Ryan Perrilloux Suspended: Some Things Never Change

As a fan of college sports, it gets frustrating at times to see things happen over and over again. 

The names may change, but the results are the same. 

Today, LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux joined the ever-growing group of college athletes whose talents were wasted because they thought they were bigger than the game. 

They thought they were bigger than their team, their program and their university overall.

When Perrilloux walked on to the LSU campus, he did so with several labels bestowed unto him.  He was the "can't miss kid."  He was the "number ranked quarterback and number one overall prospect."  He was the "program changer."  He was also the kid who gave a verbal commit to Texas and Mack Brown and at the last minute changed his mind and went to LSU. 

Kids do these things.  They say one thing and do another.  I suppose it's part of growing up and becoming a man.  Where your thoughts become your words.  Your words become your actions.  And your actions dictate your credibility. 

Today, LSU Head Coach Les Miles made the announcement that Ryan Perrilloux is suspended indefinitely.  Wow, how the mighty have fallen.  This kid was once cocky and brash enough to state he would be the started over Vince Young at Texas.  He was going to lead them to a National Championship.

The list of talented kids who wasted their talents is endless.  Maurice Clarrett.  Was jail in the plans?  Todd Marinovich.  Never ate a cheeseburger but smoking dope is OK?  Charles Thompson.  Nobody ran the wishbone offense better.  In the federal pen he is in, I'm sure that is still the case.  The list is endless of shattered dreams and hopes changed along the way by their own doing. 

When you are as talented as Perrilloux, realistically all you have to do is show up.  Your talents can usually carry you the rest of the way.  But, part of being a student-athlete is the student part of the equation.  Just go to class.  Team meetings, just like in the real world, are not optional.  If they were, nobody would want to or actually go. 

The unwritten code of college athletics.  Bust your ass for the coaches and your teammates.  Go to the team meetings.  Don't embarrass the program and go to class.  The alumni and boosters would rather read about the athletes on the sports pages rather than the front page.  It seems a small price to pay for free tuition, free meals, free work out facilities, open auditions every Saturday for the NFL and free exposure. 

They say there is nothing like sitting in the stands at LSU stadium on a Saturday night when the Tigers take on one of their SEC rivals.  This September, Perrilloux will not be able to add his opinion to that scenario.

God-given talent is hard to come by so when it is wasted it should make us all take note.  Nothing in this world is given to you except your name and God-given talent.  And in the snap of a finger, you can ruin both.