Sankey, SEC 'prepared to contest' judge's order in Louisiana - ESPN

Though the SEC said it will comply with a Louisiana state judge's order that prohibits the league and commissioner Greg Sankey from punishing schools if they play a football player who returns to campus after signing a contract with an NFL team, the league said it plans to defend its legal rights in court Thursday.

The temporary restraining order prohibits the SEC from enforcing a new rule it adopted last week that threatens stiff penalties — a half-season suspension for a coach, a fine that matches 50% of the sport's annual budget and revocation of league voting rights — for any team that uses a player who previously signed a contract to play in the NFL, NBA or WNBA.

«The order entered against the SEC and commissioner Sankey is a temporary restraining order, not a final ruling on the merits,» the SEC said in a statement Sunday. «The SEC and commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs' petition at Thursday morning's hearing and defend the SEC's rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions.

»In the meantime, the SEC and commissioner Sankey will continue to comply with the court's order. Following the hearing, the SEC will carefully review the court's decision and determine the appropriate next steps."

The league adopted the rule after tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris announced plans to join their former coach, Lane Kiffin, at LSU, after they were released by NFL teams.

Former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn, who was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also plans to return to the Tigers if he isn't claimed by another NFL team.

The players and their attorneys are attempting to force the NCAA and conferences to retroactively