re a fan of a thief and live in a dirty arse town.

Here’s the thing: in my time in law school, never once were emotion and logic treated as the same thing. The law is rarely as simple as picking a winner and a loser based on the bits and pieces we see publicly—who filed what, who is suing whom, and what each side claims.

But I will say this: LSU didn’t “win,” and neither did the NCAA or the SEC. In disputes like this, nobody ever truly wins. This will likely get drawn out, arguments will be made, and compromises will eventually happen.

However it ultimately ends, follow the money. That will usually tell you more than the headlines will.

The media will tell you what you want to hear.

But they won’t, and never will. He will leave soon, because SMU will rarely be respected in the worst conference in CFB. He wants to win the big one, and that won’t happen at SMU.

He wasn’t in the fight. He took a cheap shot on a guy who was engaged in fighting another guy. Then snuck off and ran. POS.

That last guy… who came in from the back while two guys were on the ground fighting with their backs turned, and started whaling on the guy, should get his scrawny arse whooped.

That’s LSU right there in a nutshell. Dirty