Governor Landry backs Lane Kiffin, LSU in fight with SEC: ‘Don’t Hate The Player, Hate The Game’

LSU has proven over the past few years that it has no problem playing the villain.

Add a little Lane Kiffin spice to the jambalaya currently cooking in the Bayou, and it’s not hard to understand why there’s a growing disconnect between the Tigers and the rest of the SEC.

Over the past week, a battle has been brewing within the conference over court orders granted by Louisiana judges concerning the eligibility of athletes attempting to return to college sports after professional stints at some level.

While there are obviously strings being pulled behind the scenes in getting these cases in front of judges within the Baton Rouge area, LSU is clearly going against the grain as conference officials try to enforce newly created guidelines in this nauseating eligibility fight.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS' LATEST MESS: COURT ORDERS SAY PRO ATHLETES CAN PLAY, BUT SEC AND BIG TEN READY TO FIGHT Kiffin’s position is simple: If a court says an athlete is eligible, LSU would be foolish not to pursue that player while other schools are sitting on the sidelines.

LSU’S LANE KIFFIN FIRES BACK AT NFL RETURNEE BACKLASH: BLAME THE NCAA, NOT US FOR RECRUITING PRO ATHLETES The SEC sees it differently.

Conference leaders believe they have a responsibility to protect the league from an absurd new reality in which athletes can sign professional contracts, attend NFL camps and then use court orders to return to college.

And LSU? The Tigers are not just challenging the SEC.

They have the full force of Louisiana’s political machine standing behind them.

Yes, LSU has the full-backing of its state government in this ongoing fight with the SEC.

Need proof? If there was any doubt about where Louisiana Gov.

Jeff Landry stands in this fight, he erased it Wednesday night in comments made about the ongoing situation between the SEC and LSU.

"This whole thing is ridiculous.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game," Governor Landry profoundly noted .