Just before another afternoon rain drenched campus Friday, LSU football fans learned the Tigers will have to weather another August storm.
With the dismissal of star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and his “Honey Badger” persona, LSU again heads into a promising season a man down – only a year after losing starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson for four games following a fight outside Shady’s bar.
While Jefferson’s incident was met with outrage and uncertainty, Mathieu’s exit hardly seemed to damper the sky-high expectations around Baton Rouge for the preseason No. 1 Tigers.
“People are disappointed in him, for sure,” said Tommy Bourgeois, a bartender at The Chimes and a 2011 University alumnus. “I think most people believe we have some guys that can step up, players like Eric Reid on that defense who can keep us strong.”
Winning the 2011 Bednarik Award as the nation’s defensive player of the year and earning an invite to New York City as a Heisman nominee, Mathieu delivered above exemplary play. 
He galvanized the fan base behind a team embroiled in controversy at the beginning of its 2011 season, and was relentless when LSU needed it most.
The New Orleans native ignited comeback wins against Arkansas and Georgia with punt return touchdowns, and a forced fumble returned for a touchdown that swung momentum LSU’s way in its season-opening romp against Oregon.
“He’s probably one of the most exciting players you could hope to watch,” said incoming freshman Danielle Tate. “I was so excited to come here, start college and go to the games and watch him play. That chance is gone.”
Tate, a Pleasant Grove, Ala., native, said she often heard harsh words about Mathieu from Crimson Tide fans, but they were usually rooted in fear.
“A lot of them would call him trash or say ‘Bama would still beat him, but they knew that he was good,” said Tate, whose phone was “blowing up” after the noon announcement. “It was always about respect for him as a player.”
Inside Walk-Ons Bistreaux & Bar on Burbank Dr., 60 or 70 people gathered around the venue’s numerous television screens to watch the news conference live during the lunch rush, according to a bartender.
The dismissal left the typically lively spot in a sour mood as patrons digested the news for hours following Mathieu’s ousting.
Though fans were frustrated with Mathieu, many agreed with Miles’ assessment of him as a “quality guy with behavioral issues.”
“He definitely should have thought about the team, but he’s just a kid and in college,” said Mel Pearson, a lifelong Tiger fan and Baton Rouge-area native. “The reality of it is, if the drug rumors are true, I’m not condemning him. He made a bad choice, and it wasn’t the first time.”
From Twitter rants to t-shirts emblazoned with his famous nickname, Mathieu blew past coverage teams and blew up receivers, flipping Les Miles’ oft-dramatic scripts and turning them into routs, all while grabbing a starring spot in the LSU pantheon.
Among LSU players, Twitter reaction was vague, yet staunch, as many Tigers expressed support for their former mate while expressing a desire to rise from another preseason controversy’s ashes.
In a rare silent spell, Mathieu’s account was dormant in the hours following his dismissal, but his likely replacement at punt returner, Odell Beckham Jr., tweeted “Honor that brotha #7.,” and “Deep cuts take time to heal but when they do heal they turn into beautiful scars tht ull rememeber [sic] forever.”
His absence may not leave a scar on a loaded LSU team, but Tiger fans will likely remember the Badger’s brief era forever.
 
—- Contact Chris Abshire [email protected]