When offensive lineman Nate Livings makes his 31st start for LSU on Saturday against Ole Miss, the senior said he feels grateful for the last four years, after the struggles he went through to attend LSU.
Although Livings has been successful in the classroom and on the football field since he was accepted by LSU in 2002, he had to sign three letters of intent because of academic ineligibility and deal with an NCAA violation before he was actually accepted.
“After work, I’d go to library to do my assignments all by myself,” Nate Livings said. “I didn’t have anyone living with me. I’m living in this one bedroom apartment not bigger than a restroom in a gas station. I was depressed sometimes. But you just have to know your role, know why you’re here and know why you’re going through things. It made me the person who I am today.”
During the two years between his high school graduation and his acceptance into LSU, Livings worked as a laborer to pay for his expenses.
“I didn’t have a car and I was out there walking,” Livings said. “I’m talking about straight grinding. I’d catch the bus off campus all the way downtown and then walk a mile to go to work 40 hours a week just to pay for rent. I’m glad I went through that phase in my life because I can appreciate what I have now.”
Livings has been a mainstay on the Tiger offensive line over the last three seasons, and said he will be graduating in December with a general studies degree.
“I can remember the first day I actually came to Baton Rouge,” Livings said. “I had to work out, keep in shape and take independent study courses all on my own. I just thank God because without him keeping me focused, with the help of my family and church, I don’t think I’d be here.”
Livings graduated from Washington Marion High School in Lake Charles and signed his first letter of intent to play for LSU under coach Nick Saban in 2000.
After he was declared academically ineligible because of a low grade point average, Livings had a tough decision to make on whether to keep his commitment to LSU.
“We talked about it and we talked it through,” said Michael Livings, Nate’s father. “When he made his mind up that he was going to see it to the end, I saw a boy become a man.”
Livings decided to stay true to his commitment to play for LSU, so he moved to Baton Rouge.
“In my heart, I knew where I wanted to be and the type of football I wanted to play,” Livings said.
Livings said his son was determined to get a college education while competing against the best on the football field.
“LSU recruited him hard, and they made him feel a part of something,” Michael Livings said. “He wanted to play among the best. During the time he was recruited, the Southeastern Conference was the best, and he felt that he could compete at that level. LSU was the closest SEC school to home so he tried to stick with it.”
To become eligible, Livings had to retake several high school courses to raise his GPA to 2.5. He enrolled in the LSU high school independent study program for the spring, summer and fall of 2001, and he was accepted to LSU in 2002.
But another hurdle awaited Livings before he could become eligible. The NCAA declared Livings ineligible after it discovered a University tutor was helping him.
Livings said he did not know he was doing anything wrong.
“I was just taking classes that I was advised to take, and I didn’t know anything about a tutor,” Livings said. “When I heard about it, I was upset because I didn’t know anything about it. I didn’t know using a tutor was illegal. All I had to do was pay the tutor. After I paid the tutor, everything was alright and I got my eligibility back. It wasn’t like I knew it was illegal and I was trying to do it and be slick about it. I didn’t know a thing about it.”
After Livings signed his third letter of intent, he was accepted into LSU in 2002.
“All I wanted was a foot in the door, and me and God can handle the rest,” Livings said. “Whenever I was declared eligible, the only thing on my mind was work. I was just focused on getting it done in the classroom and on the field.”
In fall practice before the 2002 season, Saban played Livings on defense and special teams to get him in better shape. After the Tigers’ season-opening loss to Virginia Tech, Saban moved Livings to the offensive line.
After playing only 25 snaps at offensive tackle his freshman season, Livings has started 30 games in the last three seasons.
He started at left guard during the 2003 National Championship season before moving over to the right side, where he has started at either tackle or guard since.
Livings has used the struggles he went through to help his younger teammates understand the opportunity they have at LSU.
“Nate told us we need to take advantage of what LSU is doing for us and try to get a degree first before worrying about playing in the NFL,” freshman offensive lineman Herman Johnson said.
Michael Livings said his son’s determination to succeed has also had a profound effect on his siblings.
“His family is very proud of him for the accomplishments that he’s made,” Livings said. “His motivation has inspired his siblings to understand that there is always a light at the end of any obstacle, and they can achieve whatever goals they set from themselves.”