LSU Tigers Football news and opinion.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Football Ranked No. 2 by 'The Sporting News'
Courtesy: www.LSUsports.net
Release: 06/08/2007
BATON ROUGE -- LSU has picked up another lofty preseason ranking as The Sporting News has tabbed the Tigers as its No. 2 preseason pick heading into the 2007 season.
The Tigers, who open their third season under Les Miles on Thursday, Aug. 30 against Mississippi State in Starkville, has also been ranked No. 2 in Blue Ribbon Yearbook’s preseason poll.
LSU returns 15 starters and 46 letterwinners from last year’s squad that posted an 11-2 overall mark, beat Notre Dame, 41-14, in the Sugar Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
The Sporting News picked Southern Cal as its top-ranked team, with LSU, Michigan, West Virginia and Florida rounding out the top five. Other LSU opponents in the top 25 include Virginia Tech at No. 7 and Auburn at No. 16.
In addition to its preseason ranking, The Sporting News has rated LSU’s defensive line as the best in college football and its linebackers as the nation’s fifth-ranked unit. LSU returns three starters from its defensive front, including 2006 All-America Glenn Dorsey and all-conference pick Tyson Jackson.
On LSU’s defensive line, The Sporting News writes, “beware LSU’s defensive line. It’s good. No, wait: It’s great. And this band of brothers is a major reason many on the Bayou are thinking national championship.”
Individually, senior Will Arnold is rated by the magazine as the nation’s best offensive guard, while Dorsey has been picked as the top defensive tackle in college football. Both players are listed on The Sporting News’ Preseason All-America team.
The magazine quotes an unnamed SEC coach as saying of Dorsey, “him staying is big. He’s a beast inside.”
The only other Tiger listed among the top 10 players at his position by the publication is Ali Highsmith, who is ranked as the nation’s fifth-best outside linebacker.
The Sporting News also picked nine “Gotta See Games” from across the nation during the 2007 season and LSU has three of its contests on the list: LSU against Virginia Tech on Sept. 8; LSU vs. Florida on Oct. 6 and LSU at Alabama on Nov. 3.
Release: 06/08/2007
BATON ROUGE -- LSU has picked up another lofty preseason ranking as The Sporting News has tabbed the Tigers as its No. 2 preseason pick heading into the 2007 season.
The Tigers, who open their third season under Les Miles on Thursday, Aug. 30 against Mississippi State in Starkville, has also been ranked No. 2 in Blue Ribbon Yearbook’s preseason poll.
LSU returns 15 starters and 46 letterwinners from last year’s squad that posted an 11-2 overall mark, beat Notre Dame, 41-14, in the Sugar Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
The Sporting News picked Southern Cal as its top-ranked team, with LSU, Michigan, West Virginia and Florida rounding out the top five. Other LSU opponents in the top 25 include Virginia Tech at No. 7 and Auburn at No. 16.
In addition to its preseason ranking, The Sporting News has rated LSU’s defensive line as the best in college football and its linebackers as the nation’s fifth-ranked unit. LSU returns three starters from its defensive front, including 2006 All-America Glenn Dorsey and all-conference pick Tyson Jackson.
On LSU’s defensive line, The Sporting News writes, “beware LSU’s defensive line. It’s good. No, wait: It’s great. And this band of brothers is a major reason many on the Bayou are thinking national championship.”
Individually, senior Will Arnold is rated by the magazine as the nation’s best offensive guard, while Dorsey has been picked as the top defensive tackle in college football. Both players are listed on The Sporting News’ Preseason All-America team.
The magazine quotes an unnamed SEC coach as saying of Dorsey, “him staying is big. He’s a beast inside.”
The only other Tiger listed among the top 10 players at his position by the publication is Ali Highsmith, who is ranked as the nation’s fifth-best outside linebacker.
The Sporting News also picked nine “Gotta See Games” from across the nation during the 2007 season and LSU has three of its contests on the list: LSU against Virginia Tech on Sept. 8; LSU vs. Florida on Oct. 6 and LSU at Alabama on Nov. 3.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Astros pick LSU football signee Jones
June 8, 2007
Chad Jones, one of the most highly touted recruits in LSU's football recruiting class last fall, has been taken in the Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros in the 13th round.
Jones, a Southern Lab product, is a safety on the football field and was considered to be among the top safeties in the country.
He was drafted by the Astros as an outfielder.
Chad Jones, one of the most highly touted recruits in LSU's football recruiting class last fall, has been taken in the Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros in the 13th round.
Jones, a Southern Lab product, is a safety on the football field and was considered to be among the top safeties in the country.
He was drafted by the Astros as an outfielder.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Hill Honored by Former LSU, NFL Teammates at Funeral
Courtesy: www.LSUsports.net
By BRETT MARTEL
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- As he stood near the casket of late New England Patriots and LSU teammate Marquise Hill, defensive lineman Jarvis Green swallowed hard, took some deep breaths and offered a few fond memories to Hill's grieving relatives.
"He made everybody laugh," Green said. "The first time I met him he made me laugh and the last time I talked to him he made me laugh. He worked hard. He gave his all. ... That's the kind of person he was."
Hill, a 24-year-old father of a 2-year-old son, was buried on Saturday, nearly a week after his death in a personal watercraft accident on Lake Pontchartrain.
