Editor’s note: This story contains vulgar language that may be offensive to some readers.
Rumors circulated this weekend about two LSU football players’ alleged involvement in an altercation early Friday morning at The Varsity Theatre. Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette said Sunday he has no information regarding a WAFB report that backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux and backup linebacker Derrick Odom III were tied to a fight involving 20 people. Bonnette said Sunday that Odom and Perrilloux have not been suspended. Capt. J. T. Smith of the Baton Rouge Police Department said late Saturday he could neither confirm nor deny the details of the police report. “This is an ongoing investigation,” Smith said. “No LSU players have been arrested.” This is not the first allegation of trouble involving either player, as LSU coach Les Miles previously suspended both from the team. Perrilloux was suspended in May after BRPD cited him for attempting to enter a casino without proper identification. Odom has been arrested twice since August. His first arrest came after an alleged simple assault during an apartment complex disturbance. Odom was also arrested along with former LSU track and football star Xavier Carter after they allegedly damaged a car in an on-campus parking lot. Miles defended the decision to keep Odom on the team. “I think he understands that he needs to weigh his decisions very seriously from this point forward,” Miles told The Daily Reveille on Sept. 19. Attorney Nathan Fisher is representing Perrilloux in the investigation. Fisher said he spoke to Miles and Perrilloux this weekend regarding the situation. “I haven’t seen the police report, but I am confident in our position in the case,” Fisher said. “I am confident that [Perrilloux] is innocent of whatever he is accused.” Fisher represented Odom on his previous criminal charges, but he said he is not representing him during this investigation. Fisher confirmed additional police reports mentioned a gun at the scene but declined to comment on whom BRPD identified as having a gun. “I will say that the initial police report said nothing about a gun,” Fisher said. The alleged altercation occurred at Thursday night’s “Baton Rouge’s Largest Halloween Costume Party” at The Varsity, shortly after the hip-hop group Black Vynm performed on stage. LSU junior defensive tackle Marlon Favorite is a member of Black Vynm and known within the group as “Big Fav.” Favorite said he did not see the fight occur but observed signs of tension “escalating” within the theater. He confirmed that Perrilloux and Odom were at the scene but said he did not observe them fighting. Favorite said he had to leave quickly after the show to return to New Orleans for his aunt’s funeral the next day. He said his truck was packed before the show started and said he was on the road by about 1:45 a.m. “Everyone was calling me and saying that they heard there was an altercation,” Favorite said. Odom’s public profile on Facebook.com featured a status message early Saturday morning that may have alluded to the situation. “Derrick is sayin the fight dont end til u die BITCH,” Odom apparently wrote at 8:02 a.m. Odom updated his page just minutes later with another message. “Derrick is trippin on how these fools try to run up on u behind ya back when they know they cant fuck wit u 1 on 1 but he got something that will shut all that shit down,” he wrote at 8:05 a.m. Saturday. Favorite said he is concerned that Odom’s prior incidents may be cause for his removal from the team. “In my opinion, [Odom] is a good kid, but sometimes trouble just finds people,” Favorite said. Favorite said he has not spoken to Odom or Perrilloux but plans to “touch base with them” Monday when he returns to Baton Rouge. “My main focus is that the incident be forgotten about and that we start focusing on our next game as a team,” Favorite said. Miles will not address the media until his normally scheduled lunchtime press conference today.
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]