College athletics' latest mess: Court orders say athletes can play, but SEC and Big Ten ready to fight
On Tuesday, both conferences, who will soon be joined by the ACC and Big 12, voted to enact new rules that would prevent athletes who have participated in professional sports from reentering the college landscape.The decision comes after players in several states were granted injunctions or temporary restraining orders allowing them to play this season.Most of the lawsuits stem from the NCAA’s new eligibility guidelines, which give athletes five years to play five seasons of college athletics.NCAA WINS TENTH CIRCUIT 'STAY', BUT FACES MORE ELIGIBILITY LAWSUITS FROM 2022 CLASS ATHLETES IN CHAOTIC TIMESEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti meet with reporters during a joint press conference in Nashville, Tennessee (Trey Wallace/FOX NEWS)Under the new policies, any athlete who has signed with a professional team, declared for the NFL Draft or participated in any type of professional training camp will be ineligible for conference competition.But, there was one difference from a public standpoint with the SEC and Big Ten.On Tuesday evening, SEC presidents and chancellors held a vote on how to move forward with the new guidelines pertaining to these ongoing cases revolving around athletes who have participated at the professional level in some form or fashion.NCAA IGNORED THE WARNINGS.NOW IT'S FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IN COURTROOMS ACROSS AMERICA OVER ELIGIBILITYIn addition to the guidelines created by the SEC, the conference has also given Greg Sankey the power to enforce these rules, which include suspension of coaches and monetary fines to each school who violates them.Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti speaks at Big Ten football media day at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)So, what does this mean for schools who are preparing to bring athletes onto campus for the upcoming college football or basketball season?According to attorney Ryan Downton, who represents a number of players, the ...