The former LSU defensive end, who won a national championship with the Tigers in 2003, had yet to see regular playing time in three seasons with the Patriots. Yet he had won the hearts of numerous college and pro teammates who remembered him as a strong, caring and vibrant man who improved the lives of those who knew him.
Virtually the entire Patriots team, including coach Bill Belichick and his assistants, attended his wake on Friday night. Alabama coach Nick Saban, who had coached Hill at LSU, also was there.
Green, New England defensive back Randall Gay and Patriots running back Kevin Faulk, who all played at LSU, remained for the funeral the following day, along with numerous current and former Tigers players, many of whom now play for other NFL squads.
"Everybody kind of got a chance to see each other, but it's kind of a bad time because we lost one of our brothers," said New York Giants defensive back Corey Webster, who described Hill, a former teammate at LSU, as the type of person who could always be counted on to help friends and loved ones get through tough times.
"In times like this, people would lean on him because he knew how to make people laugh, take the edge off," Webster said. "He's not here right now, you know, but he's in a better place. I know he would want everyone to be happy."
Others at the funeral included Colts running back Joseph Addai, Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Michael Clayton, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams, Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and Kansas City Chiefs rookie Dwayne Bowe.
Saints players, in the midst of minicamp, were not able to attend on Saturday, but had a chance to go to the wake on Friday night, said receiver Devery Henderson, who was a teammate of Hill on LSU's 2003 squad.
The funeral was held in a spacious gospel church which Hill attended as a child. Red roses were piled high on the casket. Resting on the flowers was a football, a section of which had been stitched in smooth, white leather and decorated with the symbols of the Patriots and LSU Tigers, along with Hill's name and the years of his birth and death.
Beside the casket was a large action photo of Hill during one of his final LSU games. He stood in triumph, arms folded, above then-Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning as fellow LSU players nearby raised their arms in celebration.
Since he had turned pro, Hill continued to spend much of his free time with family in New Orleans or working out at LSU's Baton Rouge campus, where he developed close friendships with current LSU coach Les Miles and current Tigers players, who also were at the funeral.
Hill's family was hard hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but Hill had been helping them rebuild and was home for Memorial Day weekend when he and a friend went for a ride on a personal watercraft without life vests.
They fell into the water. The woman survived by holding onto a pylon. Hill, who friends described as a strong swimmer, drowned in an area of swirling currents. The Orleans Parish coroner has said Hill's head showed signs of bruising and that he may have had a concussion that left him disoriented.
At the church, Hill's former LSU teammate and roommate, Ben Wilkerson, sought to console Hill's mother, Sherry, while addressing the crowd as one of the funeral speakers.
"Ms. Hill, you know, you lost a son," Wilkerson said, then nodded toward the collection of Hill's former college and pro teammates. "But if you look to your right, you have so many sons over there. He was our brother. He was our family. It will be a journey with him not with us any more. But he wants us to be strong because he was such a strong person."
By BRETT MARTEL
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- As he stood near the casket of late New England Patriots and LSU teammate Marquise Hill, defensive lineman Jarvis Green swallowed hard, took some deep breaths and offered a few fond memories to Hill's grieving relatives.
"He made everybody laugh," Green said. "The first time I met him he made me laugh and the last time I talked to him he made me laugh. He worked hard. He gave his all. ... That's the kind of person he was."
Hill, a 24-year-old father of a 2-year-old son, was buried on Saturday, nearly a week after his death in a personal watercraft accident on Lake Pontchartrain.
The former LSU defensive end, who won a national championship with the Tigers in 2003, had yet to see regular playing time in three seasons with the Patriots. Yet he had won the hearts of numerous college and pro teammates who remembered him as a strong, caring and vibrant man who improved the lives of those who knew him.
Virtually the entire Patriots team, including coach Bill Belichick and his assistants, attended his wake on Friday night. Alabama coach Nick Saban, who had coached Hill at LSU, also was there.
Green, New England defensive back Randall Gay and Patriots running back Kevin Faulk, who all played at LSU, remained for the funeral the following day, along with numerous current and former Tigers players, many of whom now play for other NFL squads.
"Everybody kind of got a chance to see each other, but it's kind of a bad time because we lost one of our brothers," said New York Giants defensive back Corey Webster, who described Hill, a former teammate at LSU, as the type of person who could always be counted on to help friends and loved ones get through tough times.
"In times like this, people would lean on him because he knew how to make people laugh, take the edge off," Webster said. "He's not here right now, you know, but he's in a better place. I know he would want everyone to be happy."
Others at the funeral included Colts running back Joseph Addai, Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Michael Clayton, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams, Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and Kansas City Chiefs rookie Dwayne Bowe.
Saints players, in the midst of minicamp, were not able to attend on Saturday, but had a chance to go to the wake on Friday night, said receiver Devery Henderson, who was a teammate of Hill on LSU's 2003 squad.
The funeral was held in a spacious gospel church which Hill attended as a child. Red roses were piled high on the casket. Resting on the flowers was a football, a section of which had been stitched in smooth, white leather and decorated with the symbols of the Patriots and LSU Tigers, along with Hill's name and the years of his birth and death.
Beside the casket was a large action photo of Hill during one of his final LSU games. He stood in triumph, arms folded, above then-Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning as fellow LSU players nearby raised their arms in celebration.
