With the unfortunate short ending to JSU’s incredible season this year, I must say a few words about our senior quarterback, Ryan Perrilloux.
Ryan was the quarterback for my beloved LSU Tigers where I worked for many years. I had heard the rumblings about him from former co-workers and even the comparision of his off the field antics to those of Kevin Faulk, who was a student while I worked at LSU. But we won the national championship and of course with that much is forgiven both on and off the field.
But it came as little surprise to me when I heard that Ryan had been kicked off the team by Coach Les Miles for violating team rules.
What was a shock to me was the announcement that Ryan would be transferring to my alma mater at Jacksonville State in 2008. Being an avid ESPN Radio listener, I had heard a grocery list of schools interested in talking to him come play for their school but Jacksonville State??? “The Friendliest Campus In The South?” Say it ain’t so Jack Crowe! We don’t need the controversy or the bad press I thought.
But I’ll be the first to admit it — Ryan has turned out to be an outstanding young man both on the field and off.
He certainly didn’t have an easy time of it as he had many people watching him at every turn and calling the Athletic Department everytime he held his fork wrong (a small town will do that for you). But he allowed JSU to mold him as it has molded so many of our alumni.
Our fans definitely enjoyed the ride and seeing Ryan’s extraordinary moves on the field and his inspiring his teammates to play smarder, run faster, hit harder and truly move JSU Football to another level of glory that many questioned we could ever return to. He made us proud on the national level at our oh so close fight at FSU and by winning the OVC.
Upon the end of his last game, Ryan stated that coming to JSU was the best decision he had ever made and that it changed him as a person.
So I, for one, stand corrected of my original thoughts — what I thought was a terrible mistake to bring this young man to our friendly little campus proved to be exactly what he and WE needed.
Congratulations Ryan on your final season — we look forward to watching you making Gamecocks everywhere proud in your next stage of your life!
