Hypocrisy is Alive and Well in the ACC

I’m having a hard time understanding the outrage coming from the ACC — and particularly Clemson — over what Lane Kiffin and LSU are doing.

We’re hearing talk about teams refusing to play LSU. Dabo Swinney has called the situation embarrassing for college football. Everybody suddenly wants to draw this big, bold line between college football and professional football.

Fine.

Then somebody explain DQ Smith to me.

Virginia Tech — a member of the ACC — just added Smith DAYS before the season starts.

Smith left South Carolina and pursued the NFL. He received NFL minicamp invitations. He participated in the NFL evaluation process and continued pursuing opportunities with NFL teams.

Yes, I know the argument.

“He never signed an NFL contract.”

I don’t give a damn.

He was trying to play professional football. He was participating in NFL camps and tryouts, being evaluated by NFL coaches and competing for an NFL job.

Now he’s back playing college football.

But because he didn’t put his signature on an NFL contract, Virginia Tech gets a pass?

Meanwhile, LSU brings in players who DID sign contracts, and suddenly we’re talking about teams refusing to take the field against them?

That’s where you lose me.

If your argument is that once a player enters the professional football world he shouldn’t be allowed to return to college, I can support that argument. In fact, that’s probably where I would draw the line myself.

But then draw the damn line and apply it consistently.

Don’t tell me that practicing and trying out with NFL teams is perfectly acceptable but signing your name to a contract suddenly represents some enormous moral difference.

One is technically different under the rule.

I understand that.

I’m questioning whether it SHOULD be.

And there’s something especially hypocritical about ACC coaches raising hell about LSU while one of their own conference members is taking advantage of the very same chaotic eligibility situation to add a former South Carolina starter four days before its season opener.

Where was all the outrage about Virginia Tech?

Where were the threats not to play the Hokies?

Where were all the speeches about protecting college football?

Maybe some of this really is about protecting the sport.

But I can’t help believing some of it is also because the guy pushing the envelope happens to be Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin is polarizing. He always has been. And when he finds a loophole, he doesn’t quietly peek through it — he kicks the damn door open.

That rubs people the wrong way.

But dislike Lane Kiffin all you want.

The rules still have to apply equally.

Either NFL participation represents crossing the line into professional football or it doesn’t.

Figure it out.

Because right now college football isn’t operating on principle.