Since he had turned pro, Hill continued to spend much of his free time with family in New Orleans or working out at LSU's Baton Rouge campus, where he developed close friendships with current LSU coach Les Miles and current Tigers players, who also were at the funeral.
Hill's family was hard hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but Hill had been helping them rebuild and was home for Memorial Day weekend when he and a friend went for a ride on a personal watercraft without life vests.
They fell into the water. The woman survived by holding onto a pylon. Hill, who friends described as a strong swimmer, drowned in an area of swirling currents. The Orleans Parish coroner has said Hill's head showed signs of bruising and that he may have had a concussion that left him disoriented.
At the church, Hill's former LSU teammate and roommate, Ben Wilkerson, sought to console Hill's mother, Sherry, while addressing the crowd as one of the funeral speakers.
"Ms. Hill, you know, you lost a son," Wilkerson said, then nodded toward the collection of Hill's former college and pro teammates. "But if you look to your right, you have so many sons over there. He was our brother. He was our family. It will be a journey with him not with us any more. But he wants us to be strong because he was such a strong person."
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Miles not worried about meeting Saban
By Glenn Guilbeau
BATON ROUGE — The first-ever face-to-face showdown between LSU football coach Les Miles and former LSU coach Nick Saban will occur this week at the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Fla. All 12 football coaches are scheduled for to meet Tuesday afternoon and most of the day Wednesday.
"I've talked to him on the phone a few times, but I've never met him in person," Miles said in an interview in his office on Thursday.
In light of several incidents that have angered LSU and Alabama fans and caused some friction between the coaches since Saban became Alabama's new coach on Jan. 3, Miles was asked what it will be like should they bump into one another in the lobby or elevator at the Marriott.
"There'll be no bumping into," Miles said. "It won't be anything but us both showing up at the meetings and being cordial and taking care of the business that we'll be in Destin to do."
There was nothing cordial about Miles' comments directed at Alabama when he addressed a few thousand people at the annual Bayou Bash signing day party last February 7 at the Baton Rouge River Center.
"We're looking forward to playing Florida. We're looking forward to playing Auburn," Miles said with his voice rising as the crowd worked itself into a frenzy over the only two teams the Tigers lost to last season. "But we have a new rival in (expletive) Alabama!"
And the crowd went wild as the emotionally charged Miles looked like he was giving a pre-game speech and appeared about to explode.
Several days later after some LSU athletic department officials, who were not at the bash, said he did not say such a thing, Miles apologized for what he said in an e-mail to the Daily Reveille LSU student newspaper that asked him for days for a response.
"I apologize for the inappropriate remark I made at the Bayou Recruiting Bash last Wednesday," Miles said in the e-mail. "This was a private booster function that was closed to the working media, but that's no excuse for my remarks. That remark was out of character for me. I got caught up in the emotion of the day and the excitement of the moment, but I should have used better judgment."
Before the Bayou Bash bombshell, Miles was listing the states his new signees were from and got a roar from the crowd when he said, "and two from Alabama." Recognizing the crowd reaction, he said, "You bet your (expletive ."
Miles says now he was caught up in the excitement of recruiting and the fact that Saban went hard after several players from Louisiana who had already committed to LSU or were close to it. Saban got West Monroe defensive end Luther Davis to de-commit to LSU and sign with Alabama.
"I can tell you that there was some negative recruiting going on out there," Miles said at his Feb. 7 signing day press conference. "I can tell you that in this recruiting class and in this recruiting season, I thought that what appeared to be breaking of rules was much more rampant. But I wouldn't want to say that it appeared from any one school more than any other."
Saban on Thursday was accused of secondary NCAA rules violations concerning illegal contact with prospects between April 15 and May 31 in a story by the Miami Herald and the canesports.com Web site. While at LSU, Saban was reprimanded for similar secondary recruiting violations concerning illegal phone calls.
Last recruiting season, there were also reports that Saban was criticizing Miles and his LSU assistants while recruiting players also interested in LSU.
"I don't have any proof of that happening," Miles said on Thursday and had no other comments on recruiting.
The bad blood between the Alabama-LSU camps started soon after Saban left his job as the Miami Dolphins coach to become coach at Alabama, a school that LSU has traditionally held as one of its rivals though Alabama has never seen it that way with Auburn and Tennessee on the top of that list.
Saban made LSU fans, media and some LSU coaches angry the day he was introduced at Alabama as its new coach on Jan. 4 when he referred to LSU's 41-14 over Notre Dame on Jan. 3 in the Sugar Bowl.
Saban was asked, "If I was a recruit on the fence, what would you do to woo me to stay here at Alabama for the next four years?" by a reporter.
"I think we have a pretty good track record of recruiting," Saban said. "I think recruiting is all about attention and relationships with people and developing trust. Michigan State, I think they were 3-8 (actually 5-6). We ended up 10-2 in the fifth year there with a team that was the first team since 1965 that beat Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State in the same year. LSU was 3-8 when we went there. In the second year, we won the SEC championship. In the fourth year (2003) with a team of players we had recruited, we won the national championship. I think the players that you saw play last night for LSU were primarily players that were recruited when I was there. JaMarcus Russell, Early Doucet, Craig Davis, Dwayne Bowe, LaRon Landry. They were all players that were recruited when I was there."
