LSU dismissed defensive back Tyrann Mathieu from the team Friday morning citing continued violations of school rules.
“Difficult times, sometimes you have to deliver bad news,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “We have a simple policy here, for behavior. And consequences are pretty spelled out and defined. We did what we could do, but Tyrann Mathieu is no longer on our team.”
Miles and Athletic Director Joe Alleva did not divulge the details of Mathieu’s dismissal, noting only that it was for continued violations of school and athletic department policy.
Mathieu was “withheld from play” for last season’s Auburn game amid rumors of a positive test for synthetic marijuana verified by The Daily Reveille, but LSU never confirmed the reports and steadfastly gave bare-bones reasons for his dismissal Friday.
Both Miles and Alleva’s responses were measured and clipped, but they did all but confirm Mathieu’s dismissal wasn’t from a one-time instance but a pattern of behavior.
“The policy was a written policy,” Alleva said. “It’s like the speed limit – you go over the speed limit, you break the law … he’s been over the speed limit.”
Mathieu was arguably the most recognizable member of the team that finished as the national runners up last season, earning the Chuck Bednarik award as the nation’s top defensive player and a nomination for the Heisman trophy.
“Being an athlete is a privilege,” Alleva said. “You have to follow the rules to enjoy that privilege.”
 
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