With Clemson and LSU set to square off this Saturday night, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit shared his thoughts on Lane Kiffin’s personnel and all the controversy surrounding it.
Kiffin caused a huge stir earlier this summer by adding NFL rookies Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to LSU’s roster. Although the SEC said pro football players will be prohibited from playing college football this fall, Wright and Harris have been cleared to return due to a judge’s injunction.
During an appearance on “Get Up” this Friday morning, Herbstreit shared his thoughts on this dilemma.
“I think the optics of it, you know, around the rest of the SEC, probably around the rest of the country,” Herbstreit said. “I don’t know if a lot of people are getting their arms around NFL guys that end up having an opportunity to come back to play college, but it is what it is for this one particular class.”
Herbstreit suggested that Clemson’s players will be highly motivated to compete against LSU, especially after this stunt from Kiffin.
“Now LSU has to play a kind of annoyed Clemson team that’s excited for the chance to pull off the upset,” Herbstreit said. “It’s game on tomorrow night.”
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Apparently, that take from Herbstreit didn’t sit well with LSU fans.
“Lazy way to try and sell the game. Clemson has nowhere near the same fire and anger LSU will have,” one fan said.
“Not saying Clemson won’t be fired up,” a second fan wrote. “You don’t think LSU players gonna be fired up with all the noise everybody saying.”
“You think Clemson is more fired up than LSU? The whole world has been hating on us for the last two weeks. LSU will be more fired up than they have been in the last 5 years,” an LSU fan argued.
Clemson sends warning to LSU.
According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, Clemson officials have notified LSU that it’d be a breach of contract if they let pro football players compete this Saturday.
As of now, it’s unclear if Clemson is seeking financial damages or intends on taking legal action against LSU. However, the university said it “supports the position of the NCAA and our conferences regarding the eligibility of professional athletes returning to play college sports.”
We can’t wait to see how this all unfolds Saturday night in Baton Rouge.
