Newz(AP) — The Southeastern Conference filed a lawsuit against LSU and its leadership in Alabama federal court on Thursday, alleging the school had “waged a deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes” against league rules. The extraordinary step against one of the league's founding members in 1933 came as SEC Commissioner [...] At least seven bailiffs were on hand.The lawsuit asks for a court injunction barring LSU from violating the SEC’s First Amendment rights by forcing it to “associate with conduct that is contrary to the conference’s purpose and mission.” It was filed in northern Alabama because the SEC is based in Birmingham.Attorneys for the athletes, the NCAA and the SEC were appearing before East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden, who scheduled the hearing concerning the status of his earlier temporary injunction preventing the NCAA from ruling recent former pros or fifth-year college athletes ineligible — a stance also taken by the SEC and other Power Four conferences with formal rules adopted last week.Jorden also wanted the NCAA to explain why it should not be held in contempt after the power conferences set up potential punishments of its member schools who place former NFL or NBA athletes on their football or basketball rosters.The players in question also include former Denver Broncos defensive back Blake Cotton, who like Harris and Wright is hoping to join LSU and new coach Lane Kiffin.Wright, who played for Kiffin last season at Mississippi, started practicing at LSU this week, too late to be eligible for Saturday's home opener against Clemson under the NCAA's required seven days of practice.
Harris, who also played at Ole Miss last season, has committed to LSU, while Cotton, who played at Utah last fall, has been recruited by Kiffin.All three are among a host of athletes who've argued in lawsuits around the country that they are unfairly being denied an opportunity to spend a fif…
Summary from source