Saban also drew LSU fans' ire when he — thinking he was off the record - shared a funny story he was told to reporters and used the word, "coonass."
LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette, who worked under Saban from 2000-2004 at LSU and has been with Miles for two years, was one of many at LSU that did not like Saban bringing up LSU's Sugar Bowl win. But he does not foresee any argument or altercation between his two former bosses at the spring meetings.
"I think they'll be cordial," said Bonnette, who spoke to Saban a few times when he was coaching Miami. "They'll represent their universities as they should. I don't think anything other than professional behavior by both of them will take place. I don't expect anything to come of it. Having worked for both, they will go to the meetings together and act accordingly."
SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom said there are no plans for any security for the coaches.
"Security has never been an issue," Bloom said.
BATON ROUGE — The first-ever face-to-face showdown between LSU football coach Les Miles and former LSU coach Nick Saban will occur this week at the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Fla. All 12 football coaches are scheduled for to meet Tuesday afternoon and most of the day Wednesday.
"I've talked to him on the phone a few times, but I've never met him in person," Miles said in an interview in his office on Thursday.
In light of several incidents that have angered LSU and Alabama fans and caused some friction between the coaches since Saban became Alabama's new coach on Jan. 3, Miles was asked what it will be like should they bump into one another in the lobby or elevator at the Marriott.
"There'll be no bumping into," Miles said. "It won't be anything but us both showing up at the meetings and being cordial and taking care of the business that we'll be in Destin to do."
There was nothing cordial about Miles' comments directed at Alabama when he addressed a few thousand people at the annual Bayou Bash signing day party last February 7 at the Baton Rouge River Center.
"We're looking forward to playing Florida. We're looking forward to playing Auburn," Miles said with his voice rising as the crowd worked itself into a frenzy over the only two teams the Tigers lost to last season. "But we have a new rival in (expletive) Alabama!"
And the crowd went wild as the emotionally charged Miles looked like he was giving a pre-game speech and appeared about to explode.
Several days later after some LSU athletic department officials, who were not at the bash, said he did not say such a thing, Miles apologized for what he said in an e-mail to the Daily Reveille LSU student newspaper that asked him for days for a response.
"I apologize for the inappropriate remark I made at the Bayou Recruiting Bash last Wednesday," Miles said in the e-mail. "This was a private booster function that was closed to the working media, but that's no excuse for my remarks. That remark was out of character for me. I got caught up in the emotion of the day and the excitement of the moment, but I should have used better judgment."
Before the Bayou Bash bombshell, Miles was listing the states his new signees were from and got a roar from the crowd when he said, "and two from Alabama." Recognizing the crowd reaction, he said, "You bet your (expletive ."
Miles says now he was caught up in the excitement of recruiting and the fact that Saban went hard after several players from Louisiana who had already committed to LSU or were close to it. Saban got West Monroe defensive end Luther Davis to de-commit to LSU and sign with Alabama.
"I can tell you that there was some negative recruiting going on out there," Miles said at his Feb. 7 signing day press conference. "I can tell you that in this recruiting class and in this recruiting season, I thought that what appeared to be breaking of rules was much more rampant. But I wouldn't want to say that it appeared from any one school more than any other."
Saban on Thursday was accused of secondary NCAA rules violations concerning illegal contact with prospects between April 15 and May 31 in a story by the Miami Herald and the canesports.com Web site. While at LSU, Saban was reprimanded for similar secondary recruiting violations concerning illegal phone calls.
Last recruiting season, there were also reports that Saban was criticizing Miles and his LSU assistants while recruiting players also interested in LSU.
"I don't have any proof of that happening," Miles said on Thursday and had no other comments on recruiting.
The bad blood between the Alabama-LSU camps started soon after Saban left his job as the Miami Dolphins coach to become coach at Alabama, a school that LSU has traditionally held as one of its rivals though Alabama has never seen it that way with Auburn and Tennessee on the top of that list.
Saban made LSU fans, media and some LSU coaches angry the day he was introduced at Alabama as its new coach on Jan. 4 when he referred to LSU's 41-14 over Notre Dame on Jan. 3 in the Sugar Bowl.
Saban was asked, "If I was a recruit on the fence, what would you do to woo me to stay here at Alabama for the next four years?" by a reporter.
"I think we have a pretty good track record of recruiting," Saban said. "I think recruiting is all about attention and relationships with people and developing trust. Michigan State, I think they were 3-8 (actually 5-6). We ended up 10-2 in the fifth year there with a team that was the first team since 1965 that beat Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State in the same year. LSU was 3-8 when we went there. In the second year, we won the SEC championship. In the fourth year (2003) with a team of players we had recruited, we won the national championship. I think the players that you saw play last night for LSU were primarily players that were recruited when I was there. JaMarcus Russell, Early Doucet, Craig Davis, Dwayne Bowe, LaRon Landry. They were all players that were recruited when I was there."
Saban also drew LSU fans' ire when he — thinking he was off the record - shared a funny story he was told to reporters and used the word, "coonass."
LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette, who worked under Saban from 2000-2004 at LSU and has been with Miles for two years, was one of many at LSU that did not like Saban bringing up LSU's Sugar Bowl win. But he does not foresee any argument or altercation between his two former bosses at the spring meetings.
