Across South Louisiana on Thursday, pins must have been stuck into voodoo dolls. The standard use of voodoo dolls in Cajun culture is to conjure what is known as 'sympathetic magic'. In contrast, outside the state of Louisiana, the popular image of voodoo dolls is use with evil intent. On Thursday, evil intent toward SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey must have been in the minds of LSU fans.
Thursday also provided some sweet irony wrapped up in legal wrangling. During Sankey's testimony in the hearing on the Louisiana TRO that blocked any SEC action against LSU, the SEC sued LSU in an Alabama federal court. Pete Nakos reported that the lawsuit specifies LSU's efforts "to recruit and soon roster professional athletes in direct defiance of the Professional rules."
The SEC suit against LSU further claims, "This conduct is detrimental to the Conference and contrary to its core purpose. Defendants’ conduct has already harmed the Conference and threatens to cause further substantial harm if not curbed."
Defendants in the lawsuit are Louisiana State University and its Board of Supervisors, LSU President Wade Rousse, Athletic Director Verne Ausberry, and LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin.
Al.com reporter Michael Casagrade offered a pithy summation of the fracas: "LSU wanted the Lane Kiffin experience and they are getting the full Lane Kiffin experience. And vice versa."
No attempt is made here to validate or dispute the merits of the legal claims. However, outside of Louisiana, a large majority of lawyers' opinions argue that the SEC holds the winning cards. Unless the Cajun voodoo culture can make those cards disappear, LSU appears to be on the verge of serious, self-inflicted damage.
SEC should have added another defendant
One point can be added. The SEC left out one person as a defendant. That is Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. After Lane Kiffin, Landry may have done the most to foster the mentality that the Bengal Tigers can't be stopped, from pretty much doing whatever they please. It is too bad that if or when Greg Sankey suspends Kiffin, Landry can't be censured as well.
Stay tuned - this post will either be updated or new posts will provide more information about this saga.
Additional information on the SEC vs. LSU dispute, leading up to Thursday, can be found here.
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