LSU announces self-imposed 2020 bowl ban
LSU started 2020 by winning the biggest game of the college football postseason, the College Football Playoff national championship game. Now, in December, the school has announced it won’t participate in a bowl game at the end of this season.
LSU athletics and Tigers head football coach Ed Orgeron each released statements Wednesday evening announcing a self-imposed bowl ban for the 2020 season.
LSU Athletics statement:
“LSU has informed the NCAA and SEC that it will self-impose a one-year postseason ban on its football program for the 2020-21 bowl season, in addition to self-imposed sanctions already declared. LSU leadership made this decision after careful deliberation and review of the NCAA rules violations that have been discovered in the University’s cooperative investigation with the NCAA and IARP. This decision reflects LSU’s commitment to compliance with NCAA regulations and maintenance of institutional control. We regret the impact that this decision has on our current student-athletes, but we make it in the best interest of the football program and University. LSU will continue to cooperate with the NCAA and IARP throughout the enforcement process.”
Orgeron’s statement:
“I respect the university’s decision to proactively address NCAA issues from the past. I share the disappointment of our student-athletes who will not be able to compete this season in a bowl game. I am especially proud of our players’ dedication to the program during these unprecedented times in our country. Their pride in LSU will be the driving force as we continue to build a championship program. Geaux Tigers.”
The bowl ban is LSU football’s latest self-imposed penalty. Earlier this year, the school announced a reduction in scholarships and a multi-year ban of Odell Beckham Jr. from team facilities. The football program is dealing with an NCAA investigation involving multiple violations. Sports Illustrated had a lengthy report on the matter in October:
The SI report details that the booster payments to a player’s father happened while Joe Alleva was athletic director and Les Miles was the head football coach. The father of former offensive lineman Vadal Alexander received $180,000 in stolen money from LSU booster John Paul Funes, who pleaded guilty to federal felony wire fraud and money laundering charges. The investigation noted Ed Orgeron had impermissible contact with a recruit in January 2019.
Those violations are in addition to Beckham handing out cash to some 2019 LSU players at the national championship game in New Orleans. LSU could be waiting months for an NCAA resolution as the football program investigation is reportedly tied as an NCAA case to the investigation into Will Wade’s basketball program. From October:
SI’s lengthy report further details that LSU had hoped the NCAA would rule on the football matters and the investigation into Will Wade’s basketball program separately. The NCAA, however, has jointly referred both to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process as opposed to the traditional hearing panel, the Committee of Infractions. While the football investigation is complete, “the basketball case is expected to drag on for as long as another year.”
Orgeron’s squad is currently 3-5 with games remaining against Florida and Ole Miss. Earlier this year, the NCAA waived win requirements for bowl games this season due to the unique circumstances of the FBS season.
I wouldn’t recommend cooperating or self-imposing punishment to please the NCAA, just speaking from prior experience…
No kidding…
Were the poster child for creating overly harsh punishments on ourselves.
Due to my recent unacceptable behavior, I’ve decided to ban myself from this year’s Mr. Universe competition.
Yep, I think Auburn basketball screwed up in that regard as well. Fighting the NCAA is the only thing that works if you’re not hot tub buddies with Emmert.
Are you suggesting that aub and pearl have cooperated with the ncaa investigation into their program? neither have a reputation of cooperating
When has Auburn ever not cooperated? The only thing Pearl did was to refuse to meet with the NCAA without his lawyer (as they were insisting). The only reason he did that, was because there was a FEDERAL CRIMINAL trial in progress. Not having his lawyer present would have been galactically stupid. Once they agreed, he met with them and answered any and all questions.
the 2017 scandal and aub/pearl’s cooperation goes well beyond whether pearl’s attorney was to be present or not in any of his meetings directly with the school or ncaa. you know this, right?
i don’t want to go into a deep dive, but below outlines what I read, recall, etc.