"I think they'll be cordial," said Bonnette, who spoke to Saban a few times when he was coaching Miami. "They'll represent their universities as they should. I don't think anything other than professional behavior by both of them will take place. I don't expect anything to come of it. Having worked for both, they will go to the meetings together and act accordingly."
SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom said there are no plans for any security for the coaches.
"Security has never been an issue," Bloom said.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Rabalais: Perrilloux a headache for Tigers
By SCOTT RABALAIS
Advocate sportswriter
Published: May 26, 2007
The preseason feel-good buzz is building for the LSU football team. Just recently the first preseason mag, Lindy’s, hit the local newsstands and proclaimed the Tigers No. 2 behind only USC, virtually a lock to be everybody’s No. 1 going in.
But the buzz comes with a nagging headache that just can’t be rubbed away from the temples.
That headache’s name is Ryan Perrilloux.
Since before he showed up on campus, Perrilloux has been touted as a savior.
Now Ryan just looks like he needs saving. His latest misadventure: allegedly trying to climb aboard a local riverboat casino bearing his brother’s ID.
The offense is a misdemeanor. Still, given Ryan’s record, LSU coach Les Miles suspended him indefinitely. Suspended, but not permanently cast off.
Taken on a case-by-case basis, Perrilloux’s misdeeds don’t add up to a “fireable offense,” despite some calls for Miles to cut him loose.
OK, so he tried to sneak into a casino. He isn’t the first. He’s been cited for numerous traffic violations and reportedly faces a court date for one next month. Who out there hasn’t had a traffic ticket? Sure, his name has come up in a federal counterfeiting investigation.
Well … that happens. If you’re Tony Soprano.
Some have said Perrilloux should have stuck with his commitment to Texas, that he’d be the starting quarterback there now. Sorry, but I haven’t seen anything so far that proves he would have beaten out Colt McCoy.
The truth is, Perrilloux has a lot of proving to do.
He still has a chance. Miles obviously isn’t ready to jettison the wearisome young man, but clearly Ryan’s hope is down to its final few threads. If this were baseball, he’d be facing an 0-2 count.
Miles is taking heat for kicking three players off the team earlier this year on charges of burglary and assault, but playing favorites with a potential star player. The difference is, Perrilloux hasn’t committed a felony.
But the steady drumbeat of brushes with the law and damn fool decisions has to be mighty disturbing for Miles and anyone who cares about LSU football — and roots for Ryan to lead the Tigers to big things one day.
There’s no doubt any longer that Matt Flynn will be the starter Aug. 30. But Perrilloux is one play away from inheriting the job, something that looks less appealing with each new mess he gets into.
Next year, Flynn will be gone. This will be Perrilloux’s team to lead. So far, he has shown zero leadership qualities. Just a penchant for making mistakes that leave one to question whether his maturity will ever match his alleged talent.
He keeps this up, we might never get to see whether he will fulfill his so far untapped potential. A new freshman, Jarrett Lee, is coming. There will be another after him next year. Nothing is guaranteed.
Advocate sportswriter
Published: May 26, 2007
The preseason feel-good buzz is building for the LSU football team. Just recently the first preseason mag, Lindy’s, hit the local newsstands and proclaimed the Tigers No. 2 behind only USC, virtually a lock to be everybody’s No. 1 going in.
But the buzz comes with a nagging headache that just can’t be rubbed away from the temples.
That headache’s name is Ryan Perrilloux.
Since before he showed up on campus, Perrilloux has been touted as a savior.
Now Ryan just looks like he needs saving. His latest misadventure: allegedly trying to climb aboard a local riverboat casino bearing his brother’s ID.
The offense is a misdemeanor. Still, given Ryan’s record, LSU coach Les Miles suspended him indefinitely. Suspended, but not permanently cast off.
Taken on a case-by-case basis, Perrilloux’s misdeeds don’t add up to a “fireable offense,” despite some calls for Miles to cut him loose.
OK, so he tried to sneak into a casino. He isn’t the first. He’s been cited for numerous traffic violations and reportedly faces a court date for one next month. Who out there hasn’t had a traffic ticket? Sure, his name has come up in a federal counterfeiting investigation.
Well … that happens. If you’re Tony Soprano.
Some have said Perrilloux should have stuck with his commitment to Texas, that he’d be the starting quarterback there now. Sorry, but I haven’t seen anything so far that proves he would have beaten out Colt McCoy.
The truth is, Perrilloux has a lot of proving to do.
He still has a chance. Miles obviously isn’t ready to jettison the wearisome young man, but clearly Ryan’s hope is down to its final few threads. If this were baseball, he’d be facing an 0-2 count.
Miles is taking heat for kicking three players off the team earlier this year on charges of burglary and assault, but playing favorites with a potential star player. The difference is, Perrilloux hasn’t committed a felony.
But the steady drumbeat of brushes with the law and damn fool decisions has to be mighty disturbing for Miles and anyone who cares about LSU football — and roots for Ryan to lead the Tigers to big things one day.
There’s no doubt any longer that Matt Flynn will be the starter Aug. 30. But Perrilloux is one play away from inheriting the job, something that looks less appealing with each new mess he gets into.
Next year, Flynn will be gone. This will be Perrilloux’s team to lead. So far, he has shown zero leadership qualities. Just a penchant for making mistakes that leave one to question whether his maturity will ever match his alleged talent.
