LSU Football: Losing Jordan Jefferson Will Shatter Tigers' BCS Hopes

The latest college football drama regarding LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and a handful of his teammates getting into a fight may actually end the Tigers' season before it gets started.

Simply put, without Jefferson the Tigers are a sub-par team, and they definitely aren’t the No. 4-ranked team in the country.

Unfortunately, this is probably the worst-case scenario for LSU football fans. Entering into this 2011 season the optimism and hope surrounding the Tigers' chances of competing and even winning the BCS championship were extremely high.

At least for the moment, it looks as if all of that could come crashing down.

Last Friday, reports came out that Jefferson and some of his teammates were involved in an early morning bar fight outside the LSU campus. This was what Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune reported:

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LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was involved in an early morning fight outside a local bar Friday, Baton Rouge Police have confirmed.

Sgt. Don Stone said police are investigating whether Jefferson was a suspect or a victim in the incident which occurred between 1:30-2 a.m. at Shady's, a bar south of LSU's campus.

Stone said four people went to the hospital after the fight, but Jefferson was not among them. He said other unidentified LSU players were involved but police were still investigating.

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What seemed like simple bar fight became even more intense though when multiple witnesses told the police that one of the players had kicked a victim while on the ground.

While the speculation about the fight continued through the weekend, it was reported today that four players, including Jefferson, met with police to discuss the fight. None of them were arrested, and as of right now, it looks like no immediate legal action is taking place, but personally I wouldn’t rule that out until there is a definite statement by the authorities letting the players off the hook.

While that may seem like a great scenario to LSU fans, their star quarterback and fellow teammates wouldn’t be out of the woods yet.

Here’s a statement from LSU vice chancellor and director of athletics Joe Alleva on potential discipline, as reported by thetowntalk.com:

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"We will not tolerate student-athletes whose irresponsible actions tarnish the good name of a great university. LSU student-athletes are expected to behave with the understanding that they represent their school, their fellow students and the long history of this program, regardless of the time of day.

Coach Miles has already begun taking disciplinary action. It is critical that we are deliberate in determining the facts surrounding this incident and as Coach Miles said, when the facts are clear, additional and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if necessary."

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Even if the four players are able to somehow get out of the legal trouble, they will certainly be facing heat from the NCAA and their own school.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see suspensions handed out, or worse.

That alone will spell doom for the LSU Tigers in 2011.

The first game of the 2011 season has the Tigers squaring off against the Oregon Ducks, and I can all but guarantee you that if Jordan Jefferson isn’t playing, the Tigers have no shot at winning that game.

That alone will have severe ramifications on their BCS hopes.

If the Tigers don’t have Jordan Jefferson, their season is done before it even gets started.

Like I said, this is the worst-case scenario for LSU football fans. A season filled with hope and potential, thrown away because of immaturity and an apparent lack of institutional respect.

It doesn’t hurt any worse than that.