– as you know, green had essentially just arrived at aub. pearl had no allegiance to him and either on his own or through advice from his attorney, he refused to sit down or get into anything with greene…and the pres. the aub pres was fresh off giving malzahn the questionable extension, of which many associated to aub and many across the country openly questioned. pearl clearly had little reverence for either greene, aub pres, the school in general, ncaa, etc. he was looking out for himself and himself alone. just ask chuck person.
– pearl knew his roster and he knew he had a team with a lot of potential. he also knew there were plenty of other big time schools that might get even more attn than his. so what did he do, lay low and not cooperate.
did pearl’s handling of the above ultimately work to his favor and the w/l record of aub basketball—absolutely, but don’t suggest he cooperated.
as for a broad stroke as to the school’s cooperation into matters, jacobs had a renowned reputation of never cooperating. the cam newtown controversy is of course the the most well-known
You didn’t post anything that contradicts what I said. He ultimately met and answered all questions. He was just demanding his lawyer being present…which was smart. Leath was a POS that got fired partially for running his mouth about the mess. As far as Cam, Auburn fully cooperated. Which is why he was reinstated. All financial records from the school, coaches, boosters, parents, even “the church.” You can’t cooperate any more than what Auburn did. So your have no idea what you are talking about.
Seriously? I didn’t think I needed to be blunt, but clearly I did. Pearl hid behind his attorney. He didn’t not just meet with the ncaa without him, but also aub. He refused to meet with aub officials before the ’17 scandal even became public. Greene and aub were completely in the dark and were in no way working with pearl. Brandon Marcello, a well-respected aub beat writer said so much in numerous articles. It was a simple situation of everybody was working against everybody. Not similar to miller and az, self and ks, etc as both of those head coaches and schools were working in tandem in response to the ncaa. Though a dif scandal, very similar to will wade and lsu.
Jacobs was dirty. The recruitment of cam newton to aub was dirty. Do you not agree that the ncaa is a group of bundling idiots? Reinstatement is not the same as clearing a player or institution. Don’t you find it odd that an AD who worked at a power 5 institution for 14 years has stayed in the field, but never received another opportunity as an AD again? He’s currently running 3rd or 4th in the pecking order at uf.
This in addition to their record-imposed bowl ban.
Hahaha thought the same thing
Or the lack of scholarship players due to opting out/transferring ban
Everyone can stop commenting now. This one wins
Well since we had a drop off this year and will go 3-6, let’s go ahead and slap ourselves on the wrist by not going to a bowl. It’s like Auburn basketball, there is some shady stuff that will come out where illegal activities were done. Anyways on another note, we can all agree screw the NCAA….
You forgot to switch accounts, mouthbreather.
Sarcasm is lost on you, I suspect.
Uh oh, Scott is triggered.
It’s almost 2021 dude, you are welcome to join us when you have a minute.
Leftist plot perhaps?
You can just say you don’t want to go to Birmingham this year, LSU.
You beat me to it.
But I was gonna say, the Music City Bowl.
(Tennessee’s reward for this fine 3-7 season we’re putting a bow on.)
Yeah for this year the Birmingham bowl is pretty bad, but for next year (2021), it will suddenly become one of the better bowls. There will be a brand new stadium which will be by the civic center and the entertainment district and hotels. No more old Legion field in the hood.
You usually have to have a minimum .500 record to play in a bowl game. LSU won’t have that. But the NCAA waived that rule for this year. I think LSU is just trying to avoid another L for the year. Doing they lose the extra weeks of practice for the players. Might backfire on them.
Doing so
Very true but it does keep any more players from opting out which might be better for them from an optics stand point
Not according to Jumbo Les. Looking so bad shows recruits how many open positions are available for immediate playing time.
I don’t think they want to end the year with an L to Louisianna-Lafayette.
Well, if you are going to skip a bowl, this is the year to do it.
You got that right.
I wouldn’t have cooperated…my guess is when all this comes out in the wash they’re getting hammered anyway. Might as well wait for the NCAA to do it.
I agree. I think things are much worse in Baton Rouge than folks are letting on. Orgeron isn’t a man to go bowing the knee to anyone, so for him to do this….