He keeps this up, we might never get to see whether he will fulfill his so far untapped potential. A new freshman, Jarrett Lee, is coming. There will be another after him next year. Nothing is guaranteed.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Football player gets back on track at LSU
By Glenn Guilbeau
sports@thenewsstar.com
BATON ROUGE — Trindon Holliday felt like he was under the radar going into the 2006 football season as well as the 2007 outdoor track season at LSU.
Of course, at 5-foot-5 and 165 pounds, Holliday is under a lot of things.
"He could be hard to pick up on pass routes sometimes," former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell said.
"When he lines up in the backfield, I could see where he'd be hard to locate by the defenders," LSU track coach Dennis Shaver said.
After not playing a lot through the first half of last season, Holliday elevated himself, if you will, forever in the hearts of LSU fans when he dashed 92 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return early in the fourth quarter at Arkansas. The score answered an 80-yard touchdown run by Razorback tailback Darren McFadden and gave the Tigers a 31-19 lead on the way to a 31-26 victory. Holliday rushed 14 times on the season, usually on reverses, for 172 yards and a touchdown.
Shaver appreciated the run as a track coach and a LSU football fan.
"It was like he was shot out of a cannon," he said. "It was a beautiful run. The guy's like a dart."
Partly because of an ankle sprain in spring football of 2006, Holliday had a forgettable 2006 track season, which included a pedestrian 11.01 time in the 100-meter dash at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
"I was coming off an injury and didn't qualify for the 100 meters at the SEC's," said Holliday, a sophomore from Northeast High near Baton Rouge. "I wasn't able to get back to 100 percent last track season. So I just told myself that if I make it through last football season at 100 percent, I will come out and make a name for myself."
Holliday did just that at the SEC Championships two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, Ala. All he did was set the school record with a 10.08 in the 100 meters to win the first individual championship of his career. The time broke the school record of 10.09 set last June by All-American Xavier Carter, who then turned pro after becoming the first since Jesse Owens in 1936 to win four individual titles at the NCAA Championships.
"Xavier called me the day after I did it," Holliday said. "He was training in Tennessee. He said that's how it should be. Records should be broken. He called me the night before to say I could do it, too."
Holliday will be trying to better that this weekend at the NCAA Mideast Regionals in Columbia, Mo., that qualifies competitors for the NCAA Championships in June.
"I think I felt like I was under the radar last season in track, that no one really knew who I was," Holliday said. "So I just had to come out this season at 100 percent and just do it. I felt the same way in football."
Shaver always knew who Holliday was. He recruited him along with football coach Les Miles out of Northeast High, where he was No. 1 in the nation in the 60-meter dash in 2005 and won six individual state championships and helped his team to state titles in 2003 and 2005.
"But I wasn't expecting a new school record at that track meet," Shaver said. "I thought by the end of the season, Trindon would have a legitimate shot at that and better. But he came on fast. He's just a tremendous competitor, and he really felt good. He really had a lot to prove. He didn't like what happened last year in the SEC with the 11.01 time. He just exploded."
Holliday is shaped more like a cannonball than a typical sprinter. Carter, for example, was 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds.
"The last person I could compare him to would be Andre Cason, who was at Texas A&M 15 years ago," Shaver said. "He's odd because of his height. I don't know if he is 5-5. Taller runners have longer strides. But Trindon is very powerful for the body mass he's got and very quick. He has a very fast muscle twitch. And he runs relaxed like the best of them. Looking at him sometimes, it's like he's on a stationary bike."
Holliday also had a different training regimen going into the SEC meet. He had only ran in a handful of races beforehand. He missed the indoor season because he was busy with spring football.
"I think I came on a little earlier than I thought," Holliday said. "I've been working hard all season, so I just had to come out and see what I could do. But I really didn't surprise myself. I knew I could do it at some point. Coach had told me at the beginning of this season I could do it so he wanted me to go ahead and take off. And I did that. I think not coming out until outdoor helped me a lot."
Holliday feels he has better times left in him.
"I think it will have to be a little faster to win the NCAA's," he said. "Maybe a 10.05 or a 10.06. I think I can do it if I work real hard the next couple of weeks."
Holliday thinks he can distance himself from the radar more next season in football as well after a spring of work at tailback, slot receiver and kick and punt returning. He didn't catch a pass in 2006 and only returned one punt.
"I hope to see a lot more action that what I saw last year," he said. "I didn't get going until midway through the season. That's the plan — football and track for four years. It's not difficult at all. It's just good that I have coaches who are willing to work with me in both sports."
And at some point between the end of the NCAA Championships and the beginning of football practice in August, Holliday hopes to take a holiday.
"I haven't had any time off really since I got here," he said. "I think I'll take some time off. Not too long. I just need like a week, like Bo Jackson."
sports@thenewsstar.com
BATON ROUGE — Trindon Holliday felt like he was under the radar going into the 2006 football season as well as the 2007 outdoor track season at LSU.
Of course, at 5-foot-5 and 165 pounds, Holliday is under a lot of things.
"He could be hard to pick up on pass routes sometimes," former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell said.
"When he lines up in the backfield, I could see where he'd be hard to locate by the defenders," LSU track coach Dennis Shaver said.
