Davon Godchaux didn’t think he was going to play Saturday.
He was suspended indefinitely on Monday after being arrested on charges of misdemeanor domestic abuse/child endangerment and false imprisonment, but East Baton Rouge’s district attorney dropped the charges against him on Tuesday.
“I feel like it was a misunderstanding,” he said after LSU’s 42-7 win versus Missouri on Saturday. “I’m just glad to be back with my teammates.”
Godchaux returned to practice Wednesday after confirming with interim head coach Ed Orgeron that he could return to the team.
“Once I got the news that coach Orgeron was going to let me play — actually I didn’t know,” Godchaux said. “He didn’t come to me and say ‘Davon, you’re going to play this week.’”
During Godchaux’s two-day suspension, Frank Herron replaced the junior defensive end on LSU’s first team defense. Even after his suspension had been lifted, Godchaux let Herron run with the starters.
But Orgeron did not approve.
“He was like ‘Godchaux get in there!’” Godchaux said. “That gave me a positive sign that I was going to play this week. Just staying humble and keep working and trusting the man above. I can’t control things that happen.”
“I could tell he was looking for me and he said ‘Where’s Godchaux?’ and I got back to my technique and got used to the things I was doing and I had to get ready for Missouri.”
Gage, Ferguson become featured players in ‘new’ offense
Junior wide receiver Russell Gage didn’t find out his first career start would come on Saturday until moments before the game.
His face expressed excitement and joy, junior wide receiver Malachi Dupre said.
“We were all excited for him,” Dupre said. “I was like ‘Russell, you know you’re starting right?’ and he was like ‘I know!’ Obviously all week in practice, and we didn’t know who it would be. I felt like he went out there, and we didn’t miss a beat and did everything he was to supposed to do.”
Opposite Gage was another unfamiliar wide receiver: sophomore Jazz Ferguson.
Ferguson’s first career catch came in LSU’s first half against Missouri.
“Jazz had his first catches and we were excited for him too,” Dupre said.
Orgeron’s celebrate successful day of football
LSU’s players handed Orgeron Saturday’s game ball shortly after drenching the 55-year-old coach in a Gatorade bath.
“He was fired up,” junior tight end Colin Jeter said of Orgeron after LSU’s 35-point win Saturday.
Soaked in Gatorade, Orgeron smiled with two fists in the air toward the LSU student section as he walked back to the tunnel to celebrate with his team.
Orgeron became LSU’s fourth-straight coach to win in his debut game as head coach.
In the midst of coaching his first game as the Tigers’ head coach, Orgeron’s son, Parker, caught an 8-yard touchdown in McNeese State’s 38-13 win against Nicholls State.
“I heard about it,” Orgeron said. “I got a little message there [in the] second quarter … It’s great. It was a great night. We’re happy. We’re a very competitive family. Football’s our life.”