Spring Post--LSU Sports

It's been an interesting few weeks in LSU sports. Let's start with what most people would consider the biggest story: Ryan Perrilloux getting kicked off the team.

Perrilloux had been suspended by Les Miles for much of spring practice for missing class, team meetings, and workouts. Then there was some incident at a restaurant. Then he was suspended for the rest of the spring for not meeting his obligations to the team. At that time, I believed there were 5 main approaches to the RP situation among LSU fans. There may be more, but the ones I thought of were these:

1) The "Get Right" approach. This approach hopes that RP does everything the coaches ask him to do and stays out of trouble. Goes to class, makes the grades, stops staying out late, works hard in the film room, takes control of the offense, and has one of the greatest seasons ever for an LSU QB. This is a very optimistic approach that relies on RP maturing as he gets older and on the coaches being able to handle pretty much any situation.

2) The "Just Win" approach. This approach takes a look at the depth chart at QB, then looks at the SEC road schedule, and figures a troubled RP is better than a RSFR or a Harvard transfer. Yes, he's a headache, but he's also got talent out the wazoo, has been with the program for what will be four years in the fall, and is our best chance to compete in a league that seems to get stronger each year. As long as he doesn't commit, you know, a "serious" crime, he's too important to kick off the team.

3) The "He's Dead to Me" approach. This approach is one of resignation to whatever happens. If RP straightens up and plays, I'll be happy for whatever success the team has due to his performance. If he screws up and gets the boot, then that's fine too, and we'll move on to Jarrett Lee. Either way, I'm not going to invest myself emotionally in RP anymore, because it's just not worth it.

4) The "Get Rid of Him Now" approach. This approach argues that keeping RP is bad for the team. Allowing him so many chances sends the wrong message to the players who are doing things the right way. RP is unreliable and an unnecessary distraction. He also damages the reputation of the LSU football team as a whole. Miles looks like a hypocrite for talking about the importance of character while supporting a player who has shown little.

5) The "We Want Jarrett Lee" approach. A corollary to the "Get Rid of Him Now" approach. The team is better off nixing RP right now and moving on to the Jarrett Lee Era. Get him some experience now, when he's got a good line and good talent all around him on offense. Best case scenario is Sam Bradford's year at Oklahoma as a RSFR, and turning into a 4-year starter with a great career at LSU. There's the added bonus of Lee never getting into trouble (that we know of).

SI's Stewart Mandel had written a previous column stating that RP should get the boot, and he followed it up with this one once the dismissal was announced.

ESPN had a pretty good rundown of what to expect at QB for LSU.


LSU hired Trent Johnson as the new basketball coach, replacing interim coach Butch Pierre, who replaced the fired John Brady. I didn't particularly dislike John Brady, but it was pretty clear that he couldn't be kept on as coach without alienating a big chunk of the fans. Johnson is a good hire who had success in a strong conference at Stanford. I am somewhat optimistic.


The LSU baseball team has won 19 games in a row after beating Alabama in the SEC tournament today. Midway through the season it looked like LSU would miss the NCAA tourney for the second year in a row. Now there's a legit shot at hosting a super regional and playing in Baton Rouge for two weeks (assuming they keep winning) before going to Omaha. Well done, Tigers.