While LSU junior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux’s list of transgressions has some students wondering if he can stay out of trouble, the LaPlace native’s high school coach said misbehavior is not something he grew to expect while coaching the young player. “If the last incident is true, I’m finding out that the manager’s saying it was blown out of proportion,” said Larry Dauterive, Perrilloux’s former coach at East St. John High School. “I don’t know what’s fact and what’s fiction, and I don’t deal in rumors and innuendos. I deal in facts.” The “last incident” referred to was an alleged verbal altercation between Perrilloux and staff at Kona Grill. “I think it is unfortunate that some football players feel like they are entitled to really do anything they want,” said psychology senior Derek Daigle. “Because they play football, they are allowed privileges that the majority of us wouldn’t have otherwise, and I don’t think that they should take advantage of it.” Daigle said he is unsure whether Perrilloux will keep his name clean. “I can’t speak for him,” Daigle said. “It’s up to him, I guess.” Jordan Lewis, international trade and finance senior, said Perrilloux’s status as LSU quarterback may bring scrutiny or unwanted attention most people his age do not have to face. “People can misconstrue something pretty easily,” Lewis said. “Unless there’s a direct source saying they saw him and they can verify it, and there’s a couple people there, then you might have to give him the benefit of the doubt because he’s an easy target.” While Daigle thinks Perrilloux may be unfairly targeted in some circumstances, he said each incident linked to the quarterback makes it harder to think his conduct is exaggerated. “If this was just an isolated incident, then there may be a little more leeway as to whether it’s being blown out of proportion,” Daigle said. “But these things consistently seem to happen.” Dauterive said while he does not know everything about Perrilloux’s reported mischief, the conduct Perrilloux has displayed while at LSU does not reflect the conduct he displayed at East St. John. “I never had a bit of trouble with that young man,” Dauterive said. “I had him for three years – they were three glorious years here – and he never was late for practice, was always the last to leave. He wanted to throw an extra ball – the most competitive young man I’ve ever coached in 39 years.” Dauterive said Perrilloux has the ability to be a fan favorite under different circumstances. “He’s just bubbly,” Dauterive said. “The personality that he is – if he did right, he could be a media darling because the guy’s got it all. He’s got charisma and athletic ability out of this world.” But while Dauterive has high opinions of his former athlete, he admits he doesn’t know has actually happened. “From the first to the last ordeal where [LSU] coach [Les Miles] suspended him, I had zero conversation with him,” Dauterive said. “He knows if he talked to me, he would catch my wrath because I don’t condone any shenanigans or anything that may have went on. Not that he was guilty, but I think he was embarrassed to talk to me.” Earlier this semester, Perrilloux was suspended for reportedly missing classes and team meetings. “I’m disappointed if Ryan is missing classes because he’s 21 years old,” Dauterive said. “There’s no excuse for that. He should get a big-ass alarm clock.” Dauterive said he backs any decision Miles makes. “I’m a Les Miles fan, and I trust his judgement,” Dauterive said. “He’s made more better calls than bad calls since he’s been there, and I trust him. If it comes to a point in time where he has to let him go, it’s going to be done with clearly not a knee jerk reaction but more of a concerted effort as far as researching what went on.” But Dauterive cautioned people before passing too harsh a judgment. “There may be things going on in that young man’s life that nobody knows,” Dauterive said.
—-Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]