Mitchell Blog: An Ode to a Season Wasted

"An army of deer led by a lion is more to be feared than an army of lions led by a deer." – Philip II, king of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great

This is not a composition to the campaigns at Tennessee, nor Auburn, nor Arkansas - as these woes have already been readily chronicled, and their problems both broad and deep. Instead, we focus on the LSU Tigers, the defending National Champions, whose season lost can be attributed to a singular strategy, made by two coaches on the first Wednesday of February, in the years 2004, 2005 & 2006.

MVP

Less than a year ago he stood tall and victorious – MVP of the SEC Championship game. A badly damaged finger on his throwing hand notwithstanding, Ryan Perrilloux still owned an impressive box score: 20-of-30 passing for 243 yards, plus a go ahead TD toss.

To that total he added 32 yards rushing, including the Championship's last score – a 2 point conversion, making the final margin of victory against the Tennessee Volunteers, 21-14. In large part thanks to this performance, LSU secured its third SEC trophy this decade, and preserved a shot at the sport’s ultimate prize - which the Tigers collected in January.

Unnoticed in the flurry of accolades following that victory against OSU was the complete stat line for Perrilloux’s RsSo campaign. While backing up RsSr Matt Flynn, the former Parade H.S. All-American was 51-of-75 for 694 yards, completing nearly 70% of his passes, for a startling QB rating of 176. Groomed in the LSU system for three years, the phenom from LaPlace, LA was to have begun year four as the starting signal caller for the defending National Champions.

Instead as is readily known, the talented but undisciplined Perrilloux started the 2008 season for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks of the FCS's Ohio Valley Conference, after being dismissed from the Tigers for a series of transgressions. Minor transgressions to be sure, but of a volume sufficient, and with more than enough second chances, to warrant his dismissal.

In his absence, the Tigers found themselves with NFL talent three-deep at every position, except arguably the most important - QB. For this pivotal role, the Bayou Bengals were left with two young, inexperienced choices: a RsSo transfer from Harvard, and a RsFr who had never taken a CFB snap.

And with them, a season wasted.

But how did it get to this?

THE BLAME GAME

Ryan Perrilloux must shoulder much of the blame. His inability to meet the responsibility entrusted in him let down not only his teammates, coaches and fans, but also the school that had invested in him.

However, young people often make mistakes. As adults, we know this. We plan for this.

Yet during the recruiting seasons of 2004, 2005 and 2006, in anticipation (and then because) of the highly sought after Perrilloux, first Nick Saban, and then Les Miles, signed no other QBs. As a result, with Perrilloux's departure the Tigers essentially went three consecutive signing classes without a QB.

Many contend that having a young JaMarcus Russell and Flynn already on the roster in 2004 made it difficult for LSU to recruit quality QBs. However, during this same time frame Texas had on its roster Vince Young, and still managed to sign three highly ranked signal callers. USC signed 3. Oklahoma, 3. Ohio State, 2. Florida, 2 (plus three the year after Tebow).

LSU signed only one: Perrilloux.

Others argue that a transfer recruit brought in between signing classes can be just as valuable, even if they miss out on the years / bonding that come with inclusion in a signing class. And indeed, a player the caliber of Jevan Snead at Ole Miss can perhaps make up for these lost intangibles.

However Andrew Hatch, while perhaps a bright and affable young man, lacked the vetting of a top H.S. recruit like Snead.

Without Perrilloux, LSU’s roster today is comprised of five QBs – three freshman, and two sophomores – yet only two of these are part of a signing class (Lee in 2007, and Jordan Jefferson in 2008).

GAMBLE

Coach Miles has done a commendable job at LSU. However, Saban and Miles – particularly Miles – elected to gamble that Perrilloux would live up to his potential, and more importantly, remain eligible. They used those scholarships that would have otherwise gone to a QB to recruit additional position players. Players who may have helped the Tigers with added depth; indeed, at the outside, perhaps even to win last year’s championship...

But given the ultimate failure that was Perrilloux, and the predictable failure of either Hatch or Lee to perform at SEC caliber this year, this gamble appears to have failed. At least for this season. Wasted.


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