blacksaint

By Matt Deville
Editor
Posted Aug 2, 2007

It’s not quite the night before the season opener, but it’s as close as you get.

Coach Les Miles welcomes the Tigers to camp tomorrow as the LSU football is set to report to the Charles McClendon Practice Facility for 2007 Fall Camp.

Two-a-day practices begin bright and early Saturday morning with a Varsity practice at 9:20 a.m. The freshmen then take the field – along with selected varsity players – Saturday afternoon at 4:15. Miles will meet with the media Saturday evening at 6:05. Check TigerRag.com through the day for a full report.

On this last day before the players report, there is plenty of news buzzing around Tiger Town.

Miles spoke at the a Baton Rouge area Rotary Club Wednesday and reported that standout safety Chad Jones is expected to bypass entering the ranks of Major League Baseball and report to camp as an LSU Tigers on Friday.

Jones, a 5-star prospect by Scout.com and the No. 1 rated safety in America in the 2007 class of recruits, was a 13th-round pick by the Houston Astros in June’s Major League Baseball Draft. The Southern Lab star has been mulling over his decision for almost two months now and is reportedly decided to enter LSU. He is expected to play both football and baseball for the Tigers.

“He (Jones) could end up being a great baseball player, certainly. But he could be a great football player,” Miles said to the Rotary Club Wednesday night. “The opportunity to go to LSU and play football and baseball to me would be a great advantage.”

Jones will join his brother, Rahim Alem, who is a projected starter at defensive end for the Tigers. Jones’ father, Al, said talks with the Astros have been virtually non-existent and that he will enter school this fall.

“We’re miles apart and there’s really been no communication,” Al Jones told Scott Rabalais of the Baton Rouge Advocate. “Chad will show up at LSU and take it from there. I believe once he does that, that’s it. My mind and heart says he will go to LSU.”

Perrilloux likely ready to go

The Ryan Perrilloux saga seems to be coming to an end as Miles indicated in Wednesday night’s Rotary Club comments that the beleaguered quarterback will return to the team in time for Fall Camp.

Perrilloux has been in and out the news with a pattern of mischievous behavior, most recently when the sophomore quarterback tried to pass false identification at a Baton Rouge area casino. Miles suspended Perrilloux indefinitely back in June, but reportedly reinstated him to the team on Tuesday, so says Jim Kleinpeter of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Miles told the Rotary Club on Wednesday that Perrilloux is on schedule; however he did not confirm that Perrilloux is back with the team.

“I will withhold lasting judgment for a day or so,” Miles said. “But the things Mr. Perrilloux has done in the short term have been very positive. He’s done well academically. But no decision has been made.”

Smoke no more

There has been some unrest across the LSU landscape since an announcement was made on Wednesday that smoking will no longer be permitted anywhere in or around Tiger Stadium.

Due to the “Louisiana Smoke Free Air Act,” which says all public buildings are to be smoke free, smoking has been prohibited in Tiger Stadium. The stadium is considering a state building.

Skip Bertman addressed the issue in his latest Cyberside Chat released Thursday morning.

All of LSU’s athletic facilities are considered public buildings under this statute. Additionally, a public place also covers sports arenas, educational facilities and any enclosed areas to which the public is invited.

Bertman said:

“Previously, smoking was not allowed only in the seating areas of Tiger Stadium, but was permitted in the concourses of the facility.

“We understand this will be an inconvenience to our patrons who smoke, but we must abide by state law. Please be aware that Southeastern Conference rules do not allow us to issue pass-out tickets at the gates of Tiger Stadium. In other words, fans cannot leave Tiger Stadium during the game and re-enter the stadium. Once a fan has presented his or her ticket at the gate, smoking is prohibited.

“Smoking had already been prohibited in LSU’s indoor facilities, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Carl Maddox Field House and LSU Natatorium. Smoking will now be prohibited at LSU’s outdoor facilities as well, such as Alex Box Stadium, Tiger Park, the LSU Soccer Complex, Bernie Moore Track Stadium and Dub Robinson Tennis Stadium.”

Bertman also addressed another issue pertaining to those fans that make a practice of parking their vehicles along Nicholson Drive the day prior to a game in order to reserve a prime tailgating spot.

That trend is being policed more closely.

Bertman said:

“For safety reasons, beginning with the 2007 football season, vehicles may not park on the shoulders of Nicholson Drive between North Stadium Drive and Gourrier Lane prior to 7 p.m. on Fridays before football games. Vehicles parked on Nicholson Drive can cause obstructed views for vehicles traveling on Nicholson Drive and for students walking to classes. Fans are advised that vehicles that park on Nicholson Drive prior to 7 p.m. on Fridays will be towed.”

saint4life
(504)

papz

We're solid at safety right now... I hope Jones redshirts this year. He's going to be a star for us.

We needed Ryan P to be reinstated. Our depth chart was scary with only Flynn and Lee. The other guys were walk ons. Hopefully he can get his act together. With all that talent, you'd hate for it to go to waste.