Time Passages

Doors close, others open.

For Perrilloux, the chance to lead a stacked team to another SEC (maybe even national) title is gone. But he's got a different chance now if he seizes it immediately - start over, new school, clean break, low expectations, rise from the ashes.

For LSU, the door closes on what was a painful drama filled with hope and disappointment. Now, there's a real chance for a RS Freshman to come in and make a statement on a team that is exactly set up to allow him to succeed. Or, perhaps an underdog Jr. transfer.

For Coach Les Miles, the chance to redeem a troubled, talented kid is gone. But now there's the opportunity to avoid what was an impending team disaster of a morale problem.

For LSU fans, we cans stop worrying about Perrilloux and start worrying about Lee and Hatch.

Time passages. Save me a ticket on the last train home...

What to do, what to do?

Well -

Here's the deal, in my opinion.

Perrilloux brings with him a nationally recognized name - for some good but also many bad reasons. And he's (until recently) the heir-apparent to the QB position on the defending national championship football team. Soo....

1. Everything he does (good or bad) gets immediate attention and will be blown out of proportion if at all possible.

2. Everything he does (good or bad) has a huge impact on his team, which lacks an experienced backup QB.

That leads to a very tough decision for Coach Miles. Disregard for a moment what is good for Mr. Perrilloux. We'll get to that. Coach Miles has to decide what's best for da Tigas.

Does he place what could be an insanely talented and dangerous offense in the hands of an unproven Harvard transfer or an unproven RS freshman QB? Or does he place said offense in the hands of a proven QB (at least partially so) with a record of screwing up off the field?

To me it boils down to whether Miles believes the Tigers have a legitimate shot at repeating as SEC Champs next year. If he does, he may gamble with Perrilloux. If he doesn't, then he gambles with Lee or Hatch.

Now, what's best for Perrilloux? The obvious answer is, straighten up and fly right. But outside of that, Miles surely has Perrilloux's best interests at heart. He appears to want Perrilloux to succeed, and not just so LSU can succeed. I think he feels a lot of loyalty and responsibility for Perrilloux. At some point, though, he has to let Perrilloux set his own course.

If Perrilloux can't stay out of trouble, then Miles has to let him go. How many times is enough? I don't know. But bailing him out every time he gets in trouble short of an arrest is not helping Perrilloux grow up. Miles may be able to keep Perrilloux in school, keep him on the team, help him graduate. But Perrilloux has to become a leader or he will fail at QB at this and the next level. After that, lots of doors close. Miles should be wary of creating the next Michael Vick.

I hope Perrilloux is our QB in 2008 and 2009. But not at the expense of the team. Miles should not be afraid of showing him the door if he's truly not playing team ball on and off the field. The fans and players will thank him, if not immediately, eventually.

Perrilloux-za!

Here's what's being said on the internetses:

Sports Illustrated's Stuart Mandel: "During the Tigers' championship run last season, Miles became synonymous with his unusually bold calls. It's time for him to make what would be his boldest call yet: To send his star quarterback packing."

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Brian Lazarre @ TigerBait (Rivals, $$): "It looks like Perrilloux, the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart during the offseason, is not exhibiting the traits of the past two national championship-winning quarterbacks – Flynn and Matt Mauck.

Most importantly, he isn't living up to his words of early January.

Former LSU coach Gerry DiNardo had numerous problems after allowing Josh Booty to join the football team. DiNardo may, and the word may is stressed, have had more success if Booty was never on the team."

__________________

Dandy Don: "Tuesday was a huge day for email and most of the messages I received were concerning the Ryan Perrilloux situation. I would say that a good 90 percent of the emails are in favor of Les Miles dismissing Perrilloux from the team and wishing him the best of luck."

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Pelican State Sports: "I think it safest that LSU fans accept the notion that Perrilloux may never take another snap as a Tiger. And truth be told, he probably shouldn’t. He has had numerous chances, and somehow his name keeps coming up in bad situations. I don’t know what he has done this time, but I am going to get ready for the idea that Jarrett Lee will be the Tiger starter next year."

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R. Pittman at Geaux Tuscaloosa: "I do not think this is the end for Perrilloux. I've heard too many stories recently of Perrilloux still being on campus, still being active and around. If he was gone for good, he'd be.. uh.. gone. If Miles wanted him gone, he wouldn't be suspended. He'd be dismissed."

"We will probably have a strong defense that will allow our offense to play somewhat more conservatively than it otherwise would. We can move on without him if we need to, and I think if Perrilloux sees that, he may decide to fall in line."

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3rd Down H-Back at Loser With Socks: " Les Miles’ precedence on discipline is documented… don’t commit any Grand Theft Auto-type infractions and you’re cool. "
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Crimson Daddy @ 3rd Saturday in Blogtober: "... Perrilloux has been indefinitely suspended. Of course we all know what an indefinite suspension encapsulates. It can be for good, or until Miles wakes up in the morning and takes a look at the depth chart and sees that there isn’t another body on it that has taken a live snap."

