Re: Jordan Jefferson in serious barfight
I think there are several factors in play here, and resulting confusion between NCAA violations, eligibility issues, statutory law, and requirements for general student conduct.
As far as I'm aware, it's not an NCAA violation to be in a bar, even under age, drunk throwing punches, kicking folks in the head, etc., etc. Might be illegal. Maybe even a felony. Might not be the best representation of the university, or best example of leadership, or any of a hundred other desireable things. But I don't think those are NCAA violations.
Free legal representation is another thing. Even that isn't an NCAA violation in and of itself. But it could be construed as extra benefits, which makes the player(s) professional, which makes them ineligible. Again, free legal help, even in the context of extra benefits, isn't a violation. But playing a professional player is. So if the Baton Rouge 4 all get free legal help, and LSU plays none of them, there's no NCAA problem. At least, not on that front.
I think the most interesting facet here is the possibility of felony assault. IF (and that's a huge two letters) an LSU player did in fact kick a person and thereby cause the fracture of several vertebrae, and IF -- there's those two letters again -- it wasn't in fear of bodily harm to the kicker or others he was attempting to protect (hard to see how a guy on the ground presents an imminent threat, but that's for a judge and/or jury to decide), that's a real problem for the university.
By that I mean, what's LSU's policy toward felonious assault on the part of a non-scholarshipped run-of-the-mill student? Would he even be allowed in school? For that matter, what's standard at other universities, including the University of Alabama?
How would you feel about your son or daughter sharing a classroom, or even a campus for that matter, with a person carrying that record, regardless of athletic status?
I honestly don't know what's standard -- whether at LSU, Alabama, or any other state university -- for that sort of thing and would welcome the education from others on the board.
But if Les needs to suspend Jefferson for a game for breaking team rules the Oregon game would be his best bet. It is the first game of the season and not an SEC game so if they lose one early, their chances with the schedule they have before them, would set them up for a return to the BCSNCG if they were to run the table. Bama I think will take care of business in T-Town but if not I think LSU has the best chance of extending the SEC domination in the BCSCNG.