After not playing a lot through the first half of last season, Holliday elevated himself, if you will, forever in the hearts of LSU fans when he dashed 92 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return early in the fourth quarter at Arkansas. The score answered an 80-yard touchdown run by Razorback tailback Darren McFadden and gave the Tigers a 31-19 lead on the way to a 31-26 victory. Holliday rushed 14 times on the season, usually on reverses, for 172 yards and a touchdown.
Shaver appreciated the run as a track coach and a LSU football fan.
"It was like he was shot out of a cannon," he said. "It was a beautiful run. The guy's like a dart."
Partly because of an ankle sprain in spring football of 2006, Holliday had a forgettable 2006 track season, which included a pedestrian 11.01 time in the 100-meter dash at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
"I was coming off an injury and didn't qualify for the 100 meters at the SEC's," said Holliday, a sophomore from Northeast High near Baton Rouge. "I wasn't able to get back to 100 percent last track season. So I just told myself that if I make it through last football season at 100 percent, I will come out and make a name for myself."
Holliday did just that at the SEC Championships two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, Ala. All he did was set the school record with a 10.08 in the 100 meters to win the first individual championship of his career. The time broke the school record of 10.09 set last June by All-American Xavier Carter, who then turned pro after becoming the first since Jesse Owens in 1936 to win four individual titles at the NCAA Championships.
"Xavier called me the day after I did it," Holliday said. "He was training in Tennessee. He said that's how it should be. Records should be broken. He called me the night before to say I could do it, too."
Holliday will be trying to better that this weekend at the NCAA Mideast Regionals in Columbia, Mo., that qualifies competitors for the NCAA Championships in June.
"I think I felt like I was under the radar last season in track, that no one really knew who I was," Holliday said. "So I just had to come out this season at 100 percent and just do it. I felt the same way in football."
Shaver always knew who Holliday was. He recruited him along with football coach Les Miles out of Northeast High, where he was No. 1 in the nation in the 60-meter dash in 2005 and won six individual state championships and helped his team to state titles in 2003 and 2005.
"But I wasn't expecting a new school record at that track meet," Shaver said. "I thought by the end of the season, Trindon would have a legitimate shot at that and better. But he came on fast. He's just a tremendous competitor, and he really felt good. He really had a lot to prove. He didn't like what happened last year in the SEC with the 11.01 time. He just exploded."
Holliday is shaped more like a cannonball than a typical sprinter. Carter, for example, was 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds.
"The last person I could compare him to would be Andre Cason, who was at Texas A&M 15 years ago," Shaver said. "He's odd because of his height. I don't know if he is 5-5. Taller runners have longer strides. But Trindon is very powerful for the body mass he's got and very quick. He has a very fast muscle twitch. And he runs relaxed like the best of them. Looking at him sometimes, it's like he's on a stationary bike."
Holliday also had a different training regimen going into the SEC meet. He had only ran in a handful of races beforehand. He missed the indoor season because he was busy with spring football.
"I think I came on a little earlier than I thought," Holliday said. "I've been working hard all season, so I just had to come out and see what I could do. But I really didn't surprise myself. I knew I could do it at some point. Coach had told me at the beginning of this season I could do it so he wanted me to go ahead and take off. And I did that. I think not coming out until outdoor helped me a lot."
Holliday feels he has better times left in him.
"I think it will have to be a little faster to win the NCAA's," he said. "Maybe a 10.05 or a 10.06. I think I can do it if I work real hard the next couple of weeks."
Holliday thinks he can distance himself from the radar more next season in football as well after a spring of work at tailback, slot receiver and kick and punt returning. He didn't catch a pass in 2006 and only returned one punt.
"I hope to see a lot more action that what I saw last year," he said. "I didn't get going until midway through the season. That's the plan — football and track for four years. It's not difficult at all. It's just good that I have coaches who are willing to work with me in both sports."
And at some point between the end of the NCAA Championships and the beginning of football practice in August, Holliday hopes to take a holiday.
"I haven't had any time off really since I got here," he said. "I think I'll take some time off. Not too long. I just need like a week, like Bo Jackson."
Ryan Perriloux suspended indefinitely
LSU football player suspended - attempting to enter a casino
Ryan Perrilloux, an underage backup quarterback from LSU, has been suspended after his attempt to enter a riverboat casino.
LSU football player suspended - attempting to enter a casinoThe 20-year-old football player was using his older brother driving license to try and enter the Hollywood Casino downtown Baton Rouge. His coach Les Miles has suspended Perrilloux indefinitely. The police charged the young gambler-want-to-be with a misdemeanor, after a security guard at the casino called the cops. The legal age to enter a riverboat casino in Louisiana is 21.
This is not the first time Perrilloux had met the law - last year he has had a handful of driving citations, a noise ordinance violation, and his much publicized connection to a Federal investigation in a St. John Parish counterfeiting ring.
05/23/2007
Ryan Perrilloux, an underage backup quarterback from LSU, has been suspended after his attempt to enter a riverboat casino.
LSU football player suspended - attempting to enter a casinoThe 20-year-old football player was using his older brother driving license to try and enter the Hollywood Casino downtown Baton Rouge. His coach Les Miles has suspended Perrilloux indefinitely. The police charged the young gambler-want-to-be with a misdemeanor, after a security guard at the casino called the cops. The legal age to enter a riverboat casino in Louisiana is 21.
