By John Zenor
Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. ó Ryan Perrilloux could always make the plays. He just couldnít always make it to class or sidestep trouble with the same ease.
Booted from defending national champion LSU in May, Perrilloux is trying to repair his career and his reputation at Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision team tucked away in east Alabama.
iI let a great opportunity slip away at LSU,î Perrilloux told The Associated Press. iEverybody knows that, and I know it, too. But what I have to say is, ëWill I let that crush me as a player or will I look at that as adversity and use that to drive me and motivate me to do better?í
iThatís what Iíve been doing since Iíve been here. Iíve been looking at the mistakes I made at LSU and trying not to make those same mistakes at Jacksonville State.î
Now heís frequently up at 4:30 a.m. for a jam-packed summer schedule of workouts, classes and study halls. Once one of the nationís top recruits, Perrilloux seems content with the thought of games in front of 15,000 fans.
LSU coach Les Miles kicked Perrilloux off the team following a string of problems, including skipping classes, missing a team meeting and arriving late for conditioning. Plus, he had been on the fringe of a counterfeiting investigation and was caught trying to use a false ID to get into a Baton Rouge casino.
If Milesí decision caused any hard feelings, itís not obvious. Perrilloux praises him as a great coach who igave me every opportunity to do the right thing. I think everybody saw that.î
The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Perrilloux estimates that 60 teams contacted him ó many of whom heíd never heard of, including Jacksonville State.
There were no scholarship QBs on the roster after last seasonís starter, Cedric Johnson, was kicked off for violating team rules. With Perrillouxís signing, the Gamecocks were chosen the Ohio Valley favorites despite coming off a 6-5 season.