The once-promising college quarterback of Louisiana State University was kicked off the national championship team, Friday, and it was really about time. Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Perrilloux appeared in 12 of 14 games, completed 51 of 75 passes for eight touchdowns and
The once-promising college quarterback of Louisiana State University was kicked off the national championship team, Friday, and it was really about time.
Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Perrilloux appeared in 12 of 14 games, completed 51 of 75 passes for eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He even won Most Valuable Player honors in LSU’s Southeastern Conference championship win over Tennessee.
He was also once regarded as the No. 1 quarterback in the country as a high school senior recruit.
But he was a big problem and a distraction, based on his actions after winning the national championship in January. He’s had far too many chances to clean up his act, and he still didn’t learn. Maybe he will now.
In February, he was suspended indefinitely for “failure to follow team rules,” missing class and team meetings.
But trouble started even before then. His freshman year he was allegedly a part of a federal counterfeit investigation and was caught trying to get into a casino using a fake ID. Perrillioux was suspended shortly after the latter incident and was reinstated by fall camp.
For his last offense, Perrillioux failed a drug test and that proved to be the final straw for Tigers’ head coach Les Miles.
“Ryan was given every opportunity to be a part of this football team,” Miles said in a statement. “In the end, he didn’t fulfill his obligation as an LSU student-athlete. We hope that a new beginning will benefit him.”
Good for you, Miles. That’s why LSU pays you the big bucks. And the timing of Perrillioux’s dismissal shows that Miles at least showed some consideration for Perrillioux, which is more than I can say for Perrillioux. At least with his dismissal, Perrillioux still has time to transfer to another school and play football in the fall.
“I wish Ryan and his family nothing but the best in a any of his future endeavors,” Miles said.
Let this be a lesson to all student athletes who are attending college on scholarship. Receiving a scholarship to play any college sport is a privilege. Now, I don’t know what specifics were lined up for Perrillioux, but I can guess that keeping out of trouble is one of them. The college is paying for your education so you can bring them national championships. It’s like a trade. They let you slide on tuition and board, and in return, you have to be a good example and representative of the school.
I’m also pretty sure that means no getting in trouble with fake IDs, run-ins with the law, and skipping classes.
Being a college scholarship athlete, does not, or should not give you a pass to goof off or break the law. This is a perfect example of enforcement. Good for you coach Miles. You’re not the top coach in the nation for nothing. You keep your troops in line. Good for you for sticking to your instincts in letting Perrillioux go. You and your team do not need that type of distraction or bad influence around. Definitely not if you want more championships in the next couple for years.
Better luck with the next school Perrilloux
And while I’m dishing out the “wag of the finger,” this one goes out to Tyler Hansbrough, the North Carolina basketball power forward. Mr. Player of the Year decided to reenact a scene form “Almost Famous” and jump off the roof of a house and into a pool.
Look, I understand you’re a college frat boy, but you’re also a guy with a big NBA career ahead of you. Why would you risk injuring yourself by doing something like that?
Don’t you know there’s no jumping off a house and into a pool in college athletics?
Was this an act of trying to fit in with the rest of the college coeds? Here’s a newsflash: You’re not like the rest of them. You’re a talented athlete on a scholarship to play basketball and represent UNC. You’re held, or should be held to a higher standard. Would you rather have scouts remember you at draft time for you performances on the court, or the frat house?
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
