Attorneys representing the 30-plus athletes seeking a fifth season of eligibility have now named the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey as defendants in the case along with the NCAA. They believe that the SEC’s rule prohibiting schools from rostering former pro football and basketball players violates the court’s ruling against the NCAA and will seek a preliminary injunction addressing both NCAA and conference rules in a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Governor Jeff Landry weighed in on the situation while on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge.
Also included in the amended documents obtained by The Baton Rouge Advocate is a statement that former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn intends to return if the court allows and he is cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pyburn signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent and made two sacks in his preseason debut.
The Saints close out the preseason tonight as they visit the Cowboys at 7. The starters will sit for the third time this preseason.
19th-ranked Southeastern Louisiana was one of three ranked FCS teams to lose last night, falling 34-28 to Houston Christian. The Lions fumbled six times and turned the ball over three times, including one interception in quarterback Kyle Lowe’s first start. He also threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns and added another score and 54 yards on the ground.
Northwestern State lost to Louisiana Christian of the NAIA 42-37. The Wildcats became the 13th NAIA team to ever beat an FCS program.
Nicholls cruised past Mississippi Valley State in a 44-10 win.
The only Louisiana Southland team yet to open the season is McNeese. The Cowboys kick off against defending conference champs Stephen F Austin at 6 tomorrow. Head coach Matt Viator says the week zero primetime home game is a great opportunity for the program.