Arik wants to know if he has to give Odell the money back if he TPs out.
He smoked synthetic marijuana because were the only team that test for pot and it messed him up real bad. The whole mutiny is over beeping weed. Well let our program burn down because we don’t let our players burn down. Chase opted out bc he would’ve been suspended the first 4 games this year. Latest rumors
Um…you’re not the only team that tests for pot. Numerous Auburn players over the years have had to sit for that. I’m sure just about every SEC program tests for that. It’s just not publicized.
Who are we going to hire after we fire O?
Fantasy, LSU will have a much easier time finding a coach than t.u (Texas)…no worries.
There’s a coach in Kansas that may be willing to take the job.
Some say he’s nervously munching grass in anticipation
Not. Even. Funny.
This whole thread cracks me up.
Muschamp is available
Same coaches that we have all mentioned before, not named Meyer. Chadwell, Freeze, Fickell. Hey Ole Burt Bielema got turned down by Southern Miss so he would be interested. Seriously, Coach O ain’t going anywhere.
It’s LSU, they will keep Jumbo Les around for a decade on mediocrity before they fire him.
Fantasy…Muschamp’s available…If you want to add a $15 Million buyout to his contract. He’ll really turn the program around.
He did win a national championship at LSU… but then again it seems like every coach these days has won a natty with the program at some point in their career.
Great decision.
Is this 1 April and no one told me?
Uh oh…
LMAO..
Nice of them to skip bowl season this year. I’m sure it’s quite the heartache.
LMAO. LSU is such a fking joke
$180,000? I wonder how much Cam Newton got.
Miss St offered to pay him $180K, but nothing happened to them.
So AU outbid them. What was the amount?
I can promise you it was a lot less than what Bama paid to Tua’s family.
In a similar move, I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the Miss Universe contest.
Don’t feel bad. Ms. Texas withdrew herself from the date we had set up for 3 minutes after Hades freezes over.
Coach O falling harder and faster from fame than Britney Spears. Geauxtiguhs
Jimbo and A&M just announced they are going to run with a self-imposed ban of CFP for 2020-2021 season
Very brave of them to do this.
I’m surprised that they didn’t employ this strategy to avoid playing Alabama. Oh I forgot, Nick Saban said they thought they could have some success in that game since they won in 2019. How thoughtful of them to give the rest of us something to laugh about.
What a crazy Covid year that will forever have an * next to it. Schools with 3-7 records still being projected to a bowl game. Just weird. But as someone else said, this IS a great year to punish yourself if you think it makes a better look.
They would have gone to a bowl game, had the extra practices that entails, and played against another bowl team. All of which would have been added experience for the players. So, yeah, this is a sacrifice. But I can’t blame anyone for laughing about it. They deserve the ridicule.
All true.
I would also say that it’s better to be banned from this year vs next year. Who knows, maybe LSU has another miracle season next year and a bowl ban next year would stifle that. Might as well get the bowl ban out of the way now.
Bowl? Which bowl? Toilet?
Haha as of you were gonna make it, 3-5 smdh
What a joke. LSU won’t be going to a bowl game anyways. This is a slap in the face to the NCAA and I hope they recognize this as a pathetic attempt to avoid them from suffering any serious penalties. Shows you how seriously Orgeron takes these matters. Should at very least receive a 2021 bowl ban. They have a losing season and they “self-impose”a bowl banwhat a joke. Loved every second of embarrassing you LSU and we only played 3 quarters. That’s bc we actually have class despite your pathetic embarrassing actions following your fluke win in 2019 in Tuscaloosa. Roll Tide WHAT?!?!
LSU — quit long ago — Ed can’t get enough of his new young hot girlfriend
In a year of brave, ground breaking historical moments in college football. This isn’t one of them.
“Look at our historic moment!”
– Vanderbilt
“Hold my beer.”
– Defending National Champion, not bowl eligible LSU
Every school is bowl eligible.