When Miles became the football
coach at LSU, his first item of business that first week of January 2005 was to
secure the services of East St.
John quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. On National Signing Day a month
later, Miles registered his first major victory as the head coach of LSU when
Perrilloux spurned the Texas Longhorns and went with the Tigers.
Two and a half years later, it
looks like Perrilloux is headed out the door having played only a handful of
snaps for the Tigers.
After several brushes with the law
last Fall, including a handful of driving citations, a noise ordinance
violation, then his much publicized connection to a Federal investigation in a
St. John Parish counterfeiting ring, Perrilloux may have sealed his fate over
the weekend.
It seems the 20-year-old LaPlace, La. native was
arrested last Saturday for using false identification to gain entry to a
Baton Rouge area
gambling establishment. Perrilloux, who will not turn 21 until Jan. 1, 2008,
allegedly used his brother’s ID to enter the Hollywood Casino in downtown
Baton Rouge.
Perrilloux was escorted from the casino, arrested by authorities, but was never
booked.
The news broke Tuesday afternoon on
a local radio station and Miles issued a statement later Tuesday evening stating
Perrilloux had been suspended indefinitely.
What does that mean
exactly?
Is Perrilloux gone for good?
Judging from Miles’ long arm of the law, the same arm which tossed three players
from the LSU program last month, the highly-touted signal caller is most likely
headed out of Tiger town.
Safety Troy Giddens and back-up
offensive lineman Zhamal Thomas were arrested for burglary and identity theft
last month when they broke into an on-campus apartment and stole various items
including credit cards. They were suspended from the team indefinitely pending
further investigation by Miles.
In the same week, reserve offensive
lineman Kyle Anderson got into a Tigerland bar brawl, from which stemmed his
subsequent arrest and suspension from the team as well.
In hopes of showing a firm display
of discipline, Miles ruled on the future of these three players harshly
dismissing all three players from the team permanently. It was obvious Thomas
and Giddens had to go, due to the fact they will likely be convicted of a
felony. But some wondered was Anderson’s sentence a bit harsh.
We all remember star defensive end
Chase Pittman’s brouhaha in the Bogey’s parking lot two years ago, in which the
eventual seventh round pick of the Cleveland Browns punched an inebriated
patron, sending him the hospital. Miles suspended Pittman, but then allowed him
to later return to the team. Anderson wasn’t so lucky. Many speculated had
Anderson’s
run-in with the law not transpired so soon after Giddens and Thomas’ arrest, he
may have been spared. Timing wasn’t on Anderson’s side.
With all that in mind, what will
Miles now do?
Most people are under the
impression Matt Flynn has sewed up the starting quarterback job for the 2007
season. Playing three seasons in JaMarcus Russell’s shadow and owning a 40-3 win
over Miami in
his only start as a Tiger, Flynn has paid his dues and is more than ready to
step behind center.
But what about the future? The job
was Perrilloux’s for the taking in 2008. The prep phenom would get his chance to
prove he was no fluke, no flash in the pan. He would get the opportunity to show
folks he was no bust, as one ESPN columnist stated this past winter.
Last Saturday, when he allegedly handed over
a fake ID at a local casino, knowing he had recently been under surveillance by
the United States Secret Service, that says it all for Perrilloux’s future as
LSU’s quarterback. He showed his true colors through and through.
How can anyone, much less Miles,
think that this kid can lead the Tigers football team at any point? What kind of
example has he set in the past two years that would make anyone think the
players on the LSU football team would actually support Perrilloux as their
field general? What do his actions say about his character, his integrity? Or
lack there of?
At this point, Miles and the Tigers
need to cut their losses and send Perrilloux packing. In two short years, he has
been enough of a black eye for the program. The worst thing that can happen is
that he would be allowed to return to the team and eventually be placed under
center. Then, the next thing you know, you have another case of Michael or
Marcus Vick, minus the underage girls and fighting pit bulls.
Here’s some advice Les, cut your
losses and take your chances on a freshman quarterback in 2008. You and your
team are better off with whatever happens in the long run.
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Matt Deville is the editor of Tiger
Rag. Reach him at matt@tigerrag.com.