This is not the first time Perrilloux had met the law - last year he has had a handful of driving citations, a noise ordinance violation, and his much publicized connection to a Federal investigation in a St. John Parish counterfeiting ring.
05/23/2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Season Ticket Deadline May 31st
Courtesy: www.LSUsports.net
http://www.LSUsports.net
Tiger Stadium
BATON ROUGE -- The deadline for LSU football season ticket holders to renew their tickets for the 2007 season is May 31.
Also, season ticket holders have until May 31 to request tickets for any of LSU’s five road games in 2007.
Season ticket holders had until March 31 to pay Tradition Fund and Tiger Athletic Foundation donations for the right to purchase tickets. All season ticket holders have been mailed invoices for their season ticket purchase.
Season ticket holders were also mailed request forms for LSU’s road games at Mississippi State on August 30, Tulane on September 28, Kentucky on October 13, Alabama on November 3 and Ole Miss on November 17.
Season tickets may be renewed and road game tickets may be requested by mail, in person at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office or online at LSUsports.net.
In addition, May 31 is the date that all LSU Priority Points will be recorded for determination of distribution of road game tickets for the 2007 season. The LSU Priority Point system is used when the demand for tickets exceeds the number of tickets allotted to LSU by the home university.
For more information, log on to LSUsports.net or call the LSU Athletic Ticket Office at (225) 578-2184.
http://www.LSUsports.net
Tiger Stadium
BATON ROUGE -- The deadline for LSU football season ticket holders to renew their tickets for the 2007 season is May 31.
Also, season ticket holders have until May 31 to request tickets for any of LSU’s five road games in 2007.
Season ticket holders had until March 31 to pay Tradition Fund and Tiger Athletic Foundation donations for the right to purchase tickets. All season ticket holders have been mailed invoices for their season ticket purchase.
Season ticket holders were also mailed request forms for LSU’s road games at Mississippi State on August 30, Tulane on September 28, Kentucky on October 13, Alabama on November 3 and Ole Miss on November 17.
Season tickets may be renewed and road game tickets may be requested by mail, in person at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office or online at LSUsports.net.
In addition, May 31 is the date that all LSU Priority Points will be recorded for determination of distribution of road game tickets for the 2007 season. The LSU Priority Point system is used when the demand for tickets exceeds the number of tickets allotted to LSU by the home university.
For more information, log on to LSUsports.net or call the LSU Athletic Ticket Office at (225) 578-2184.
Football's Steltz Named to All-Spring Team
Football's Steltz Named to All-Spring Team
Courtesy: www.LSUsports.net
Release: 05/15/2007
Courtesy: Dennis Hodges
LSU's Craig Steltz
BATON ROUGE -- LSU strong safety Craig Steltz has been named to the Sporting News’ All-Spring Team, which was announced this week.
Steltz, a senior from New Orleans, capped his final spring with the Tigers by being named the recipient of the Alvin Roy Fourth Quarter Award as well as the Mike Miley Leadership Award. The Alvin Roy Award was for outstanding performance in LSU’s off-season program, while the Miley Award was given to the defensive player who displayed outstanding leadership skills during spring drills.
In LSU’s annual spring game, Steltz posted five tackles, including a tackle for a loss, in the Purple’s 20-14 win over the White team.
Steltz, who takes over as LSU’s starting strong safety this year, was joined on the All-Spring Team by wide receiver Early Doucet, who was an honorable mention selection.
Doucet capped a tremendous spring with a team-best nine receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in spring game. Doucet, who ranked second on the squad a year ago with 59 catches for 772 yards and eight touchdowns, was given the Jimmy Taylor Award at the conclusion of spring practice. The Jimmy Taylor Award is given annually to the player who displays the best effort, leadership and performance during the spring
Courtesy: www.LSUsports.net
Release: 05/15/2007
Courtesy: Dennis Hodges
LSU's Craig Steltz
BATON ROUGE -- LSU strong safety Craig Steltz has been named to the Sporting News’ All-Spring Team, which was announced this week.
Steltz, a senior from New Orleans, capped his final spring with the Tigers by being named the recipient of the Alvin Roy Fourth Quarter Award as well as the Mike Miley Leadership Award. The Alvin Roy Award was for outstanding performance in LSU’s off-season program, while the Miley Award was given to the defensive player who displayed outstanding leadership skills during spring drills.
In LSU’s annual spring game, Steltz posted five tackles, including a tackle for a loss, in the Purple’s 20-14 win over the White team.
Steltz, who takes over as LSU’s starting strong safety this year, was joined on the All-Spring Team by wide receiver Early Doucet, who was an honorable mention selection.
Doucet capped a tremendous spring with a team-best nine receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in spring game. Doucet, who ranked second on the squad a year ago with 59 catches for 772 yards and eight touchdowns, was given the Jimmy Taylor Award at the conclusion of spring practice. The Jimmy Taylor Award is given annually to the player who displays the best effort, leadership and performance during the spring
Welcome to LSU Tigers Football Blog
Welcome to my new LSU football blog
Hello Tiger fans. I hope this blog will be something fellow LSU fans can enjoy. It'll be a place for LSU football news and comments. Keep it clean please. GEAUX TIGERS!!
Hello Tiger fans. I hope this blog will be something fellow LSU fans can enjoy. It'll be a place for LSU football news and comments. Keep it clean please. GEAUX TIGERS!!
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