SEC files response in opposition to LSU's motion to dismiss lawsuit

The Southeastern Conference is not backing down from its legal battle against LSU.The SEC filed a response in opposition to LSU's motion to dismiss the conference's federal lawsuit on Tuesday, Oct. 13, per court filings obtained by The Tuscaloosa News. "Defendants seek to dismiss a lawsuit the Southeastern Conference did not file," the SEC argued in court documents obtained by The Tuscaloosa News.The SEC continues to make arguments in lawsuit concerning LSU's alleged lack of institutional control, continued violations of conference rules and the potential for interference with any future attempt to terminate LSU's membership.LSU has argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the two players at the center of the original dispute were not included on its football roster and a Sept. 10 meeting of SEC presidents and chancellors proceeded without interference.The SEC contends those developments do not resolve the broader dispute.REQUIRED READING: What's next in SEC's lawsuit vs LSU? October dates to know for court filingsThe SEC filed its original lawsuit Sept. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, citing that LSU violated conference rules by pursuing former professional athletes. The conference argued that LSU's actions threatened its First Amendment right of "expressive association," which it maintains includes the right to disassociate from a member whose conduct conflicts with its organizational values.LSU's pursuit of former Ole Miss players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, both of whom spent time with NFL teams, was central to the initial dispute. Neither player ultimately appeared on LSU's football roster. LSU and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit Sept. 25.The SEC's latest filing said, "This case addresses a broader dispute: Defendants' complete lack of institutional control over LSU's athletic programs, their ongoing defiance of the Conference's Professionalism Rules, and the very real threat ... that Defendants will interfere with any effort to terminate LSU's membership in the Conference."The SEC further argued that the Sept. 10 meeting did not represent the full extent of the legal protections it sought in filing the lawsuit."That meeting never represented the outer boundary of the relief sought through this lawsuit, which seeks to prevent Defendants’ interference with the Conference’s exercise of its First Amendment right of expressive association, including its right to disassociate from LSU," the conference argued.The SEC's position does not mean a decision has been made to remove LSU from the conference. Rather, it seeks to establish that the conference has a constitutional right to pursue such action without interference from LSU officials or other defendants.The lawsuit remains pending before U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon, who previously continued a Sept. 9 hearing on the SEC's request for a temporary restraining order.Per a Sept. 28 court order, LSU has until Tuesday, Oct. 20, to submit a reply to the conference's opposition, if it chooses to do so.The judge has not yet ruled on the motion to dismiss, leaving the future of the lawsuit unresolved.This story will be updated with new information.Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: SEC files response in opposition to LSU's motion to dismiss lawsuit