In Need of Direction, Perrilloux Heads North

"At this level, you're held accountable for everything," said Jacksonville State's Ryan Perrilloux, left, who was kicked off the LSU football team in May. (By Mike Zarrilli -- Getty Images)

Indeed, Crowe claimed Perrilloux will be the difference in every Jacksonville State game this season. Such is Perrilloux's talent, which makes his penchant for disconcerting behavior all the more troubling.

Perrilloux made the second start of his collegiate career in December against Tennessee in the SEC championship game, replacing an injured Matt Flynn. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown. He also scored on a two-point conversion and, after LSU's 21-14 victory, was named the game's most valuable player.

Five months later, Perrilloux was without a team, through no one's fault but his own, he acknowledged. What a shame, Dauterive said, that the most skilled quarterback he ever coached was on his way to wasting such rare talent.

"Ryan realizes he has no more shots," Dauterive said, before noting that Perrilloux is "a media darling. He can wrap you around his finger because he's so convincing."

Perrilloux spent the summer at Jacksonville State, and each of his days was mapped out from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. He worked out, went to class, went to meetings, went to work, did his homework and went to bed. Being on task and on time -- that's the phrase Crowe kept repeating.

"He's better off when it's all structured for him because it's when there's two hours of slack in there, sometimes you get involved in something that goes more than two hours; it's sort of hard to get back on schedule," Crowe said. "He's very committed to what he's focused on. The focus is the issue."

Crowe remains more cautious about whether Perrilloux has changed his ways permanently.

"Listen, I am neither naive nor arrogant," Crowe said. "Do I think I've come up with some magic formula? I'm not that arrogant. Am I naive enough to think that Ryan Perrilloux is not still Ryan Perrilloux? I'm not naive, either. So what does that tell you? I think he keeps waiting for [the scrutiny] to change. It ain't going to change."

Perrilloux said he understands as much and that he is completely focused on earning a degree in sociology and helping Jacksonville State win. The Gamecocks are 4-1 and ranked in the division I-AA top 20.

"Right now, I'm not going to say that I'm up early in the morning getting guys up for class and making sure they're where they're supposed to be, but I'll ask 'em, 'Did you all go to class today?' " Perrilloux said. "Just to see what kind of response I get. Just to let them know I'm interested, not just in the football aspect, but what they're doing in school, as well.

"I know me, and I know that when the pressure's on, I know how to react to it. And this is my opportunity to show everybody who I am and show everybody what kind of person I am."

Perrilloux took four classes this summer, earning two A's, a B and a C. According to Crowe, Perrilloux fell behind in a sociology course -- "the only time when the accountability slipped" -- after missing two days of class while traveling back to LaPlace to see his mother remarry. Perrilloux could have dropped the class. However, the teacher saw that he participated during discussions and wanted him to remain in the course, Crowe said.

Still seated at the booth, Crowe looked over the table at his starting quarterback, the one no division I-AA coach ever could have imagined falling into his lap three years ago, and interrogated Perrilloux once more.

"You ain't still missing her class anymore, are ya'?" Crowe asked.

"Naw, she loves me," Perrilloux responded with a grin.

"I think she does," Crowe said. "I think she does."