Hours after the Big Ten passed a rule stopping players returning from the NFL from playing for one of its schools, the SEC followed suit.
At the conclusion of meetings with league presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors on Tuesday, the conference announced a strict policy on the matter, releasing details across its social media channels.licy was 16-0
With a step-by-step explanation, the SEC announced that its institutions are “not permitted to have an athlete on its roster who has:
1. Previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA draft, and did not appropriately withdraw.
2. Signed a contract with an NFL (or
2. Signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) team, or …
3. Been listed on an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) roster.”
The announcement concluded with annotation that commissioner Greg Sankey “is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against member institutions.” An SEC spokesperson later told ESPN’s Heather Dinich that penalties are “to be announced.”
Where the Big Ten earlier in the day
But where the Big Ten earlier in the day announced its policy for football, saying in its statement that any player who has declared for the NFL draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a pro league cannot be on a Big Ten roster, the SEC added pro basketball to its mix, including the NBA and the WNBA to its policy.
The SEC’s announcement came a day after the league office issued a statement emphasizing its belief that athletes who choose to leave college athletics and sign professional contracts “should not then be permitted to return to college competition.” That said, Monday’s message didn’t include a language of a policy or any potential enforcement of one. On Tuesday, the league took action.
The fundamental principle of NCAA eligibility has been called into question again this month following a flurry of news about former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who hoped to clear waivers with the Cleveland Browns so he can return to college and play for LSU in what would be his fifth season of eligibility. Wright’s highly publicized situation is unprecedented, but it stood to become part of a trend this year because of an ongoing legal fight between the NCAA and athletes who are pursuing a fifth year of eligibility.
Wright dressed for the Browns’ preseason game against
Wright dressed for the Browns’ preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday but didn’t play. He’s also currently available in the NCAA transfer portal after a judge in Louisiana granted him a temporary restraining order and an opportunity to return to college for a fifth year of eligibility.
Another athlete, star basketball player RJ Luis Jr., received a temporary injunction to play for LSU this season from a Louisiana judge on Monday, despite signing multiple NBA contracts.
In its Monday statement, the SEC said that and pro-to-college moves would “blur the line” between the two levels of play, and “create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.
College sports are for college athletes, the statement
“College sports are for college athletes,” the statement added. “The current confusion around national eligibility standards emphasizes the need to advance the Protect College Sports Act.”
The SEC and Big Ten do not appear to be alone in these beliefs. Later Tuesday, a pro-to-college transaction
Meanwhile, athletic directors from the Big 12 are going to meet on Wednesday,o the SEC and Big Ten on football athletes returning to school, but have not yet formalized what the Big 12’s policy will look like
Source: www.espn.com
