/ Local News

05/16/2008

Associated Press

Keith Robertson looks at Jacksonville State's union with former LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux as a new beginning for both.

The JSU graduate is just hoping for a happy ending.

"Whether this is a good beginning or a bad beginning, you're waiting to see," said Robertson, a Catholic school administrator. "If this works out, it's awesome. If it fails, then it can be horrific."

The transfer of Perrilloux, a once-prized prep prospect who played for defending national champion LSU, to Jacksonville State has prompted mixed reaction among Gamecocks fans.

The 6-foot-3, 233-pound Perrilloux was kicked off the LSU team by coach Les Miles after repeated off-the-field problems a few months after leading the Tigers to a win in the Southeastern Conference championship game while subbing for injured starter Matt Flynn.

He was considered the nation's top prep quarterback in 2004.

Perrilloux should become an instant starter for the Gamecocks, who play in the Football Championship Subdivision. Coach Jack Crowe kicked last year's starter, Cedric Johnson, off the team in February and doesn't have any other experienced contenders for the job.

"We went from the outhouse to the penthouse," Ed Lett, a former All-American quarterback at Jacksonville State who now is color analyst for the team's radio broadcast, told The Birmingham News in a story Friday. "We didn't have any quarterback except two freshmen coming in. This puts us on the map and everybody is watching what he's going to do — whether it's good or bad."

Perrilloux's career has included some of both. He was suspended three times over the past year at LSU. The final suspension came in February after he missed a team meeting, skipped some classes and was late for conditioning workouts.

The signing has certainly been an attention-getter for Jacksonville State.

"When was the last time people talked about Jacksonville State football in May?" said Lett. "I listened to talk radio the other day — and I never do that — and they were putting up our rushing yardage and passing yardage from last season. And this was in May."

On the field, Louisiana-based recruiting analyst Max Emfinger said Perrilloux can be hard to stop.

"He could throw against national championship caliber teams when he was at LSU," Emfinger told The Anniston Star. "If he keeps his head screwed on and does everything the coach wants him to, there's not a (defensive back) or anybody who can stop him from doing anything. He ought to help them win almost every game, regardless of what's out there. The only question is what is he gonna do there? Is he gonna get his act together? I think he knows he's in a situation he has to get his act together."