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Orson @ EDSBS: "Not that LSU doesn’t have some other improbably talented, untacklable bayou cleatgenius lined up behind him. Because they do, oh, you know they do, just pulling them out of a portal located next to the stadium."

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Sunday Morning Quarterback (SMQ): "Given his recent past - the infamous "four Heismans" prediction, alleged involvement in a federal counterfeiting ring, an arrest at a casino door (in a state that would put alcohol in the water supply if it could engineer it, no less) that earned a summer-long suspension from the team last year - there's nothing surprising about the thin ice under Perrilloux's feet cracking again..."

And.......We're Off.......[Post Re - um - Posted]

What is it about Perrilloux and the off-season?

Perrilloux Walks Off the LSU Football Team

Total rumor crap at this point. I hope this is total BS. But apparently WDSU reported it, so there's something screwy going on.

UPDATE: It's Official - Perrilloux is Suspended Indefinitely

"We will prepare to play without these guys."

Miles was talking about the Bama game, but I wonder if it wouldn't be best to make that sentiment permanent.

True, the details aren't completely clear. But then, they'll never be completely clear. That's what lawyers are paid to do. My point is that the details just don't matter, because the larger issue is more important than the incident itself.

RP and Odom weren't lured into refusing to leave an establishment that was, in accordance with the law, closing. They weren't lured into hanging out with Xavier Carter.

RP has proven, over and over and over again, that he believes his own personal choices are more important to him than the success of his team. For me, that's a done deal.

I'm not concerned that RP and Odom haven't been charged, or that RP might actually file charges himself. I'm upset that two pregnant girls were possibly manhandled. I'm equally upset that two young prospective fathers thought so little of these girls or their progeny as to put them in that situation in the first place. But more than any of this, I'm concerned that LSU football may choose to elevate hope for the next two seasons and the future earning potential of ONE PLAYER over the risk that all the impressionable young athletes out there (and THEY ARE WATCHING) will mistakenly take lack of significant punitive action for silent consent.

This isn't about race. It's not about legalities. It's not about perceptions, even. Instead, I think it's possible that this is a defining moment in what should be the beginning of an elite SEC dynasty at LSU. Will LSU build a dynasty like Miami (violent, undisciplined, meteoric rise and fall) or rather something Miles can be proud of in ten years.

A one game wrist-slap isn't going to fix this. RP believes he's as good as he says he is. He believes he's going to play on Sunday and make millions. He probably believes that makes him untouchable.

The LSU athletic department should show him that success comes from hard work and sacrifice, both on the practice field and inside his personal life. Help RP succeed by teaching him how screwed up he is right now.

Odom should go. RP should sit the rest of the season out, including post season play. He shouldn't even travel. He needs the equivalent of boot camp or, even worse, corrective custody. Honestly, I think he'll decide to go to some other school that will prioritize his talent over his character.

Yes - the details aren't out yet. Doesn't matter. I've seen all I need to see. If RP plays another down this season, regardless of Flynn's health, then Coach Miles has caved. And that will be too bad - for him, for LSU, and in the end for Ryan Perrilloux.

UPDATE: Dorsey Was There...

Looks like this was a group brawl and the whole thing may get FUGLY. Lots of rumors flying.

This is Zactly what we need going into the Bammer/Saban game. Thanks gents.

Here's a quote that instills little confidence.

Ryan is doing all the things he needs to do to show he has a commitment to this team. As long as he goes to class and is doing all the things he needs to do, he'll have no problem with me.

I'm diggin' RP's performance, but the tone of this quote - the lack of confidence and the sort of distant reference - makes me wonder just how solid RP really is. You can almost smell the worry there. What would make me feel more comfortable? Something like:

Ryan has turned this thing around. He's committed to the team and to his own growth. He's our future leader and he's getting a chance to preview that for us right now.

That would make me feel better - something like that.

Listening to Jordy Hultberg's pregame interview with our head coach, Les STILL wouldn't reveal the starting QB (13 minutes prior to kickoff). Of course, we know by now that RP started.

Have to wonder what the drama was about.

Well, Flynn is a little banged up. This creates an interesting decision for the coaches. It's Middle Tennessee, after all, and Perr-i-lox (Miles' term, not mine) has looked mighty fine. So, do they give Flynn an extra week to be healthy for South Carolina? I think he'll start this week- but I'd be buying dinner for the O-line if I were him. And I'd assume RP will see a LOT of early time on situations that require mobility.

Coach Miles on Perrilloux:

"We expect him to play in every game. Getting Ryan on the field benefits
us as we go forward."

Every game? Really? Good for the future, but let's not add another committee to the offense - one is enough.