As the dog days of summer drag on, LSU coach Les Miles addressed a room full of reporters Wednesday afternoon and spoke about a variety of issues, including the topic of backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux.
Miles said “there’s really been no change” with Perrilloux, who is still suspended from the team after allegedly trying to use his brother’s identification to enter Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge.
“I don’t want to talk about that to be honest with you,” Miles said. “Everything I hear is that he’s doing well to this point. It’s way to early to talk about that guy right now. I’m just letting you know that will all take place and become much more acute later. Right now, we’re just going through the summer.”
Miles did confirm that Perrilloux, who is not allowed to participate in summer workouts, is enrolled in summer school.
The third-year coach also addressed the issue of defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois, who did not play in the Tigers’ 41-14 Sugar Bowl victory against Notre Dame in January. Jean-Francois, like Perrilloux, is attending summer school.
“There’s no specific date that it’s just tremendously important that we talk about it today,” Miles said about both players. “I want to make sure the guys are doing the things they’re supposed to be doing and making sure they’re in shape. I’m doing that.”
NO WORD ON JONESLSU recruit Chad Jones, who was drafted in the 13th round by the Houston Astros in the 2007 professional baseball draft, has neither signed with Houston nor decided to attend school yet.
Jones, a five-star football recruit who will likely also play baseball for the Tigers, has until Aug. 15 to sign a Major League Baseball deal.
“I just think that, through time, everybody benefits,” Miles said. “He gets the opportunity to pursue an education for three years [and] play both baseball and football.”
Miles also said he expects “no more than three” freshman players to possibly miss the beginning of fall practice, which starts Aug. 4. Last season, five players missed parts of fall practice because of NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse delays.
BIG-TIME SCHEDULEThe Tigers will play Virginia Tech on Sept. 8 in Tiger Stadium, and that second-week contest has Miles a little nervous.
“I’m for a stair-stepped schedule that allows you to get a little stronger and get yourself into the SEC, having improved and seen quality opponents,” Miles said. “I think the schedule that we have is a tremendous one, and I don’t want to bemoan it in any way. But if you ask me do I want to go all in the second week of the season? [No]. I’d much rather be all in after the [SEC] championship.” ‘HOLLIDAY’ ANNOUNCEMENTLSU football and track athlete Trindon Holliday will not run in this summer’s IAAF World Championships.
Holliday would have missed fall practice and the first couple games of the season if he would have run in the meet.
“We’re thrilled to have a guy that has the big-play potential that he has, coming back in his second year a little more seasoned and a little bit more ready to assume a greater responsibility and greater role in the offense,” Miles said.
TICKETS IN HIGH DEMANDThe Athletic Department announced Wednesday that it has received a record-number of ticket requests for away games, including nearly 33,000 ticket requests for LSU’s road game against Alabama this season. That mark breaks the previous road request record when the ticket office received 14,000 ticket requests for LSU’s game at Tennessee in 2006.
Fans can still buy tickets for the LSU-Tulane game Sept. 29 in the Superdome. The ticket office has about 17,700 tickets remaining for the game.
Contributing writer Mitchell Dickson contributed to this report.
—Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]