During the SEC spring meetings this week, the conference decided to expand its conduct policy for transfers which banned players previously charged with sexual assault, sexual violence and/or domestic violence from transferring to a program in the conference.
The rule was expanded to now include “dating violence, stalking or conduct of a nature that creates serious concern about the safety of others.”
With the expanded policy, universities must also perform background checks on potential transfers as due diligence before they are able to be accepted into the program.
Unfortunately, the new policy does not yet apply to incoming freshman, simply transfers.
However, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said that could change in the future.
“I can envision a continuing dialogue that looks at what we’ve done on serious misconduct relative to transfers, and the question will be asked is that sufficient?” Sankey said, via College Football Talk. “Should we remain there? That doesn’t predict outcomes, but I envision that will be a conversation topic going forward. But I never anticipated that we were done.
“This conference has been wrestling with the issue, and it’s not easy. I hope people can appreciate that. It’s not as if this is done in a sterile environment, and I think that’s an important conversation. I said that last year, and I’ve said that this year. There’s a point at which the legislation concluded for this week, and we’ll see what the future might hold without prediction.”
Let’s hope the SEC gets it right so we don’t see any further disasters like what happened earlier this week at Mississippi State.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
